Houston @ Texas Tech preview
Jones AT&T Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2009 ) Texas Tech 28, Houston 29
Saturday’s game pitting the University of Houston against Texas Tech in Lubbock is one of those late season games that looked a whole lot more interesting when the season began.
With the Cougars (5-6, 4-4 C-USA) finishing off a season that went south early and the Red Raiders (6-5, 3-5 Big 12) struggling through their first season in the post-Mike Leach, score-on-every-possession era, both teams had no doubt hoped this game would be for more than pride.
While Tech is bowl eligible, the Cougars need a win to reach that status and to avoid their first losing season since 2004. Houston is coming off a 58-41 loss last week to Southern Miss, while Tech, under first-year coach Tommy Tuberville, got a feel good 64-21 win last week over Weber State.
The Cougars beat Tech in last year’s game at Robertson Stadium 29-28, but will have to beat a Red Raiders team that is 43-8 at home since 2003. Saturday’s meeting is the 30th between the two former Southwest Conference members, with Houston leading the series 18-10-1, including an 8-5 edge in games played at Lubbock. The Cougars, under third-year coach Kevin Sumlin, last played in Lubbock in 1992, a 44-35 Tech victory. Prior to last season’s win, Tech had won five straight in the series.
Despite losing quarterback Case Keenum to injury in the third game of the season, the Cougars, led by true freshman quarterback David Piland, rank in the top 12 nationally in total passing and scoring offense, averaging 39 points and 316 yards passing per game. But the Cougars’ wins this season have come against teams with a combined 21-35 record. The only winning team they’ve beaten is SMU (6-5).
Last week’s win over Weber State made the Red Raiders bowl eligible for the 18th consecutive season. Quarterback Taylor Potts threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in the first half alone. He finished with 272 yards in the air. But the transition to a more balanced attack under Tuberville has been rocky, with the offense being extremely streaky. The defense has been routinely shredded.
The Cougars are looking to break a three-game losing streak, while Tech looks to close the regular season with three wins in its last four games.