ESPN Matchup Predictor now has us going 10-2 with a loss at Memphis to close the season. Would you take that result right now? I have my opinion, but I’d like to see what the board thinks.
That would be an accomplishment given how bad our defense looked at Tech. 66 points allowed, just think on that. Anywhoo, Memphis does remind me of Tech offense.
I think Joseph Duarte had us going 10-2 and losing to Tech and Memphis. I think we all knew those two games were toss ups.
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Considering seasons can turn horrifically bad with a single injury, I would definitely take a 10-2 season. That is a very good record and nothing to be upset about. That being said I feel like we have the POTENTIAL to run the table. Again, I see potential but the real question is can we play up to her potential.
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I’d prefer to take my chances on winning out.
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10-2 puts us in the championship game with a shot at the NY6 bowl. I’ll take it!
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Yeah, I’d take it. Then if we knocked out UCF we are in a NY6.
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In years past, yes. But not this year. Memphis is severely downgraded at QB and WR this year as compared to last year and are heavily dependent on Darrell Henderson’s ground game.
Memphis QBs are collectively 115 of 170 for 1636 yards while their RBs have collectively carried the ball 213 times for 1647 yards.
Tech QBs are collectively 166 of 243 for 2038 yards while their RBs have collectively carried the ball 219 times for 919 yards.
Memphis is far more dependent on the run and far better at it than Tech. Brady White is averaging 26 pass attempts per game. Bowman is averaging 33.
I do believe Memphis’ passing game will be successful against us, but more so because that’s our weakness rather than passing being their strength. If we can keep Henderson somewhat contained, I think we have a better shot at winning that game than losing it. Although, I have to say I’m a bit concerned about our success agains the run after watching Charles Taylor run right through our attempted tackles last Saturday. Henderson is a big strong back and a MUCH better RB than Taylor, so we better learn to tackle before 11/22. Hopefully once Darrion Owens comes back, he can stay healthy.
All that said, if Memphis is our only loss before the end of the regular season, we get our shot against UCF (or whoever wins the East), which is what I want. However, if SDSU runs the table in their conference, they may be ranked higher than us even if we beat a ranked USF and UCF/Cincy. It will likely be close.
Id be thrilled with that. Would improve my perception of CMA even if the West is as weak as it appears
Did Darrion Owens missed the Tech game
Yes. He got hurt in the first quarter of the Rice game I believe.
Ohhh… Okay.
That said, I’m sure he’s going to be rusty when he comes back and not sure how long it will be before he’s back in the starting lineup, if at all. But I am hopeful he can help us as a thumper against run-heavy teams down the stretch.
Edit to add, I forgot JD wrote about Owens coming back sooner rather than later. Currently listed as questionable for this week, but did return to practice. That’s promising!
This quote from Applewhite talking about missed opportunities on turnovers against Tulsa admittedly made me giggle:
“We’ve got to go back and focus on some ball drills,” Applewhite said. “We need to keep our hands on those balls.”
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Ya Woo Cougar Football! 10-2 would be great.
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By the end of the season, I believe we can go 11-1 and face UCF or Cincy in the AAC Championship game. Afterwards, we’ll either be 11-2 or 12-1 and advance to a NY6 bowl game.
My optimism is based an intuition that we haven’t reached our offensive stride. Barring injury to key players, I believe the offense will continue to improve. Despite what some may think, I believe Kendal Briles is still improving. He is learning this team, the team is learning him.
Kendal is not Art. Kendal is still a work in progress. This is the first time he’s been the MAN at a program without the benefit of a well established coaching mentor to consult offensive strategy.
At Baylor, Kendal had Art to guide him. At FAU, Kendal had Lane Kiffin to guide him. Both Art and Kiffin are accomplished offensive minds. IMO, Kendal is not a finished product, but he’s improving and UH will be the beneficiary. Also the players are still learning his system. It takes time, but based on the first five (5) games, we should be a well oiled machine by the Memphis game.
This team only needs the defense to step up each and every game. We don’t need a lot from the defense, but with our offense, we do need them to make a enough stops in the course of a game to give us the offensive advantage, much like a chess match. Fortunately for UH, our schedule is very manageable.
ECU and Navy are having down seasons. Neither one gives me pause. SMU and Tulane should be wins. USF will be formidable, but we beat them last year in South Florida and I see no reason not to do it again at TDECU. Temple could pose us problems for about two or three quarters, but we all know that UH has the better team. As a program, Memphis appears to be more vulnerable at this stage of the season than most of us thought at the beginning of the season. Still, they will be tough on the road. Even so, if we stay focused and continue to improve, our won/loss record could balloon to 11-1.
That said, hopefully, we’ll be able to avoid our yearly UFO, the so called, unexpected freaking outcome, which UH has experienced dating back to the Yeoman years.
This brings us to the AAC Championship Game. Take your pick, Cincinnati or UCF, because it’ll be one or the other. The winner could very possibly make it to the NY6 game, but if not, then the winner and loser should garner a better bowl game than the Birmingham or Air Forces Bowl.
I’m not normally a rose colored glasses type of person, but I believe we have an very good chance of being 12-1 or 11-2 after the AAC game. If 12-1, we’ll be in a NY6 matchup.
All we have to do is do it. Imagine finishinf the season with 12 or 13 wins…Superb!
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With our coaching staff, our porous defense, and the fact that one loss will probably get us in the AAC Championship game - yes I’d gladly take 10-2 with a chance to win the AAC.
If we are 10-1 going to Memphis who is by then is out of contention for the west, we have a good chance of winning that one too. By then, that game will have little consequence on the AAC championship picture, unless the east champion have a conference loss. In that case, we’ll have even more motivation to beat Memphis for home field advantage in the championship game.
We just need to get to 10-1.
Go Coogs, beat the Pirates!
Ya Woo Cougar Football.
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For the record, “Yahh Woo” is the equivalent of “Go Cougs”…it’s Ya Woo. #YWCF
(All in good fun of course)
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If Memphis plays us like they did against Tulane, then we will go 11-1.