Week 7: Tulane at UTEP

Two weeks ago, Tulane appeared as if it were headed for a turnaround. The Green Wave, after opening the season with respectable losses to ranked teams (20-6 to Alabama and 28-24 to East Carolina), defeated Louisiana-Monroe and SMU with an improving defense. Then Army made a visit and stung Tulane, 44-13.

After limiting each of its first four opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards, Army's ground game erupted for 293 yards. The Green Wave entered the game ranked second nationally in third-down defense and fared well in that area last weekend (Army was 3-of-9), but it was how successful the Black Knights were on the other downs that hurt Tulane.

UTEP's recent run has been the opposite of Tulane's. The Miners have won two straight, overpowering defending league champ UCF, 58-13, and winning at Southern Miss, 40-37, last weekend in double overtime. The Miners had opened 0-3.

Much of their success the past two weeks has been the result of sophomore quarterback Trevor Vittatoe's play. Vittatoe tossed four touchdown passes, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead UTEP over Southern Miss. Vittatoe, slowed by an ankle injury three weeks ago, has recovered to throw for 529 yards and seven TD passes in the past two games.

Notes

Tulane junior running back Andre Anderson is one of only two backs in C-USA averaging more than 100 yards rushing per game. Anderson is averaging 119.4 yards and has rushed for 100 or more yards in three straight games.

UTEP is 2-0 in conference play for the third straight year. It marks the first time the Miners have opened 2-0 in league play for three consecutive years since 1948-50.

Despite allowing nearly 300 rushing yards to Army, Tulane remains one of C-USA's top rush defenses. The Green Wave is allowing 113 yards per game, second only to UCF's 104.4 yards per game.

Behind kicker Jose Martinez's strong leg, the Miners are C-USA's best when it comes to kickoff coverage. UTEP averages 46.8 net yards per kickoff and its 14 touchbacks easily lead the conference. Two league teams — Memphis and East Carolina — do not have a touchback on any of their 60 kickoffs.

Key player (Green Wave) — Andre Anderson, RB

Few had heard of Anderson since Matt Forte, now with the Chicago Bears, dominated Tulane's run game a year ago. But Anderson has established himself, at the season's midpoint, as one of the league's top backs averaging 119.4 yards rushing and nearly 28 carries per game.

Key player (Miners) — Trevor Vittatoe, QB

Behind Vittatoe, the Miners have scored 98 points in their past two games. After missing most of the New Mexico State game with an ankle injury, Vittatoe has returned with a sense of urgency passing for more than 520 yards and seven touchdowns in back-to-back wins over UCF and Southern Miss.

UTEP by 10