Houston @ Rice preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 29, 2012 ) Houston 35, Rice 14

Rice looks for a second straight win Saturday when it takes on cross-town rival Houston in Reliant Stadium. The Owls have been successful on the ground this year, with Charles Ross leading the way with 132 rushing yards a game - ranked 10th nationally and first in Conference USA. Quarterback Taylor McHargue is also a threat running the ball, as Rice likes to control the clock and wear teams down.

The Cougars — perennially a passing team — have also hit the ground running, ranked first in the American Athletic Conference with 295.5 rushing yards a game. The Cougars have also been very strong defensively, limiting each of their first two opponents to 13 points and allowing just over 100 yards on the ground a contest. The game between the Owls and Cougars marks the first meeting in eight years as non-conference opponents after Houston's move to the AAC.

TV: 3 p.m. ET. LINE: Houston -3.

ABOUT HOUSTON (2-0, 1-0 ACC): The Cougars are likely going to have freshman John O'Korn starting under center for the first time in his career, as starter David Piland has yet to be cleared after suffering a concussion in a win over Temple on Sept. 7. O'Korn has played well in the first two games this year, completing 74 percent of his pass attempts (34-of-46) for 340 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. “What I've been impressed with probably more than anything with John has been his poise,” Houston coach Tony Levine told the Houston Chronicle. “He went in the (Temple) game when we were losing, and he didn't play a perfect game. But we came back and he led us to victory. He showed tremendous poise and leadership for a guy who has been here for a couple of months.”

ABOUT RICE (1-1): The Owls are hoping McHargue will be okay for the contest after he left early in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win over Kansas with concussion-like symptoms. Following his second interception of the game, Rice coaches felt McHargue was dazed and not as alert while on the sideline, so he was pulled for the game as a precaution. “He was not responding the way … he usually has a twinkle in his eye when you're talking to him and he didn't,” Rice coach David Bailiff told the Houston Chronicle. “It was a concern after that last interception. You just talk to him and didn't feel good about it, so we wanted our staff to evaluate him.”

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cougars WR Markeith Ambles will likely make his season debut against the Owls. Ambles transferred from Arizona Western Community College after originally beginning his career at USC.

2. Rice FS Corey Frazier will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee, the same knee that caused him to miss all but one game in 2012.

3. Houston leads the overall series between the two schools 28-11, including a 35-14 triumph in last year's matchup at Reliant Stadium.

PREDICTION: Houston 28, Rice 24