Tulsa at Iowa State--This is a matchup between
two bowl team from 2011. Tulsa is coming off of an 8-5 season that saw the
Golden Hurricanes lose to four top 10 teams in the nation in a brutal
non-conference schedule last fall. Iowa State went 6-7 in 2011 with a decisive
loss in the Pinstripe Bowl to Rutgers and 5 losses to top 25 teams. The
Cyclones did beat two top 25 teams in Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.
Offense: Normally a passing heavy team,
Tulsa was one of the most balanced teams in the nation in 2011 featuring a
rushing offense that put up 191 yards per game with a 4.8 yards per carry average
and 20 touchdowns. The passing game added 248 yards per game and another 31
touchdowns but 17 costly interceptions on the season. The Golden Hurricanes
finished the season 27th nationally in total offense with 440 yards per game.
Tulsa also made the top 30 nationally in scoring offense with 33.1 points per
game in 2011. Iowa State was the 60th ranked offense in the nation in 2011 with
386 yards of total offense per game last fall. The running game gave the
Cyclones 174 yards per game to go with a 4.2 yards per carry average and 20
touchdowns. The air attack added 212 yards and 17 touchdowns but also 17
interceptions on the season. The Cyclones struggled to score regularly in 2011
with a 22.7 points per game average, only good for the 90th best in the
country. EDGE: Tulsa
Defense: The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
struggled on defense in 2011 with the 87th ranked defense in the nation, giving
up 414 yards per game on the season. Tulsa was solid at stopping the run only
allowing 128 yards per game on the ground and a stingy 3.3 yards per carry. The
rush defense did allow 20 touchdowns on the season. The passing defense of
Tulsa was lit up on several occasions allowing 248 yards and 31 touchdowns on
the season while intercepting 18 opponent passes. The overall points allowed
per game was 27.3 putting the Golden Hurricanes right in the middle nationally.
Iowa State were not very solid on defense in 2011 with a yards allowed average
of 427 yards per game on the season. Opponents ran for 4.5 yards per game for a
total of 193 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2011. The Cyclones allowed 234 yards in
the air but only 17 touchdowns to go along with 11 interceptions by the Cyclone
defense. The 29.4 points allowed per game put Iowa State in the bottom third
nationally. EDGE: Push
Coaching: Bill Blanksnship is the head
coach of the Golden Hurricanes of Tulsa and is entering his second year as the
head coach. Blankenship has been coaching since 1986 at Spiro HS. After Spiro,
Blankenship coached at Edmond Memorial HS, Union HS, and Tulsa as an assistant.
In 2011, the head coaching job at Tulsa became vacant allowing Blankenship to
take the job and lead the Golden Hurricanes to an 8-5 record in his only season
as head coach. Paul Rhoads is the head coach of the Iowa Cyclones and is
entering his 4th season as head coach. Rhoads started coaching in 1989 as a
graduate assistant for Utah State. After Utah State, Rhoads made stops at Ohio
State, Pacific, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, and Auburn before returning to Iowa
State as the head coach after an earlier stint as an assistant. Rhoads is 18-20
as a head coach with 2 bowl appearances but only 1 winning season. EDGE: Push
Tulsa and Iowa State have played only once previously. In 1961, Iowa
State beat Tulsa 27-6.
Tulsa is in the need of someone stepping up at quarterback after the
graduation of GJ Kinne. There are several options but with a new emphasis on
running the football, the Golden Hurricanes can ease the starter into the role.
Iowa State can play up or down to its competition as evidenced by a stunning
win over Oklahoma State last fall that kept the Cowboys from playing for a
national title. This seems to be a very even game with Tulsa being a slightly
stronger offense. Expect plenty of points and a score along the lines of 38-35
or 42-31 with the Golden Hurricanes outlasting Iowa State in the second half.
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