The Oklahoma Sooners face a challenging Week 3 test against the Tulane Green Wave. Tulane is coming off a narrow 34-27 loss to Kansas State, but they’ve shown enough talent and grit to suggest they could pull off an upset this week. As one of the top teams in the Group of Five, Tulane won’t be an easy opponent, and Oklahoma will need to be sharp from start to finish.
Here are three predictions for the Sooners in what is shaping up to be a gritty contest:
Prediction 1: Oklahoma’s Ground Game Bounces Back with 100+ Yards and a Rushing Touchdown
Oklahoma’s rushing attack has been underwhelming so far this season, with only one rushing touchdown courtesy of freshman running back Taylor Tatum in Week 1. The Sooners have struggled to get their ground game going, but this matchup against Tulane offers a perfect opportunity to turn things around.
Tulane’s run defense has shown vulnerabilities, ranking 92nd in yards per rush allowed and 104th in rushing defense success rate. Last week, Kansas State racked up 215 rushing yards and averaged an impressive 6.5 yards per carry against the Green Wave. With those numbers in mind, expect Oklahoma to lean on their rushing attack early to ignite their offense and establish control.
Prediction 2: Oklahoma’s Pass Rush Forces a Key Turnover
One of the strengths of Oklahoma’s defense this season has been their ability to create pressure and force turnovers. The Sooners have forced two turnovers in each of their first two games, and their defense leads the nation in points scored off of turnovers.
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— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 12, 2024
Kansas State’s pass rush was highly effective against Tulane last week, sacking their quarterback six times and generating 27 pressures, according to PFF. The result was two critical turnovers – a fumble returned for a touchdown and an interception – that played a major role in Kansas State’s win.
Oklahoma’s pass rush has been productive all season, and with Tulane’s offensive line struggling, expect the Sooners to dial up the pressure and force a key turnover in this matchup.
Prediction 3: Special Teams Makes a Game-Changing Play
Last week, I predicted Oklahoma would make a big special teams play, but instead, the Sooners had a shaky performance, with multiple muffed punts and a missed long field goal by Tyler Keltner. However, they did recover a fumble on a kickoff (albeit on a questionable call), so there were still some positive signs on special teams.
Oklahoma has already shown their potential in the special teams department, including blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown in their Week 1 victory over Temple. In a tight game against Tulane, special teams could be the deciding factor. Whether it’s a game-breaking kick return, a blocked punt, or a clutch field goal, I expect Oklahoma to come through with a pivotal special teams play that helps secure the win.
The Sooners will need contributions from all phases of the game to handle a tough Tulane team, but with a rejuvenated rushing attack, a relentless pass rush, and a big special teams moment, Oklahoma should emerge victorious in this Week 3 showdown.
