Week 6: Rice at Tulsa

Here's the early season marquee matchup in Conference USA, a game with the potential to short-circuit the scoreboard at newly renovated H.A. Champman Stadium. At 54.8 points per game, Tulsa is the nation's most prolific scoring team. At 41.2 points per game, Rice ranks second in the conference and 14th nationally.

Playmakers abound on both sides. Rice has the national record-breaking tandem of quarterback Chase Clement and receiver Jarett Dillard. In last weekend's 77-20 win over North Texas, Clement and Dillard became the most prolific duo in NCAA history. They combined for three touchdown passes to boost their career total to 41. The record was 39.

As for Tulsa, first-year quarterback David Johnson, a senior, is making an immediate impact. He has thrown for 300 or more yards in three of his first four games and leads the NCAA in pass efficiency. Johnson also leads the nation in points responsible for (30 points per game) and is third in total offense (378 yards per game). He's also tied for the national lead with 19 touchdown passes.

The offensive nature of the teams will overshadow the Todd Graham story, which marked the matchup a year ago. Graham is the former Rice coach who led the Owls to the postseason in 2006 before returning to Tulsa, where he served as defensive coordinator in 2005, to became the Golden Hurricane coach.

Notes:

In Tulsa's 62-34 win over Central Arkansas last weekend, running back Tarrion Adams became the first player in school history to reach 1,000 yards receiving and 2,000 yards rushing. He moved into the category with a 24-yard touchdown reception.

Rice sophomore James Casey caught eight passes for 92 yards against North Texas. Casey upped his season total to 45 receptions, which leads the nation. Last year, Casey finished with 45 catches.

As pass-oriented a team as they are, Tulsa can run the ball, too. The Golden Hurricane rushed for a season-high 329 yards last weekend against UCA. Tulsa has passed for 300 yards in 18 consecutive games.

Rice receiver Jarett Dillard had four touchdown catches against North Texas, setting a school record and tying the C-USA mark. Dillard increased his career total to 50 TD receptions to tie an NCAA record.

Key player (Owls) — Chase Clement, QB

The league's best dual-threat, Clement can make a case for league offensive player of the year if he outshines his counterpart. Clement ranks ninth in the league in rushing and third in passing. He has thrown for 14 touchdown passes and rushed for five more.

Key player (Golden Hurricane) — David Johnson, QB

Most thought replacing quarterback Paul Smith, the league's offensive player of the year in 2007, would be a bit more difficult. But Johnson has picked up the beat. His 19 touchdown passes (with only four interceptions), his 73.7 completion percentage and 1,505 yards makes him the nation's pass efficiency leader over some impressive company: Texas's Colt McCoy, Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Missouri's Chase Daniel.

Tulsa by 13