Tulsa Golden Hurricane - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

The Golden Hurricane earned a bowl invitation last year, despite losing three of its final four regular-season games. But the losing trend had been established and Tulsa fell 25-13 to Utah in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.  The Golden Hurricane returns five starters on offense, and coach Steve Kragthorpe will be ecstatic to see quarterback Paul Smith (66.6%, 2,727 yards, 15 TD, 9 INT) amongst those players.  Smith is one of the nation’s most accurate passers, and he also added eight touchdowns on the ground for the Golden Hurricane, sparking them to 24th in the nation in total offense. 

Courtney Tennial (171 attempts, 845 yards, 14 TD) and Tarrion Adams (68 receptions, 329 yards, 2 TD) can run and catch out of the backfield, and they should be even more important this season.  Tulsa’s top two receivers from 2006, Idris Moss and Ryan Bugg, are both gone, so Smith will have to find new targets.  Only guard Justin Morsey is back up front, so Smith will have to use his mobility to buy time.  Six players are back on a defense that was 21st in the NCAA in total defense, including 11th against the pass.  The linebacking duo of Nelson Coleman and Chris Chamberlain is going to play a large role if the Golden Hurricane expects to duplicate 2006’s performance.  Kragthorpe also needs to find someone to replace Robert Latu’s six sacks on the defensive line.  The secondary, however, is the area that needs the most help.  Bobby Blackshire and Kedrick Alexander were playmakers, and they will be sorely missed. 

The Golden Hurricane faces two early tests when BYU and Oklahoma visit, and a late-season back-to-back against Houston and at Army could hold the key to Tulsa’s season.  Smith will need better protection and a go-to receiver, if the Golden Hurricane would like to be invited to another bowl in 2007.

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