Conference USA Football Week Twelve (11/18/06) Preview & Picks

Week twelve in of the 2006 college football season features several interesting match-ups in C-USA that will impact the Conference USA football standings. Additional week twelve previews have already been posted including Tulsa @ SMU and UTEP @ Marshall.

Houston @ Memphis

Art Briles and his Houston Cougars have already clinched the CUSA West Division title, but they still have plenty to play for as they prepare for their regular season finale’ on Saturday at Memphis. UH (8-3, 6-1) has won four consecutive games and with a fifth win they can clinch home field advantage for the CUSA Championship game. The Cougars are coming off a 37-27 win at SMU and have also defeated Tulsa and UTEP in their current win streak. They really appear to be clicking on all cylinders at the right time.

Memphis (1-9, 0-6) was on the short end of a 26-24 decision last week at home against UCF. The Tigers’ disappointing season has largely been a result of their extremely poor defensive play, as they’ve been about as effective as a screen door on a submarine. After allowing 467 total yards to UCF, Memphis is now surrendering an average of 413 yards per contest. This includes 192 per game on the ground. The Tigers are giving up 32.3 points per game. To make matters even worse, they have only forced 14 takeaways.

This doesn’t bode well for Tommy West’s club, as they will be facing a Houston offense that has things rolling. Senior quarterback Kevin Kolb, who is a candidate for the O’Brien Award, leads UH and has passed for 2,999 yards. He has completed 67.5 percent of his passes and boasts an almost unheard of touchdown to interception ratio of 23 to three.

As good as Kolb has been, one of the biggest reasons the Cougars have gotten better and better on offense is because of their increasingly productive running attack. It wasn’t very good for about the first half of the season, but lately it has been flourishing thanks to Anthony Alridge and Jackie Battle. Alridge provides the most eye-opening stat, as he is rushing for 12.5 yards per carry. The junior has rushed for 797 yards on only 64 carries and has eight touchdowns on the season. Battle is averaging five yards every time he carries it. The 6-2, 245-pound senior has 664 yards and 12 touchdowns.

In the passing game, Kolb’s top two targets are Donnie Avery and Vincent Marshall. Avery, who has 46 receptions for 733 yards, is averaging 15.9 yards per catch. Marshall has caught 55 balls for 627 yards. The duo has nine touchdown receptions between them.

Although not nearly the threat that Kolb and company is, Memphis possesses some offensive explosiveness as well. The Tigers have done most of their damage through the air. Junior quarterback Martin Hankins has thrown for 2,232 yards while completing just over 60 percent of his passes. The first-year Memphis’ quarterback has passed for 18 touchdowns, but has also thrown 12 picks.

The Tigers’ top two receivers are Duke Calhoun and Ryan Scott. Calhoun is averaging 15 yards per catch (36 receptions for 540 yards) and has hauled in a team leading six touchdowns. Scott has 40 receptions for 473 yards and three scores.

Memphis’ offense has been restricted by their inconsistent running game and turnovers issues. There have been several games, though, where the rushing attack had to be abandoned because of their big deficits. Joseph Doss is the workhorse, and has 695 yards on the season. He is averaging a solid 4.1 yards per attempt. The Tigers have turned the ball over 17 times this year.

The Tigers will face an improving Houston defense. The Cougars now rank fourth in CUSA in both scoring defense and total defense. They are giving up 22.3 points and 346 yards per contest. They are allowing five less points and 50 less yards than a season ago. Against SMU last week, they did allow 299 yards through the air, but held the Mustangs to only 44 on the ground.

If Memphis is going to win, they must be opportunistic. The Tigers need to win the turnover battle and establish some form of a running game with Joseph Doss to keep the ball out of Kolb and company’s hands.

Memphis will have some success offensively, but the western division champs will be too much. Don’t be surprised to see Hankins throw for 250 or 300 yards, but Kolb and the Cougars will throw for more. Of course, that is if Anthony Alridge is gaining 13 yards per carry. After all, UH just ran for an astounding 357 yards against a Mustangs’ defense that had previously been allowing 81 per game.

UH secures home-field advantage while racking up lots of points and yards in Graceland’s backyard. “Don’t be cruel” Cougars, Tommy and the Tigers have had a rough season.

More Week #12 C-USA football previews will be added later today! Keep chec king back for updates!