#18 Tulsa @ Arkansas football preview

There are many things Tulsa is playing for when it visits Arkansas Saturday in Fayetteville.

The Golden Hurricane is continuing to play for a perfect season, a chance to claim a BCS at-large berth and Conference USA’s honor.

Tulsa is the best thing the conference has going for it. And when it has come to playing quality BCS opponents, the conference has fallen short outside of East Carolina’s wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia.

The Golden Hurricane could be the most complete team the conference has seen since the 1998 Tulane team that went 12-0.

“The key is for our kids to stay grounded on the next step,’’ Tulsa coach Todd Graham said. “The time we spend speculating doesn’t do any good. We have to be focused on one thing right now, that’s being 9-0.

“[Games like Arkansas] are the type of games we have to win to give our conference national credibility.’’

Arkansas is struggling at 3-5 under first-year coach Bobby Petrino. But that doesn’t matter.

Tulsa has to treat this game like it did in last Sunday’s 48-19 victory over Central Florida. The offense has yet to back off of its breakneck pace. It leads the nation in total offense (601.1 ypg), scoring offense (55.6 ppg) and passing efficiency (200.4). And don’t forget about that resourceful running game, which is averaging 255 yards per game.

Quarterback David Johnson has been very effective with this offense throwing for 2,661 yards and 32 touchdowns. He and Brennan Marion may be the most lethal pass-catch combination in the country.

Marion is the playmaker. He’s averaging 26.7 yards per reception including a 97-yard touchdown catch against UTEP two weeks ago.

But the good news is that the Tulsa defense appears to be catching up. Since UTEP scored 28 points in the first quarter, the Golden Hurricane defense has allowed 26 points in the last seven quarters against UTEP and Central Florida.

Great play has come from junior safety James Lockett, the conference’s defensive player of the week. He forced two fumbles, collected five solo tackles and added three quarterback sacks last week.

“He has done an outstanding job of creating pressure off the edge,’’ Tulsa defensive coordinator Keith Patterson said. “He has been a great surprise for our defense.’’

This is considered a transitional year for Petrino, the former Louisville and Atlanta Falcons coach. There’s been heartbreak. Arkansas lost its last two SEC games to Kentucky and Ole Miss by a total of three points.

Petrino’s dynamic passing attack has also had its peaks and valleys. Quarterback Casey Dick has completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,787 yards. However, he has thrown only eight touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.

The Razorbacks have been consistent with the running game in Michael smith who has rushed for 920 yards. Arkansas’ defense has had its share of issues as well surrendering at least 22 points in its first eight games.

It might be wise for the defense to keep everything in front of it and for the offense to make sure Smith is established early.

But Tulsa appears to be a team on a mission.

Prediction: Tulsa 33 - Arkansas 24

Notable

• The game is also a homecoming for Tulsa offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn who was the Arkansas offensive coordinator in 2006-2007.
• Quarterback David Johnson has been named as one of 13 finalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. It honors the nation’s best college quarterback.
• This is Arkansas’ homecoming game. The Razorbacks are 50-32-4 in those games. However, this is only the third meeting between Arkansas and Tulsa since 1991. The teams met in 1993 and 2003.

No. 18 Tulsa (8-0) @ Arkansas (3-5)

Time: 1 p.m.
Site: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayettville, Ark.
TV: Pay per view
Series: 70th meeting. Arkansas leads, 52-15-2