That sound you hear is the University of Houston Cougars sharpening their claws.
For the second straight season, the Cougars enter late October in control of their destiny in Conference USA's West Division. Houston begins a critical three-game stretch Saturday that includes road games against UTEP and Tulsa, the main challengers to a second straight division title, and a home date sandwiched in between against SMU.
All three teams are near the bottom of C-USA in total defense.
This week's game at UTEP marks the Cougars' first trip to El Paso since dropping a 44-41 double-overtime shootout in 2005. Despite not having a proven No. 1 quarterback, the Cougars averaged 52.5 points in the last two games and are coming off their fewest turnovers of the season (one) in Saturday's 49-10 victory at UAB.
UTEP ranks next-to-last in total defense in C-USA (492 yards per game). SMU, which UH plays at home Nov. 4, allowed a conference-record 342 rushing yards to Tulane's Matt Forte. UH running back Anthony Alridge had his breakout game last season against the Mustangs, rushing for 225 yards (on 13 carries) and a pair of 77-yard touchdowns.
Tulsa, the preseason pick by many to win the West, has the league's top offense at 545 yards per game. But Tulsa is ninth in total defense (485 yards per game).
"When you play a conference game and you're at home you take advantage of being at home. If you're on the road, you play tough," UH coach Art Briles said. "You have to be that much more focused and that much more in a tough-minded mode when you go play on the road. We know that if we're going to win the Conference USA championship, we have to win on the road."
In the C-USA East Division, four teams ? East Carolina, Central Florida, Southern Mississippi and Memphis ? have one loss.
For the second straight season, the Cougars enter late October in control of their destiny in Conference USA's West Division. Houston begins a critical three-game stretch Saturday that includes road games against UTEP and Tulsa, the main challengers to a second straight division title, and a home date sandwiched in between against SMU.
All three teams are near the bottom of C-USA in total defense.
This week's game at UTEP marks the Cougars' first trip to El Paso since dropping a 44-41 double-overtime shootout in 2005. Despite not having a proven No. 1 quarterback, the Cougars averaged 52.5 points in the last two games and are coming off their fewest turnovers of the season (one) in Saturday's 49-10 victory at UAB.
UTEP ranks next-to-last in total defense in C-USA (492 yards per game). SMU, which UH plays at home Nov. 4, allowed a conference-record 342 rushing yards to Tulane's Matt Forte. UH running back Anthony Alridge had his breakout game last season against the Mustangs, rushing for 225 yards (on 13 carries) and a pair of 77-yard touchdowns.
Tulsa, the preseason pick by many to win the West, has the league's top offense at 545 yards per game. But Tulsa is ninth in total defense (485 yards per game).
"When you play a conference game and you're at home you take advantage of being at home. If you're on the road, you play tough," UH coach Art Briles said. "You have to be that much more focused and that much more in a tough-minded mode when you go play on the road. We know that if we're going to win the Conference USA championship, we have to win on the road."
In the C-USA East Division, four teams ? East Carolina, Central Florida, Southern Mississippi and Memphis ? have one loss.
