Tulsa Preparing For Critical Final Two Games

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma – The Tulsa Golden Hurricane has a potentially season-defining game against Houston on the horizon, but is making sure that doesn't affect its preparation for a road game against UTEP this week.

Houston currently is ranked No. 11 in the BCS and is in prime position to qualify for a BCS bowl. With that game two weeks away, the situation makes Saturday's contest against UTEP a classic trap game against a seemingly inferior opponent on the road one week before a marquee matchup.

Tulsa has struggled on the road against UTEP in recent years, losing its last three games in El Paso. In all three contests, the Golden Hurricane lost by no more than four points.

"They are playing at home and they will play with passion," head coach Bill Blankenship said. "It's senior recognition day and they are playing for bowl eligibility. They will make it tough on us and we certainly haven't played well there in the past."

Of those three losses to UTEP, two turned into shootouts. Tulsa lost 41-38 in 2005 and 48-47 in 2007, and Blankenship said he hopes history does not repeat itself this year.

"Defensively, we're playing a little better," he said. "I always get a little nervous if we get into a shootout, not because we couldn't respond to that, but we're playing good enough defense to help in either scenario."

Blankenship said the key in avoiding another loss in El Paso is the maturity of this year's team. He said his players grew up this season and that he thinks they are ready to handle the added pressure they now face.

"They've answered the bell pretty well on the games that we were worried," Blankenship said. "Can you answer in Tulane coming off the OU game? Can you start at 11 in the morning? All these things we faced, they've responded very well."

While Blankenship stressed the desire not to look past UTEP, he also acknowledged how important the game against Houston will be. Both teams currently are undefeated in conference play, and no team has ever finished a Conference-USA season without an in-conference loss.

"We want to go into the Houston game with momentum," Blankenship said. "If Houston and Tulsa win out, then the champion will host the conference championship game. That's enough to play for as well. We're very cognizant of what's at stake when we go to UTEP."