HOUSTON VS. ARIZONA
Records: Houston 0-0, Arizona 1-0
Series history: Tied 1-1. Key players: Houston — QB Kyle Allen, WR Linell Bonner, DT Ed Oliver; Arizona — QB Brandon Dawkins, WR Tony Ellison, S Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Who has the edge
Offense — Even. The Cougars averaged 35.8 points per game in 2016, and with Allen, a Texas A&M transfer, set to succeed Greg Ward Jr. at quarterback, and Bonner returning as one of the top pass catchers in the country, they’ll pile up points again. But uncertainty persists. The Coogs have a new head coach in Major Applewhite and new coordinators, and top returning RB Duke Catalon averaged only 3.6 yards per carry a year ago, while the Wildcats started hot, rolling up 595 total yards in their seasonopening win. Defense — Houston. The Cougars held opponents to 100.2 rushing yards per contest a year ago, and they still have Oliver to build around, which is a great thing. The standout D-lineman supplied five sacks, 66 tackles (23 for loss) and three forced fumbles as a freshman, and bigger things are expected going forward. They also return DE Nick Thurman, LB D’Juan Hines, and safeties Khalil Williams and Garrett Davis, and add another A&M transfer in DL Reggie Chevis. Special teams — Arizona. Receiver/punt returner Shun Brown jump-started the Wildcats’ big day against Northern Arizona, taking his first punt return of the season 66 yards to the house for a 7-0 early in the first quarter. Tyrell Johnson returned four kickoffs for 120 yards, and punter Jake Glatting averaged 41 yards on five punts. Houston is replacing KR Brandon Wilson and kicker Ty Cummings, but a healthy D’Eriq King would give it another dangerous playmaker in the return game.
Notable: The Cougars postponed their scheduled season opener against Texas-San Antonio in the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey. … They took the first meeting with Arizona 34-17 way back in 1969. They met again 17 years later in 1986, with the Cougars falling 37-3. Each meeting has been in Tucson.
About Houston: The start of the Applewhite era was delayed by Harvey, but considering what happened to Texas coach Tom Herman — which probably made a few Cougars fans smile — and Baylor coach Matt Rhule in their debuts, that may have been a good thing. The Cougars (0-0) started 5-0 last season but went 4-4 down the stretch, including a 34-10 loss to San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl.
About Arizona: The Wildcats (1-0) already are ahead of their sluggish pace set last season, when they opened with a loss to BYU and then went 3-9, including 1-8 in Pac-12 play. In their 62-24 win over Northern Arizona to start 2017, the Wildcats received rushing touchdowns from five different players and nearly set a school record with 506 yards on 47 rushes (10.8 yards per carry). Dawkins led the way, running for 92 yards and two TDs and throwing for 89 yards and another
Jason McDaniel
WHEN: 9:30 P.M. SATURDAY WHERE: ARIZONA STADIUM; TUCSON, ARIZ. TV: ESPNU RADIO: 950 AM