INSIDE SLANT

UCF has gotten off the canvas and fought its way back into the C-USA East title race with a four-game conference winning streak, but will need some help to score a knockout.

“We all know we’re still in it,” senior quarterback Brett Hodges told the Orlando Sentinel. “We know we need East Carolina to run into some trouble and help us out. Right now, all we can do is focus on each game and keep winning. Everything else will take care of itself.”

The Knights (6-4, 4-2) are in a three-way tie for second place, one game behind division leader East Carolina, heading into Saturday’s game with visiting Tulane (3-7, 1-5). UCF is 5-1 at home this season, with the only loss against Miami. The Green Wave has a 1-3 road record and has lost five of its last six contests.

Tulane head coach Bob Toledo has a lot of respect for a UCF defense that ranks third in the nation against the run, allowing 81.5 yards per game.

“We obviously played LSU and they’re the best defensive team we’ve faced, but we feel that Central Florida is the next-best team we’ve faced,” he said. “Physically, they are really tough. I think only three teams have rushed for more than 100 yards against them and obviously we like to run the ball and play action, so we’ve really got our work cut out for us.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• UCF has been outscored 85-47 in the second quarter this season, but has made up the ground in the third (70-47) and fourth (81-55) quarters. The cardiac Knights have won five times this fall after trailing at halftime.

• Despite giving up a kickoff return for a score against Houston, UCF ranks sixth nationally in kick coverage (17.8 yards per return) and eighth in punt coverage (3.4 yards per return).

• SERIES HISTORY: UCF leads 2-1 (last meeting, 2006, 10-9 Tulane).

Scouting The Offense:   The Knights have already scored 34 more points in 10 games than they did in 12 games last season. The balanced attack has produced 14 touchdown passes and 13 touchdown runs. UCF has converted 80 percent of its fourth-down chances (8-of-10) and is the least penalized program in C-USA (40.1 yards per game).

Scouting The Defense:   Led by seniors Bruce Miller and Jarvis Geathers, UCF is tied for seventh in the nation with 3.1 sacks per game and ranks ninth with 7.6 tackles for loss per game. The Knights have the top-ranked unit in C-USA in rushing defense (85.1) and rank No. 2 in total defense (360.0) and No. 3 in scoring defense (22.1).

Quote To Note:   “I think Brett is just a warrior out there. He makes good plays and he does a great job of being able to pick up the blitzes. He is a guy that can’t be fooled twice in the same game.”—UCF head coach George O’Leary on quarterback Brett Hodges.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Tulane at UCF, Nov. 21—The Green Wave kept the Knights out of the end zone in their last meeting, a 10-9 Tulane victory on Nov. 18, 2006 at the Superdome. Michael Torres booted three second-half field goals to get UCF back in the game, but missed the potential game-winner from 35 yards with 3:15 remaining.

Keys To The Game:   Tulane ranks 10th in the conference and 111th nationally against the run, allowing 201.3 yards per game on the ground. Look for the Knights to feed workhorse RB Brynn Harvey, who carried 35 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s upset of Houston. The sophomore ranks seventh in C-USA with 90.9 yards per game.

Players To Watch:  

QB Brett Hodges—The senior completed 12 consecutive passes and finished 21-of-25 for 241 yards against Houston, including a critical 24-yard touchdown pass with 9:03 remaining.

LB Cory Hogue—The Knights’ leading tackler (82) will try to slow down Andre Anderson, who has rushed for 100 yards in back-to-back games against UTEP and Rice and needs just 87 yards to reach 1,000 for the season.

CB Josh Robinson—The standout true freshman will likely be lined up against WR Jeremy Williams, who has 72 receptions for 992 yard and five touchdowns this season. Robinson leads the Knights with eight pass breakups and four interceptions.

Roster Report:  

• WR Jamar Newsome has missed the last two games with a strained knee and is questionable for the Tulane game. He has 22 catches for 276 yards and three touchdowns this season.

• WR Rocky Ross did not play against Houston due to an ankle injury and is also questionable against the Green Wave. The senior has 28 catches for 334 yards and three scores.