North Carolina A&T @ Tulsa preview

Driving rain and lightning were only half the misery that Tulsa endured in last week's 48-3 demolition at Ohio State. The Golden Hurricane hope for clearer skies and a lot fewer mistakes when they host undefeated FCS foe North Carolina A&T on Saturday.



Trailing 6-3 late in the second quarter, back-to-back interceptions by Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans led to the Buckeyes' onslaught. Evans, who is on pace to become the school's all-time passing leader, is off to a slow start, connecting on 27-of-55 passes with one touchdown and four interceptions. The Aggies must avoid a letdown as they are coming off their first victory against a FBS school, tripping Kent State 39-36 in four overtimes last week. The victory helped them climb to 19th in the FCS coaches' poll.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: None

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA A&T (2-0): The Aggies have won the Black College title and several prestigious FCS games but coach Rod Broadway labeled last week's win as one of the most significant in the program's history. Running back Tarik Cohen, who is 432 yards from breaking the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference career rushing record, had 258 yards from scrimmage against Kent State and linebacker Jeremy Taylor was named the national FCS Defensive Player of the Week after notching 15 tackles, two sacks, two pass breakups, an interception and a forced and recovered fumble. Kylil Carter, last week's starting quarterback, is questionable with a leg injury, leaving the probable start to Oluwafemi Bamiro, a fifth-year player who threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Denzel Keyes in overtime against Kent State.
ABOUT TULSA (1-1): The Golden Hurricane (1-1) managed only Redford Jones' 37-yard field goal in the first quarter and were limited to 188 total yards on offense against the fourth-ranked Buckeyes. Despite last week's loss, coach Philip Montgomery told reporters: "That’s the best I’ve seen us play defensively since I’ve been here and against a really, really good football team that is explosive.” Offensively, however, there are concerns as Tulsa, which returned the bulk of its starters in the passing game, ranks 106th in the nation in passing averaging 167 yards after finishing last season 11th at 333.2.

EXTRA POINTS
1. Before last week, the Aggies had lost to their previous three FBS opponents by an average of 39.7 points.
2. Tulsa junior RB D'Angelo Brewer was held to 58 yards last week after rushing for 164 and three touchdowns in a 45-10 victory over San Jose State in the season opener.
3. The Golden Hurricane are 17-1 against FCS schools, losing only to Louisiana Tech 22-17 in 1986.

PREDICTION: Tulsa 37, North Carolina A&T 10