East Carolina @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 3, 2012 ) Houston 28, East Carolina 48

Houston will use its third starting quarterback of the season when the Cougars host East Carolina on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore D'Eriq King was named the starter Monday after leading the Cougars to an upset of South Florida last week.

"I'm grateful that we have three guys that can go out and win games as starters," first-year coach Major Applewhite told the media Monday. "That's something that's very difficult to have in college football. I just want to see consistency from that position for our overall offensive success." The Pirates will stick with Duke graduate transfer Thomas Sirk, who left their Oct. 21 win against BYU with a shoulder injury. Backup Gardner Minshew threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns in relief, but Sirk is healthy and will start Saturday. East Carolina's defense - ranked last nationally in scoring and yards allowed - will have its hands full against a Houston team that can score in bunches.

TV: Noon ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Houston -24.5

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (2-6, 1-3 AAC): Sirk has thrown for 1,650 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions while Minshew has 654 passing yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Davon Grayson leads the Pirates with 47 catches for 795 yards and six touchdowns and has recorded three 100-yard performances in the past five games. Kiante Anderson has 3.5 of the 10 sacks by a Pirate defense allowing 45.9 points and 577.6 yards.

ABOUT HOUSTON (5-3, 3-2): King went 12-of-20 for 137 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 83 yards and two scores against South Florida after previously recording 46 rushing yards and 29 catches for 264 yards and two scores in five games as a receiver. Mulbah Car (264 rushing yards, two touchdowns) is coming off his second career 100-yard game after playing in relief of Duke Catalon (519 yards, seven touchdowns), who injured an ankle last week and is questionable. Sophomore Ed Oliver - a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award - ranks sixth nationally among defensive linemen with 49 tackles to go with 2.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss.

EXTRA POINTS

1. East Carolina averages 108.2 rushing yards and has been held below 100 yards only three times.

2. Houston QBs Kyle Allen (771 yards, four TDs, four INTs) and Kyle Postma (1,125 yards, five TDs, six INTs) have combined for 15 of the Cougars' 17 turnovers.

3. Houston LT Josh Jones (knee) and KR John Leday (concussion) will miss Saturday's game after getting injured against South Florida.

PREDICTION: Houston 45, East Carolina 20