UL Lafayette @ Tulane preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 21, 2013 ) Tulane 21, UL Lafayette 24

Tulane wants to run the football under new coach Willie Fritz and is still figuring out how to rush it over the goal line against strong opponents. The Green Wave will get a chance to earn their first win against an FBS opponent when they end a three-game homestand by hosting Louisiana on Saturday.

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Tulane dropped a 7-3 decision at Wake Forest in its opener and looked like a different team in running over FCS member Southern in Week 2 as Fritz's triple-option offense began to come together. The Green Wave posted 240 rushing yards against Navy last week but could not quite get over the top and yielded a late touchdown in a 21-14 loss. "For us to win games like this, we have to be assignment sound," Fritz told reporters. "We got to learn how to win these kind of games. We are going to get the culture changed here and teach the guys how to have that grit to win these contests." The Ragin' Cajuns have pulled out close wins in each of the last two weeks and have their own strong running game led by senior star Elijah McGuire.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: Tulane -5.5

ABOUT LOUISIANA (2-1): McGuire ran for 223 yards as the Ragin' Cajuns took their Sun Belt Conference opener 28-23 over South Alabama last week, earning himself conference Player of the Week honors. Quarterback Anthony Jennings did his part with three TD passes last week and totaled four passing TDs and two rushing scores in the team's two victories. Linebacker Otha Peters recorded a sack and forced a fumble in the win and is third on the team with 20 tackles on the season.

ABOUT TULANE (1-2): Fritz gave freshman quarterback Johnathan Brantley his first start against Navy after the Houston native took control of the option and led the running game in the win over Southern. Brantley was held to 29 yards rushing and went 3-of-12 for 21 yards passing but opened things up enough with his legs to allow Dontrell Hilliard and Josh Rounds (172 yards and two touchdowns combined) enough room to maneuver. Hilliard totaled 200 yards and four TDs in the last two games after managing 36 yards on the ground in the season opener.

EXTRA POINTS

1. McGuire needs 212 all-purpose yards to pass Tyrell Fenroy (5,231) for the school record.

2. Green Wave LB Nico Marley recorded 14 tackles last week - the seventh time in his career he has reached double figures.

3. The Ragin' Cajuns took the last two meetings, beating the Green Wave in 2012 and 2013.

PREDICTION: Tulane 28, Louisiana 17