Tulsa @ Cincinnati preview

Despite vastly different preseason expectations, Cincinnati and Tulsa meet sporting identical records when Tulsa visits Nippert Stadium on Saturday. Cincinnati fans wanted more than five victories after nine games in 2015, making each remaining game a potential referendum on the future of coach Tommy Tuberville.

First-year coach Philip Montgomery has helped the Golden Hurricane move on from its dismal 2014 campaign by more than doubling that season’s two-win total. Cincinnati and Tulsa rely on prolific offenses, with each team averaging more than 520 yards and 36 points. The Bearcats appear to have the upper hand on defense, where Tulsa allows 100 more passing yards per contest than Cincinnati. Bearcats quarterback Gunner Kiel threw for 523 yards in last week’s 33-30 loss to Houston, and could be in for another big day against the Golden Hurricane’s porous secondary.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNews. LINE: Cincinnati -17.5

ABOUT TULSA (5-4, 2-3 American Athletic Conference): Linebackers Matt Linscott and Trent Martin lead the conference in tackles for loss with 14.5 and 13.5, respectively. Quarterback Dane Evans is 164 passing yards shy of matching his total from last season - a mark he should reach Saturday. Team-leading rusher Zack Langer has missed two of the last three games and is questionable for Saturday because of a hamstring injury.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (5-4, 2-3): Tuberville blames his team’s struggles on their minus-10 turnover margin: “We have been our own worst enemy, and that’s what’s disappointing.” Chris Moore has recorded at least 100 receiving yards in each of the last two games. The Bearcats were limited to 66 total rushing yards against Houston after recording at least 200 yards on the ground in their previous two victories.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tulsa and Cincinnati have not met since 1997. Tulsa holds a 16-13-2 all-time advantage in the series, but the Bearcats won the last four meetings.

2. Cincinnati’s offense ranks fifth nationally, while Tulsa is 12th.

3. Fifteen of Tulsa’s 38 touchdown drives this season have been scored in less than one minute.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 56, Tulsa 42