So
the Cougars have lost three in a row. What do you expect when the three
opponents were Central Florida and Louisville on the road and
Cincinnati at home?Houston has lost four games
this season with the other setback coming at the hands of visiting BYU.
The total point margin in those losses? How about 20 combined points.And the combined record of those four teams they lost to: 36-8.Time
for the Cougars to get back on track today against an SMU squad that
needs a win today or against Central Florida next week (yeah, good luck
on that one) to become bowl eligible. And the Mustangs arrive in Houston
minus record-setting quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who is out with a
knee injury (Now, based on what I wrote below, if this guy plays I'll
blow a gasket). Starting in his place is redshirt freshman Neal Burcham,
who was 9-for-18 for 91 yards with a touchdown and interception while
getting sacked three times in last week's 16-6 win over a lousy South
Florida team.Houston has its own quarterback
issues of late as freshman John O'Korn has struggled of late and is
coming off a 13-for-30, 171-yard performance in last Saturday's 24-17
home loss to Cincinnati, a game the Cougars trailed by 17 in the second
quarter. Not making excuses for O'Korn, but he was playing in the rain
with temps in the 40's on a soggy field. O'Korn
rebounds today because after facing three straight top-20 ranked
defenses (Central Florida, Louisville, Cincinnati) he takes on an SMU
squad allowing an AAC-worst 34.9 points a game. And this game will be
played under sunny skies with the roof open at Reliant Stadium.One
twist though for Houston: freshman Greg Ward will see more playing time
at quarterback AND receiver today. He replaced O'Korn briefly in the
third quarter of the Cincy loss last week and ended up completing
five-of-nine passes for 74 yards in addition to catching three balls for
42 yards. His mere presence as a change-of-pace player will keep an SMU
defense that's allowed at least 28+ points in all but two games this
season, on its heels.Big revenge spot for the
Cougars, who were annihilated 72-42 in last year's meeting thanks to
being -7 in turnovers in that contest, which snapped a six-game series
winning streak. Don't overlook Houston's
surprising defense against a rookie QB making his first-ever college
start. The Cougars have forced 36 turnovers on the season and lead the
nation with a +23 turnover margin. They're also second in the country in
interceptions with 20.
Established in 1995,
lost tough one in OT
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