Winning on third down key
The game may hinge on Tulane’s performance on third downs. The Green Wave ranked 112th in the country last season in third-down efficiency (33.2 percent) and stayed in character against Duke in their opener, converting two of 14 third downs. The Tech defense, meanwhile, showed considerable improvement from its 2014 performance (114th, 46.1 percent) by holding Alcorn State to 2-for-16.
Tulane’s inefficiency led to Duke running 93 plays to 65 for the Green Wave. If the Yellow Jackets can even approach Duke’s effectiveness, it portends a long afternoon for the Green Wave defense.