The Cougars will open the 2009 season with renewed levels of optimism, motivation and expectations.
Head coach Kevin Sumlin said his team’s first goal is to make an appearance in the Conference USA championship game, and many analysts believe this is likely to occur.
A panel of 24 columnists and broadcasters that cover Conference USA voted the Cougars as the favorite to win the West Division and the C-USA title.
Four of UH’s first five games are against non-conference opponents and ultimately have no bearing on the C-USA West race. However, the Cougars’ performance during this brutal stretch will give them a good idea of whether they are contenders or pretenders.
The following are previews and predictions for each game, but fans should remember that anything can happen once the season begins.
Game 1: Saturday vs. Northwestern State
Northwestern State will open 2009 in Houston after finishing 7-5 last season. Robertson Stadium should be packed with a raucous crowd, and the players will feed off of its energy.
Sumlin will not allow his team to look past the Demons to Oklahoma State. Look for quarterback Case Keenum and the offense to click on all cylinders.
The Demons, out of the Southland Conference, present little challenge to UH. Fans should expect the Cougars to crush this Football Championship Subdivision opponent.
Game 2: Sept. 12 at Oklahoma State
The first of back-to-back games against Big 12 powerhouses will see the Cougars travel to Stillwater, Okla. to face a Cowboys team led by quarterback Zac Robinson. The Cowboys have not forgotten about the loss they suffered at Robertson Stadium in 2006.
Despite destroying UH last season, 56-37, the Cowboys will have payback on their minds.
This game could become an offensive shootout as each team averaged more than 40 points per game last season. The Cowboys’ home-field advantage should give them the upper hand in this contest.
Oklahoma State has one of the nation’s top offensive and special teams units, led by wide receiver Dez Bryant. If the Cougars want to have any chance at an upset, containing him is key.
UH will score points but fall short against a Cowboys team that will probably be coming off a victory over Georgia.
Game 3: Sept. 26 vs. Texas Tech
After the regular season’s only bye week, the Cougars will welcome Texas Tech to what will undoubtedly be a packed Robertson Stadium. Without Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, the Red Raiders should return to Earth after last season’s 11-2 campaign.
UH will have two weeks to prepare for this matchup, whereas Texas Tech will be riding a high or feeling low after facing Texas one week before.
Familiarity will be the theme of this matchup, as offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen will face his former boss, Mike Leach.
The Cougars will control the clock late in the game and home-field advantage will lead them to an early season statement victory. UH will ride Keenum’s arm to a 42-35 upset, providing a burst of confidence before conference play begins.
Gamer 4: Oct. 3 at Texas-El Paso
Despite Sumlin’s emphasis on conference contests, the C-USA opener against Texas-El Paso could be a trap game for the Cougars. They could be celebrating a victory over Texas Tech and looking ahead to their matchup with Mississippi State.
UTEP will have four games under its belt when it welcomes UH to the Sun Bowl, but the Miners may need more to top the Cougars.
For the second consecutive week, UH will benefit from playing a team that just played Texas in Austin.
Home-field advantage and a possibly cocky Cougars team will help UTEP keep it close for a while, but UH should pull away late to a 38-24 win.
Game 5: Oct. 10 at Mississippi State
The Cougars will finish their non-conference slate in Starksville, Miss. against a team in transition.
In its first season under former Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen, Mississippi State’s focus will be on moving out of the SEC’s cellar. This game could be used to gauge progress for both programs, although winning in a hostile environment would mean more to the Cougars.
The Bulldogs will be battle-tested after facing the likes of Auburn, Vanderbilt and LSU.
They should be quite eager to face a non-BCS school, while the Cougars could be more worried about what is going on in C-USA.
The SEC is too strong at home, so Mississippi State will claim a 27-20 victory, sending the Cougars back into conference play with a 3-2 record.
Game 6: Oct. 17 at Tulane
The Cougars will head to the home of Mardi Gras looking to turn their matchup with Tulane into a Fat Saturday. After starting last season 2-2, the Green Wave closed 2008 with an eight-game losing streak.
Without an offseason influx of talent, Tulane can expect to suffer a similar fate this season. UH should widen the margin of victory from last season’s 42-14 thrashing, and the second string could see action as early as the third quarter.
Keenum and running back Bryce Beall should lead the way to a 45-10 romp in the Crescent City.
Game 7: Oct. 24 vs. Southern Methodist (Homecoming)
For the second straight week, the Cougars will face a C-USA cellar dweller, looking for a more convincing win than last season’s 44-38 victory over Southern Methodist in Dallas.
The Mustangs went 1-11 last year, including a 10-game skid to end the season. SMU head coach June Jones could be looking for his first conference victory, as his lone victory with the Mustangs came against Texas State.
Look for the Cougars to atone for last season’s close game and run the Mustangs off the field. Speedy receivers such as Tyron Carrier will highlight a 44-24 trouncing.
Game 8: Oct. 31 vs. Southern Miss
After a pair of games against C-USA bottom feeders, the Cougars will face Southern Miss for the first time since defeating them, 34-20, in the 2006 C-USA Championship.
The Golden Eagles enter 2009 after a 7-6 campaign, which included a victory over Troy in the New Orleans Bowl. Southern Miss will be looking to build on that momentum this season and should present an excellent challenge for the Cougars.
The Golden Eagles will be about as tested as UH, as they will have faced Virginia, Kansas and Louisville during their non-conference schedule.
This Halloween matchup between C-USA East and West Division powers will be an excellent warm up for the Cougars before they travel to Tulsa the following week.
Sumlin will have his team focused on the task at hand, riding Beall to a 31-17 victory over the Golden Eagles. This will mark the sixth win of the season, making the Cougars bowl eligible for the fifth consecutive season.
Game 9: Nov. 7 at Tulsa
In what could be the biggest game of the season for both teams, offense and revenge will be the themes.
Last year’s 70-30 drubbing at the hands of Keenum and company will be fresh in the minds of Tulsa’s players.
UH is fully aware that the road to the C-USA championship game runs through Tulsa, but the Cougars should feel confident about their ability to hang with Tulsa’s potent offense.
The Golden Hurricane will have faced Oklahoma and Boise State before the Cougars come calling. Both team’s non-conference schedule will serve them well, as they will square off in what could be the best C-USA game of the season.
Keenum will have a field day, but Tulsa should prevail at home, 49-42.
Game 10: Nov. 14 at Central Florida
For the third time this season, UH will face a team one week removed from a trip to Austin.
Central Florida should expect another Texas-style beatdown, because the Cougars will be furious after dropping the biggest game of their season.
UH should have n
o problem dispatching the Golden Knights, who finished 2008 at 4-8.
A 38-10 victory will give the Cougars seven wins before they head home to complete the regular season.
Game 11: Nov. 21 vs. Memphis
At this point in the season, the Cougars could be coasting to a C-USA West crown or fighting for positioning. Either way, Sumlin won’t allow his players to overlook a dangerous Memphis team.
The Tigers went 6-6 during the 2008 regular season, but were trounced, 41-14, by South Florida in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Memphis wants to be known as more than a basketball school, but losses such as these only strengthen the stereotype.
The Cougars will be looking to send a message to crosstown rival Rice, leaving nothing to chance in a 42-21 lapper.
Game 12: Nov. 28 vs. Rice
The term ‘revenge game’ is often used when analyzing football games, but in this case it is certainly applicable. UH not only lost the Bayou Bucket to the Owls last season, but also their spot in the C-USA championship game after a 56-42 defeat.
Rice has lost too much on offense, as Chase Clement, James Casey and Jarett Dillard left for either the real world or the NFL. Couple that with the offensive playmakers who are returning to UH, and this game has the makings of a blowout.
This rivalry is strong enough that Rice will keep the score close early. But by the start of the fourth quarter, the Cougars should be pulling away to their eighth win of the season.
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