Tulsa Golden Hurricane 2024 College Football Preview
Posted June 23, 2024
2023 Recap
Record – 4-8
ATS – 4-6-2
The word on NARRATIVE STREET is that the Golden Hurricane were worthy of their 4-8 record. They scored a mere 23 PPG whilst allowing 34 PPG, but if you dig a bit deeper, the 2023 season wasn’t as disgusting as it appeared on the surface. Tulsa was blown to bits in three games by a combined score of 178-37 (!!), and four of their losses came by one score. Sadly, it was still in year in which they had a six-game losing streak and only managed to win four games.
Should fans in Tulsa have any hope for the 2024 season?
Tulsa Golden Hurricane 2024 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Golden Hurricane did a fine job on the ground in 2023 (#35 FBS rushing offense) but they struggled thru the air (#92) which is something Tulsa fans hadn’t seen since 2018. We like the look of the QB room as the Golden Hurricane return their top-two QBs whom are both young enough to significantly improve (Francis, Williams) and they add veteran Cooper Legas from Utah St. The WR unit has a legit #1 option is Kamdyn Benjamin (727, 6 TD LY) and a decent #2 in UTEP transfer Jeremiah Ballard (551, 16.2, TD) so they just need a few other WR/TE options to emerge for the THROW GAME to prosper. Tulsa sports a very nice 1-2 combo at RB in Anthony Watkins and Bill Jackson (combined 1,303, 5 TD LY) so we expect some excellent balance on offense this season. The FLY in the OINTMENT is likely the offensive line as they did a good job in 2023 but only return a pair of starters and not much starting experience as a group. There’s definite growth potential on offense but the offensive line can’t take a big step backwards if Tulsa wants to SCORE the FOOTBALL on a regular basis.
DEFENSE
Tulsa was awful on defense for the 2nd season in a row LY (#125 total D) and they were particularly horrid when it came to defending the pass (#124 pass efficiency D). We don’t have great news to report as Tulsa loses seven of their top-eight tacklers including all-Universe safety Kendarin Ray (131 tackles LY) and sack master Ben Kopenski (8.5). As far as the 2024 defense goes, DE Owen Ostroski is a legit PENETRATOR up front (10 TFL) but Tulsa will be relying heavily on transfer bodies to produce in a meaningful way such as LB Myles Jackson (Indiana) and LB Gavin Potter (Kansas). It looks like another long season on defense for Tulsa unless several of their transfers really blossom.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Tulsa was brutal on special teams LY (#126 per Steele rankings) and there’s no reason to expect any meaningful improvement in 2024. They snagged a decent PK thru the portal in Seth Morgan but he’s gotta replace the departed Chase Meyer who was very reliable LY (17/20 FG, 30/31 XP).
Schedule Analysis
WHOA, NELLIE!
As dreary as the outlook may be on defense and special teams at least Tulsa can look at the schedule and make a small sigh of relief. There are three winnable games in non-conference play and they miss Memphis and Tulane (!) in AAC action. They also get to face Temple. #CHACHING
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Louisiana Tech (Sept 21)
This is a tricky scheduling situation as Tulsa will be coming off a home game against an in-state Power 4 team (Oklahoma St) and they’ve got conference play starting the following week (at North Texas).
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 23
Over 4.5 -130
Under 4.5 +110
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
There are several winnable games on the docket, and if you presume they take care of Northwestern St and Temple, they just have to find three more victories. What could possibly go wrong?
NOTE – “Lean” implies this is how we’d invest in this market if forced to make a choice. We’ll notify subscribers in our Season Win Total blog post of any season win totals that have made our investment card.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Tulsa is 29-28 SU at home over the L10Y but just 18-41 in true road games. Funny enough, despite losing the vast majority of the time ON THE HIGHWAY, the Golden Hurricane are a very SPICY 29-12-2 ATS (71%) as a road underdog over that 10-year time period.
The river that snakes thru the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the, wait for it, ARKANSAS River. #TriviaBomb
Season 2 of the underrated Sylvester Stallone vehicle TULSA KING is slated to air in late 2024. Let’s goooo!
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
“Hold on to your butts.”
<Ray Arnold, Jurassic Park>
The Golden Hurricane offense will be good enough to keep these guys in a lot of games provided that the offensive line isn’t a disaster. The defense is still going to be a major issue but they just need to be a bit better than last season’s stop unit to make the season interesting. Given the favorable schedule that lies ahead we’ll call for five wins with an outside shot of getting to six wins and bowl eligibility. #ReignCane!