Okay I'm going to take alot of heat for this one, but the lemmings are lining up to dump their cash on Houston Cougars. Reading nothing but all kinds of outlandish ass whipping predictions all over the internet. Don't think I've seen one post backing the Owls. Now I'm also a big proponent of betting against a coach in his first couple of games if possible, but I just have a bad feeling about this one. I'm not going to write a war and peace as I'm sure nobody will even pay the slightest bit of attention to this. And I may be wrong, but here are my five reasons why I wouldn't have a nickel near the Cougars tomorrow.
1. Ken Hatfield was a terrible coach. Hal Mumme with Alzheimers would be an upgrade. When the 70 rushes a game triple option didn't work in your conference for 5 years in a row maybe you should have tried something different. Rice's passing offense was the most retarded thing I've ever seen the last couple of years. Nothing the new coaching staff could implement could be worse.
2. If any school in the nation outside of the Ivy league has kids that could learn a new system in a hurry, it's Rice. I think half the reason the team never tried, is they got tired of watching their half wit coach get X'ed and O'ed to death week in and week out.
3. Todd Graham was the defensive coordinator at Tulsa before taking the Head Coaching job at Rice. In his first year, Tulsa's defense improved from ranking 109th to 60th.
3. Houston returns 17 starters, Rice returns 20+ Last year Rice only lost by 17 to Houston on the Cougars field. Rice turned the ball over 6 times to Houstons 1.
4. Besides last years Rice game, in the last two years Houston has beaten one other D-1 team by more than 14 points. Tulane by 21 in 2004 and 2005.
5. Having a Kevin Kolb heisman watch is real close to blasphemy in my book.
http://uhcougars.cstv.com/kevinkolb/
Plus last time I checked I don't think the books like to give out free money. Scour the net find a Owl backer I dare you.
1. Ken Hatfield was a terrible coach. Hal Mumme with Alzheimers would be an upgrade. When the 70 rushes a game triple option didn't work in your conference for 5 years in a row maybe you should have tried something different. Rice's passing offense was the most retarded thing I've ever seen the last couple of years. Nothing the new coaching staff could implement could be worse.
2. If any school in the nation outside of the Ivy league has kids that could learn a new system in a hurry, it's Rice. I think half the reason the team never tried, is they got tired of watching their half wit coach get X'ed and O'ed to death week in and week out.
3. Todd Graham was the defensive coordinator at Tulsa before taking the Head Coaching job at Rice. In his first year, Tulsa's defense improved from ranking 109th to 60th.
3. Houston returns 17 starters, Rice returns 20+ Last year Rice only lost by 17 to Houston on the Cougars field. Rice turned the ball over 6 times to Houstons 1.
4. Besides last years Rice game, in the last two years Houston has beaten one other D-1 team by more than 14 points. Tulane by 21 in 2004 and 2005.
5. Having a Kevin Kolb heisman watch is real close to blasphemy in my book.
http://uhcougars.cstv.com/kevinkolb/
Plus last time I checked I don't think the books like to give out free money. Scour the net find a Owl backer I dare you.