HOUSTON vs. NAVY
Records: Houston 6-4, 4-3 AAC; Navy 6-4, 4-3.
Series history: Houston leads 2-1. Key players: Houston — QB D’Eriq King, WR Linell Bonner, LB Leroy Godfrey; Navy — QB Zach Abey, RB Anthony Gargiulo, SS Juan Hailey.
Who has the edge
Offense — Even. The Cougars seemed to have an advantage going into last year’s matchup but couldn’t stop Navy’s triple-option attack. The Midshipmen are second in rushing offense (360.5) this season, and the Cougars are allowing more rushing yards per game than a year ago. A healthy King under center is giving Houston’s offense a spark. He threw for 225 yards and rushed for 141 and two TDs last week. Navy is No. 1 in time of possession (36:29).
Defense — Even. The Cougars were a top-10 run defense last season. They’re 39th at 142.7 rushing yards per game allowed while playing with a bangedup Oliver this season. They’re also allowing 23.9 points per game, which is tied for 43rd. The Midshipmen aren’t forcing as many turnovers, but they’re better against the pass, allowing 236.3 yards per game, which is 84th.
Special teams — Houston. K Caden Novikoff is 9-of-11 on FGs this season. He’s made seven straight since missing a 46-yarder against Rice on Sept. 16. His 39yard FG gave Houston an early 3-0 lead on Tulane. P Dane Roy averaged 47.5 yards on two punts last week. He’s at 42.1 on the season. Navy K/P Owen White went 1-for-2 last week with a miss from 37 yards. He’s averaging 41.8 yards per punt.
Notable: The Cougars, then No. 21, and then-No. 16 Navy met for the first time in 35 years in 2015, with the Cougars winning 52-31 at TDECU Stadium behind Greg Ward’s 308 passing yards and four TDs (one rushing). The Cougarss also rolled 35-0 when they met in the Garden State Bowl on Dec. 14, 1980 in East Rutherford, N.J., but Navy stunned Houston 46-40 last season.
About Houston: The Cougars (64, 4-3) stumbled in a 20-17 loss to Tulane last week in New Orleans. They led 17-13 after King’s second rushing TD with 6:50 left but gave up a 64-yard TD pass only 37 seconds later. The Cougars finished 445 yards but trailed 13-3 at halftime. Godfrey tallied a career-high eight tackles in the setback.
About Navy: The Midshipmen are coming off a 24-17 loss to Notre Dame. They led 17-10 in the third before Notre Dame WR Kevin Stephenson hauled in two second-half touchdown receptions. The Midshipmen had 277 rushing yards in the game but averaged only 3.8 yards per carry. They lost three consectuive games before beating SMU 43-40 on Nov. 11.