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C-USA Championship pick

LAST WEEK: 4-2
SEASON: 76-20

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Saturday’s matchup in Tulsa is Conference USA’s version of Alabama-Florida. This will be the third meeting between the Knights and Golden Hurricane since C-USA first held a football championship in 2005 (a Tulsa win over UCF). Tulsa is 1-2 in the championship game (losing to UCF in 2007 and East Carolina in 2008) while the Knights are 2-1 (in addition to the 2007 title, UCF beat SMU in 2010).

In addition to hosting the game (Tulsa beat UCF, 23-21, on November 17th), the Golden Hurricane will be playing for conference pride, as UCF heads to the Big East for 2013. Tulsa ranks third in total offense among C-USA teams (462.2 yards per game), while UCF’s offense features tailback Latavius Murray (league-leading 107.1 yards rushing per game). Not surprisingly, the game will showcase the top two defenses in C-USA. (The third-ranked defense in the league? Memphis.)

Tulsa is coming off a loss to SMU, while UCF has won seven of eight (the only loss being at Tulsa).

I like home games in December.

Tulsa 24, UCF 20

By Frank Murtaugh

Frank Murtaugh is the managing editor of Memphis magazine. He's covered sports for the Flyer for two decades. "From My Seat" debuted on the Flyer site in 2002 and "Tiger Blue" in 2009.