Facing a critical point in its season, the Syracuse University football program will travel to New Orleans to face non-conference opponent Tulane University Saturday night at the Louisiana Superdome. The Orange's final regular-season, non-conference game of 2011-12 will come a week before its first of two scheduled bye weeks.

Last week, SU (3-2) lost a heart breaker to Big East Conference rival Rutgers University, 19-16. The Orange blew a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead to lose to the Scarlet Knights in double overtime. Rutgers senior kicker San San Te nailed a 47-yard field goal in the second overtime to give Rutgers the three-point advantage. SU had a chance to tie or win the game, but senior tailback Antwon Bailey cemented the loss by fumbling the ball, which was recovered by Rutgers, on the Orange's next possession.

On Saturday (8 p.m. on SNY), Syracuse will play the Tulane Green Wave (2-3), a Conference USA program that has lost two straight and is 1-1 in its league. Currently, the Green Wave are reeling from two blow out losses to Duke University (48-27) and Army, respectively. 

In six meetings against Tulane, SU is 5-1. The Orange are 3-0 when visiting New Orleans. As of Friday afternoon, the betting odds have Syracuse a 10 1/2-point favorite.

SB Nation New York will have more coverage of Syracuse vs. Tulane. Check back for a full scouting report on the Green Wave, in-game and postgame updates. Follow along at SBNationNY or Jared_E_Smith.