The Barn Burner in Houston
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:28 pm
Each and every week will be the Cougars biggest game until they lose; however, this game will put them into upper echelon of BCS talks should they take care of business.
I honestly think had the Cougars played this game last week fresh off the upset over the Cowpokes, it would have been a win for the Red Raiders. The players and coaches can say all they want about staying focused and taking it one game at a time, but the hype probably would have deterred their attention to detail.
With the bye they've had time to let it soak in and prepare for a Tech Team who will be hungry after a tough loss to conference rival Texas.
This game has the markings of a good ol' Texas shootout, but Tech's defense has been stingy the first three weeks and Houston kept Zack Robinson in check for the most part. I still believe 80 points will be scored, but not necessarily all from the offenses.
Art Briles was the receivers coach at Tech when he took the job at Houston and was the pioneer of what has become Houston's offense today. Leach and the Red Raiders should be familiar with Houston's spread and unorthodox motion sets when their defense lines up on the other side. Houston's defense is very familiar with Tech's offense because of the likes of Tulsa, Rice, and SMU's offenses...and their own of course.
In saying that, I don't think will matter all that much. Both teams are going to move the ball.
Houston possesses a lot of speed with their linebackers. They move well sideline to sideline and will be quick to sniff out short passes and not allow a whole lot of YAC when Tech settles for the underneath stuff. Tech's offensive line will be the biggest Houston faces all season long and I don't see the Coog’s d-line getting much penetration on Potts, which could be the difference for Tech should they win. Houston's secondary is aggressive and takes gambles going for the turnover instead of sitting back and making the sure tackle. That is a good recipe against Tech because that is the only way you can stop Tech if you're not a BTPFC defense.
Houston's offense will pick Tech's defense apart with some misdirection on screen plays and runs to Beall. Keenum, if he's smart, will only take what is given to him and not try to force anything downfield. Oklahoma State wasn't prepared for Houston's speed. Beall and Carrier are very fast. Carrier will be all over the field and will have to be accounted for on every single play because he can score at any given time. Tech will struggle, but might have better success getting to Keenum than the Cowpokes.
This game will be a shootout for sure, but I think it will come down to a defensive play by one of the teams. It's a rare sell out under the lights at Robertson Stadium. The actual reality of a huge home crowd cheering the Coogs on will give them the edge they need to win against another Big XII foe.
Coogs win.
48-41
I honestly think had the Cougars played this game last week fresh off the upset over the Cowpokes, it would have been a win for the Red Raiders. The players and coaches can say all they want about staying focused and taking it one game at a time, but the hype probably would have deterred their attention to detail.
With the bye they've had time to let it soak in and prepare for a Tech Team who will be hungry after a tough loss to conference rival Texas.
This game has the markings of a good ol' Texas shootout, but Tech's defense has been stingy the first three weeks and Houston kept Zack Robinson in check for the most part. I still believe 80 points will be scored, but not necessarily all from the offenses.
Art Briles was the receivers coach at Tech when he took the job at Houston and was the pioneer of what has become Houston's offense today. Leach and the Red Raiders should be familiar with Houston's spread and unorthodox motion sets when their defense lines up on the other side. Houston's defense is very familiar with Tech's offense because of the likes of Tulsa, Rice, and SMU's offenses...and their own of course.
In saying that, I don't think will matter all that much. Both teams are going to move the ball.
Houston possesses a lot of speed with their linebackers. They move well sideline to sideline and will be quick to sniff out short passes and not allow a whole lot of YAC when Tech settles for the underneath stuff. Tech's offensive line will be the biggest Houston faces all season long and I don't see the Coog’s d-line getting much penetration on Potts, which could be the difference for Tech should they win. Houston's secondary is aggressive and takes gambles going for the turnover instead of sitting back and making the sure tackle. That is a good recipe against Tech because that is the only way you can stop Tech if you're not a BTPFC defense.
Houston's offense will pick Tech's defense apart with some misdirection on screen plays and runs to Beall. Keenum, if he's smart, will only take what is given to him and not try to force anything downfield. Oklahoma State wasn't prepared for Houston's speed. Beall and Carrier are very fast. Carrier will be all over the field and will have to be accounted for on every single play because he can score at any given time. Tech will struggle, but might have better success getting to Keenum than the Cowpokes.
This game will be a shootout for sure, but I think it will come down to a defensive play by one of the teams. It's a rare sell out under the lights at Robertson Stadium. The actual reality of a huge home crowd cheering the Coogs on will give them the edge they need to win against another Big XII foe.
Coogs win.
48-41
