The College Football Preview, Week Five: No Wins for Notre Dame, No Arrests for Texas

Welcome back to another weekend of college football. Let’s get started.

The big game, as far as I’m concerned, is at Robertson Stadium where the 2-1 Houston Cougars are taking on the 1-3 East Carolina Pirates. This is the Conference USA home opener for the Cougars. The Coogs appear to have settled on their quarterback, at least for this week. Case Keenum is getting the start after coming off the bench last week to spark the offense to that second half comeback over the Colorado State Rams.

I like this decision. Keenum’s had turnover problems, and his arm strength is not the best of the UH QBs, but he has the ability to make Art Briles’s offense click. If you can’t make this game in person, then make sure to catch it at 6:00 p.m. on 790 AM.

The surprising 3-1 Baylor Bears are journeying to Kyle Field to take on the 3-1 Aggies. The Bears haven’t really defeated a good team this season, and they should have problems with the Aggies, except the Bears always find a way to play the Aggies tough. At A&M, the fun’s already started. And by fun, I mean the Fire Dennis Franchione Web sites have sprung back to life after last week’s defeat to Miami.

Colorado State, after losing to the Coogs, ventures to Fort Worth to take on TCU on Saturday. TCU has not been as good as expected this season, but Colorado State may be just what they’re asking for. And the Metroplex gets another great game as UTEP takes on SMU.

Texas Tech scored 45 points on Oklahoma State last week. But its defense gave up 49 points and Tech got its first defeat of the season. Everyone knows about the post-game outburst of the Oklahoma State coach, but the Tech coach Mike Leach went off on his team. Also, the defensive coordinator quit following the game. This week, Tech’s going up against Northwestern State (of Louisiana). I don’t think Tech needs to worry about losing this game.

The undefeated seventh ranked Longhorns are hosting 2-1 Kansas State. Kansas State is 3-2 against the Horns since the Big 12 started. And one of the reasons the Horns didn’t get to play for the National Championship last season (besides losing to the Aggies) was that Kansas State upset them last season by a 45-42 score.

The good news for the Horns, along with being undefeated while looking like crap in several of their games, is that no one seems to have been arrested this week. Congratulations on that.

Nationally, there should be a good game tonight with (5) West Virginia visiting (18) USF. On Saturday, (2) LSU goes to New Orleans to take on Tulane.

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For those who are interested, winless Notre Dame should be losing to Purdue on Saturday. You can turn into ESPN at 11:00 a.m. for that one. I’m wondering if the Fire Charlie Weis Websites have started up yet (wow, so they started up last season). Ty Willingham doesn’t look so bad right now, does he? This couldn’t happen to a better team, or college.

Number 3 Oklahoma is going up against Colorado in Big 12 action, and the Number 1 ranked USC Trojans take on Washington Saturday night – I wonder if it’s going to be on ABC in prime time? But if you ask me, the best game of the day should be (6) California going up against (11) Oregon. This should be a fun, offensive battle.

Oh, Rice fan, the Owls are off this week, so the odds are they won’t lose this week. And TSU is in Alabama taking on Alabama A&M.

So, that’s your college football weekend primer. Go Coogs. And Shasta, let’s not get our ass kicked this week. – John Royal

The Houston Press is a nationally award-winning, 30-year-old publication ruled by endless curiosity, a certain amount of irreverence, the desire to get to the truth and to point out the absurd as well as the glorious.

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