Win 2 games, drop 2 spots. Odd.
31. Houston (29): Here’s how you know the Cougars are legit this season: The road loss at LSU was a blip and they didn’t lose games after that because of it. Instead, they won, taking out Prairie View A&M easily and then more importantly dispatching Providence at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., a neutral-site game much closer to the Friars. Houston needs to establish itself as a real American contender right away at South Florida and against Temple before the showdown at Wichita State on Jan. 4.