No. 23 Tulane rides 4-game winning streak into clash with North Texas

North Texas (3-3, 1-1 AAC) at No. 23 Tulane (5-1, 2-0), 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN2)

Line: Tulane by 20 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series record: Tulane leads 1-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

If Tulane runs the table and wins the American Athletic Conference, it likely will get a second-straight bid to a major New Year's Day bowl after winning the Cotton Bowl last season. North Texas needs three victories to become bowl eligible and with only one conference loss so far is still in contention in the AAC.

KEY MATCHUP

The North Texas' offense, which has surpassed 500 yards four times this season, against a Tulane defense which has a conference-leading nine interceptions, averages 3.3 sacks, is allowing just 18 points per game and has not given up any 50-plus-yard plays this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

North Texas: QB Chandler Rogers, a transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, has 12 TD passes vs. only one interception this season.

Tulane: Makhi Hughes rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown in a victory at Memphis last week.

FACTS & FIGURES

Tulane won the only previous matchup, 24-21, in New Orleans in 2013 when both teams were members of Conference USA. Pro Football Hall-of-Fame QB Joe Montana's son, Nick, was Tulane's QB in that game. ... Tulane will be North Texas' first ranked opponent this season. ... The Mean Green defense's seven interceptions is second in the AAC behind only Tulane, but North Texas is the only team to have seven different players with an interception. ... UNT WR Roderic Burns needs 67 yards receiving to become the 10th player in program history to reach 2,000 for his career. ... Tulane is ranked for the second time this season and for the first time since losing to Ole Miss on Sept. 9. ... The Green Wave has won four straight and 17 of 20 games dating to last season, its best 20-game stretch since going 17-2-1 in 1931 and 1932. ... Tulane is 4-0 when first-team QB Michael Pratt has been in the lineup. He missed Tulane's second and third games of the season with a knee injury. ... Pratt has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 38 of his 39 career games, including 20 in a row. ... Tulane coach Willie Fritz enters the game tied with Chris Scelfo and Clark Shaughnessey for most games coached in Green Wave history with 94.

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