Tulane @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 16, 2015 ) Houston 42, Tulane 7

Houston used a bye week to get healthy before hosting Tulane - winless in American Athletic Conference action - on Saturday. The Cougars are focused on that task and not looking ahead to next week's showdown with Louisville, a matchup that has lost some luster after Houston lost two games in October.

The Cougars rank 10th in the country in total defense (299.1 yards per game) but the Green Wave comes with a twist on the triple-option offense. Houston struggled to stop Navy's triple option - giving up 306 yards in a 46-40 loss - and Tulane runs the offense out of different looks. "Their offense is very unique," Houston coach Tom Herman said Monday. "It will be a great test for our defense. We don't need to change our defense completely ... but on every snap on defense we have to ensure that we have someone for the pitch and quarterback if they run triple option." Houston has won 13 straight at home while Green Wave haven't won a road conference game since a visit to Houston on Nov. 8, 2014.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Houston -24

ABOUT TULANE (3-6, 0-5 AAC): The Green Wave are third in the conference in total defense (360.7 yards) and tied for fifth nationally with 21 turnovers gained (12 fumbles, nine interceptions). Tulane's ground attack averages 251.6 yards and has tallied 20 touchdowns, led by Dontrell Hilliard's 80.4 yards and nine touchdowns and Josh Rounds' 63.4 yards and five scores. Terren Encalade (28 catches, 397 yards) has caught six of the eight TD passes thrown by quarterback Glen Cuiellette (885 yards, seven interceptions).

ABOUT HOUSTON (7-2, 4-2): Greg Ward Jr. - who is 25-4 as Houston's starter - has 2,419 passing yards with 14 TDs and eight interceptions to go with a team-high 432 rushing yards and eight scores. Duke Catalon adds 361 rushing yards and two scores while Linell Bonner has caught 59 passes for 677 yards and two TDs. The Houston defense - ranked third nationally in rush defense (92.0) - forced four turnovers in its last game and has 14 takeaways.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tulane is tied for 16th nationally in turnover margin (plus-7) despite losing five turnovers to Central Florida - including three returned for touchdowns - last week.

2. Houston freshman DT Ed Oliver (team-high 51 tackles) is second in the AAC with 15 tackles for loss while Tulane senior LB Nico Marley (team-high 67 tackles) is tied for seventh with 9.5.

3. Ward needs two rushing touchdowns to tie Bryce Beall's school record of 39 (2008-11).

PREDICTION: Houston 42, Tulane 13