Dave Campbell's Week Six Preview/Predfictions

MeanGreen61 · October 4, 2013

North Texas (2-2/0-0 CUSA) at Tulane (3-2/1-0), 2:30 p.m. Saturday, FCS

> Why my confidence is low: The Mean Green turned some heads by giving Georgia a scare between the hedges, but while that effort was nice, these are the games that matter. Making the jump from the Sun Belt to CUSA, this is the kind of game that could give UNT a lot of confidence. Beat an improving Tulane team on the road, and UNT would leave New Orleans believing it can compete in its new league. Lose to the program that's finished in last place in its division the past four seasons, and UNT will be left wondering what it must do to get better. Because this is a senior-laden team that has the pieces in place to make a bowl run. To get the win, however, it's due time the UNT running game show up. UNT topped the 2,000-yard mark as a team last year, but after four games, the Mean Green is on a pace to only produce 75 percent of that. Tulane has been vulnerable against the run. Before it gave up just 26 yards to a Louisiana-Monroe team that's among the worst rushing teams in the nation, Tulane was allowing more than 150 yards per game on the ground. UNT must make this the week the running game is restored. If that happens, the Mean Green should get halfway to blow eligibility with more than half the season to go.

> Key stat: 4, the number of sacks allowed by the UNT offensive line, good for a top 20 national ranking. The sturdy line is a big reason why senior QB Derek Thompson is on pace to throw for 500 more yards, 4 more TDs and 5 fewer INTs this season compared to 2012.

> The mob says: North Texas by 2.5
> So says I: North Texas 30, Tulane 28

http://www.texasfootball.com/college-news/view/180561

Mean_Green09 · October 4, 2013

I think the reason he is on pace to "throw for 500 more yards, 4 more TDs and 5 fewer INTs this season compared to 2012" is because he has more playmakers around him this year. The oline helps, but they were just as good last year if not better.

LongJim · October 4, 2013

I think the reason he is on pace to "throw for 500 more yards, 4 more TDs and 5 fewer INTs this season compared to 2012" is because he has more playmakers around him this year. The oline helps, but they were just as good last year if not better.

Completely agree. The proof is in the amount of receivers MAKING plays now. It's not just a one-man band anymore.