Tulane @ Army preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2011 ) Tulane 6, Army 45

Teams challenged offensively and in a desperate need of a victory meet Saturday when Tulane visits Army in a non-conference game. The Green Wave have scored just 47 points in losing five straight while the Black Knights have dropped two straight and four of five in cementing their fifth consecutive losing season.

Tulane held Connecticut to 227 yards last week but dropped a 7-3 decision when Huskies defensive back Jamar Summers intercepted quarterback Tanner Lee and ran 67 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter. The Green Wave mustered just 140 yards of total offense, including 34 on the ground, and Lee was 13-of-40 for 106 yards through the air. Army managed only 169 yards and nine first downs in dropping a 20-3 decision at Air Force last week. Tulane leads the series 9-8-1 but Army has won the last two contests, including a 45-6 thumping at West Point in 2011.

TV: Noon ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Army - 2.5

ABOUT TULANE (2-7): Sophomore running back Dontrell Hilliard leads the team in rushing yards (424), carries (80), touchdowns (six) and yards per carry (5.3). Lee is completing 53.3 percent of his passes for 1,284 yards with eight TDs and six interceptions while receiver Teddy Veal has been his favorite target with 35 receptions. The Green Wave have faced two option teams this season, yielding 439 rushing yards in a 65-10 loss at Georgia Tech on Sept. 12 and 133 yards in a 31-14 loss at Navy on Oct. 24.

ABOUT ARMY (2-7): Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw, who has missed two games with injuries this season, orchestrates the Black Knights' triple option, rushing for 396 yards and four touchdowns while passing for three more scores. Aaron Kemper leads the team in rushing with 431 yards and averages 6.2 yards per carry while backup quarterback A.J. Schurr leads the team with seven rushing touchdowns. The Black Knights average 51.7 rush attempts versus 7.9 passes and rank ninth in FBS with 257.4 rushing yards per game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tulane ranks tied for 14th in the nation with 7.8 tackles for loss per game.

2. Six of the Green Wave's seven losses have been to teams that were nationally ranked at one time.

3. LB Andrew King leads Army with 73 tackles, including 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

PREDICTION: Tulane 16, Army 13