(Previous weekly reviews from the 2004-2007 seasons are here).
As noted earlier here, I think the Owls (1-0/1-0 CUSA) are a good bet to surprise this season. They have an excellent and experienced QB in Chase Clement and an All-American caliber senior WR Jarrett Dillard. The Owls’ offense is explosive and difficult to defend. As usual, the defense is undermanned, but they executed reasonably well in defending SMU’s new Run ‘N Shoot-type offense and really just need to play well enough to give the Owls’ offense an opportunity to outscore the opposition. The Owls travel next Saturday to play another CUSA opponent, Memphis (0-1). Don’t be surprised if the Owls start out 2-0.
New Houston (1-0) coach Kevin Sumlin unleashed the Cougars’ new spread offense on undermanned Div I-AA Southern and the result was over 600 yards of total offense and a convincing win. The Coogs have an experienced and talented QB in redshirt sophomore QB Chase Keenum (33-43/390 yds; 5 TD’s) as well as a deep receiving corps (11 different receivers caught passes during the game). The Cougars defense also has some playmakers, to this team has the potential to contend for the CUSA title if it continues to develop. The price of poker goes up next week, though, as the Cougars travel to Stillwater to take on a talented Oklahoma State (1-0) team that dusted off Washington State in Seattle over the weekend.