Before the season started we went game-by-game to predict how the Houston Cougars would fare in 2014.
The predictions haven’t been too far off. I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t see the season-opening collapse to UTSA happening. Now, after a disappointing loss at home to Tulane, the Cougars have three games left on the regular season schedule. They are season-defining games. So I figured this would be a good time to break out the crystal ball one more time.
Let’s be honest, the chance of an AAC championship was all but ruined after the Tulane game. It was Houston’s third home loss of the season and it put the Cougars even further behind the head of the class. Cincinnati and Memphis have clearly put themselves out there as the frontrunners going into the home stretch. Throw in ECU and UCF, and the Coogs are all but settled into the middle of the pack.
At 5-4, Houston is one win away from bowl eligibility, and with a clean sweep the Cougars would finish with eight wins. So let’s break it down game by game.
11/22 vs. Tulsa: WIN
I said it at the beginning of the season, and I’ll say it again: this game could get ugly. Tulsa is reeling in a very bad way. Even our own staff is calling for the Golden Hurricanes’ coach to step down at the end of the season. If the Cougars can get back to establishing the running game and playing shut-down defense, there is no reason to think they can’t walk away with an easy ‘W’. The only caveat here is “which Houston team shows up?” Every time you think the Coogs are coming to life, they lay an egg like the Tulane game. Tulsa can score points, but not enough against the Third Ward Defense. The final home game of the season is a 2:00 kickoff and can be seen on ESPN3.
11/29 vs. SMU: WIN
It’s being called the “Lone Star State Showdown.” I think it’s nice they are trying to make a rivalry out of this game. SMU is once again in shambles after the sudden departure of head coach June Jones earlier this season. Since Tom Mason took over the Mustangs haven’t won a game (0-5). They came close against USF, losing 14-13 in the game’s final seconds. Again, assuming the Cougars aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, this game should provide a nice break in between trips to the mall for Black Friday shopping.
12/6 at Cincinnati: LOSS
Did anyone else watch that amazing showdown/shootout with East Carolina last week? Cincy scored at will against the Pirates. And although they also didn’t make many stops on defense, they won the game, and Houston doesn’t have the kind of high-powered attack to keep up with the Bearcats. This is a tough way to end the regular season, because there is a good chance UC will be playing to secure a conference championship on their home field.
So let’s assume I’m right (gulp), and the Cougars finish the season at 7-5. That’s clearly a step back from last year, and a shift in the momentum the Cougars have gained in the Levine era. On the bright side, it would also mean a trip to a bowl game and four more weeks of practice. Many prognosticators out there are linking the Coogs to the Armed Forces Bowl in near by Fort Worth.
The Cougars have shown signs of greatness this season. Remember this team is the only one to beat Memphis in conference play. But as I see it, the season will go down as an absolute head scratcher and will leave Cougars fans saying, “what if?”
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
