First look: Charlotte 49ers football returns home against Tulane on Halloween
Charlotte football is back home for a prime-time game on Halloween night.
Nearly four weeks since the last time the 49ers played at Jerry Richardson Stadium, they return to Charlotte for an American Athletic Conference matchup against Tulane. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and be nationally televised on ESPN.
The Niners (3-5, 2-2 American) have won two of their first three home games. Quarterbacks Deshawn Purdie and Max Brown both played in last game for Charlotte, which nearly upset Memphis for the second straight year.
It now welcomes a strong Green Wave (6-2, 4-0 American) squad that’s been led by standout running back Makhi Hughes, whose 939 rushing yards lead the conference.
ESPN will air ‘SportsCenter’ live from Charlotte’s campus
Charlotte will be on ESPN twice on Thursday.
The afternoon edition of SportsCenter will be live from campus roughly five hours before kickoff. The 2 p.m. hour of ESPN’s flagship program will air from Charlotte’s campus quad between the College of Education and College of Health and Human Services, south of Popp-Martin Student Union.
Matt Barrie, who’s on the call for the game alongside Dan Mullen, will be hosting SportsCenter in front of Charlotte students and fans on the quad.
As campus will still be operating on its normal schedule until 2:30 p.m., fans going to watch the show live should refer to the university’s Parking and Transportation Services for parking accommodations. Game day parking and tailgating will open at 4:30 p.m.
Students, fans and guests are encouraged to wear Niner gear and be featured in the background of the show alongside members of the school’s cheer squads, band and mascot. Pizza will be provided by the athletic department as well.
Key matchup: Will Charlotte push Tulane’s stout defense?
One of the best defenses in the American comes to Charlotte on Thursday night.
Tulane ranks atop the conference in defensive efficiency, as its 341.8 yards allowed per game mark the third-fewest given up in the American. The preseason third-ranked team in the conference is outscoring its opponents by nearly 20 points through the season’s first eight games.
Charlotte, which scored 28 points against Memphis’ strong defense on Saturday, has been able to keep itself in games by pounding the run early in the game. It’s averaging 23.63 points per game and previously took down Rice, whose defense is giving up even fewer yards than Tulane.
Thursday evening’s prime-time showdown may provide the toughest test that the Niners’ defense has faced in the American yet. Extending drives and getting on the board early will be particularly critical.
Player to watch: Charlotte WR O’Mega Blake
Look for another big game from Charlotte’s wideout who’s a Rock Hill, S.C., native and former Gamecock.
Redshirt junior receiver O’Mega Blake scored his team-best fifth touchdown of the season in Saturday’s loss to Memphis. Four of his scores have come from at least 20 yards out, including his 39-yard touchdown reception last game.
Blake, who starred at South Pointe before playing three seasons at South Carolina, leads Charlotte with 419 receiving yards this season. Each of his three catches on Saturday were for at least 30 yards.
Tulane has allowed an average of 226.25 receiving yards per game, compared to 208.25 receiving yards per game from the Green Wave offense.
Charlotte will be looking to pass the football on Saturday, and another standout performance from Blake could be key.
Vegas betting odds
Tulane is a 16.5-point favorite over Charlotte, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Niners’ moneyline is +520 odds, and the over/under is set at 55.5 points.
How to watch the Charlotte 49ers vs. Tulane
Matchup: Tulane Green Wave (6-2) at Charlotte 49ers (3-5)
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN App
Radio: ESPN 730
Date: Thursday, Oct. 31
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Place: Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte
