Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Final Overview
It's going to be a very hard pressed idea to think that Tulsa can win ten games again in 2017. There are far too many questions that need answering, and far too much production to replace. The defense will be younger than it was a year ago, and that unit managed to allow almost 30 points per game. I see Tulsa as a bowl team, but to say that with all of their questions, and all of their youth, that they can win the AAC West, well, that would not be responsible to say. Tulsa is still on track to be a regular thorn in this division, but this year, they may be taking a step or two back.
What Really Happened
Not only did Tulsa not repeat their ten win season from 2016, they completely bottomed out as a two win football team, and were never close to becoming bowl eligible. I was off on that assessment, maybe giving Phillip Montgomery a bit too much credit on being able to salvage so much loss. Offensively, the Golden Hurricane lost 13 points per game in scoring offense, dropping from 42 to 29. The passing game was less efficient with the loss of Dane Evans, and despite DeAngelo Brewer still doing his thing at RB, they lost a second 1000 yard rusher in James Flanders, and they were not able to find anyone to get close to replicating his numbers. Youth on defense was evident, as Tulsa allowed almost 8 points per game more in 2017 than they did a year prior. Tulsa, while having an abysmal time of the season, still did manage to be that thorn I spoke of, as they beat Houston, and played Navy tight in a 31-21 loss. They did manage to lose to Memphis by 27 points, however.
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