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FACTS & STATS: Site: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000) -- Dallas, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: Tulane 1-4, SMU 3-0. Away Record: Tulane 1-3, SMU 2-3. Neutral Record: Tulane 0-0, SMU 0-0. Conference Record: Tulane 1-4, SMU 3-2. Series Record: Tulane leads, 12-7.

GAME NOTES: The SMU Mustangs are glad to be back home and in front of a home crowd at Ford Stadium, they will try to jump back into the win column when they play host to the Tulane Green Wave in Conference USA action.

The Green Wave opened the year with wins in two of their first three games, but since then the team has been dreadful, losing six straight. The most recent loss came against East Carolina (34-13) and dropped the team to just 1-4 in league play.

As for the Mustangs, they were rolling in league play, defeating three conference foes during their five-game winning streak. The Mustangs also took care of business against TCU during that run, but since the team knocked off UCF, SMU has suffered two straight losses to Southern Mississippi and Tulsa, and were outscored by a combined 65-10 in those matchups.

The Green Wave currently hold a 12-7 edge over SMU in the all-time series, but the Mustangs have won the last two meetings, defeating Tulane this past season, 31-17.

Offense has been tough to come by for the Green Wave, as the team is producing a pedestrian 22.6 ppg on the year.

Orleans Darkwa is leading the way with 606 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, but as a whole the Green Wave are posting just 120.8 ypg on a mere 3.8 yards per attempt. The passing attack has not been much better, as quarterbacks Ryan Griffin and D.J. Ponder have combined for just 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Griffin was under center in the team's loss to East Carolina and the quarterback did not have a strong showing, throwing for just 132 yards. Griffin was intercepted once and sacked four times. The only touchdown came from Darkwa, who finished with 89 rushing yards on 15 carries.

The offense is only half of the problem for Tulane, because the defense has been just as bad, if not worse. This unit is currently surrendering 35.0 ppg on the season and has been dominated by the run, allowing 164.3 ypg. Out of the 36 touchdowns scored by the opposition 25 have come on the ground.

Tulane allowed three rushing touchdowns in the loss to East Carolina, but surprisingly the defense held the Pirates to just 125 yards on 3.7 yards per attempt. What hurt the Green Wave in the matchup was their inability to stop the pass, as the defense was torched for 329 yards and one touchdown.

Trent Mackey has been a rare bright spot for this defense. He was at it again in the loss to ECU, as he finished with 15 tackles, giving him a whopping 115 tackles on the year.

The Mustangs were fully charged offensively early in the season, but during this losing skid the unit has fallen on hard times, posting just 10 total points.

In the loss to Tulsa the offense for SMU totaled just 265 yards and could not overcome five turnovers, four of which were interceptions thrown by J.J. McDermott, who finished with only 180 yards. The only consistency was the play of tailback Zach Line, who rushed for 118 yards and one touchdown on 5.4 yards per attempt.

Line has had to carry the load for SMU this season since the passing attack has been all over the place. So far he is leading the charge with 946 yards and 14 touchdowns.

McDermott has shown signs of strong play, but has also been miserable at times. That has equaled to 2,193 yards and 10 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.

The five turnovers not only hurt the offense, but also left the defense gasping for air. During the skid, the defense has been abused. In the loss to Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane decided to pick SMU apart with the run and by the final whistle the Mustangs had surrendered 177 yards and four touchdowns.

Tulsa ran the ball 56 times against what has been a strong SMU rush defense. On the season the Mustangs are holding the opposition to just 112.6 ypg and have allowed only 12 rushing touchdowns and four came against Tulsa.

In the loss, Taylor Thompson was able to force a fumble and record a sack, which is his sixth of the season to lead the team.

SMU has been embarrassed for two straight games, but do not expect that number to reach three. The Mustangs are much better than the Green Wave and should snap out of their funk with an easy victory.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: SMU 45, Tulane 20