Cougars, Owls renew Bayou Bucket battle
Saturday is the 50th anniversary of the first meeting between Houston and Rice with the Cougars winning 23-21 before 62,000 spectators at Rice Stadium. Each team is looking to win its first game of the season with the Bayou Bucket at stake. They last played each other in 2018 with Houston winning 45-27 at Rice Stadium for the fifth straight time in the series. Rice is in the middle of three straight football games against former SWC opponents.
Five things to watch in Saturday’s game:
Which team will bounce back?
Both sides are coming off a loss after each allowed sizeable leads evaporate. For three quarters Rice went toe to toe with Arkansas, enjoying as much as a 17-7 third-quarter lead. The Razorbacks outscored the Owls 21-0 over the final quarter. Texas Tech scored the final 31 points in running past Houston 38-21 at NRG Stadium, the final two scores by the Red Raiders coming in the last three minutes. Based on how each team played in its opener, no lead appears to be safe.
Owls looking for a quarterback to step up
The Owls haven’t settled on a
starting quarterback. Rice coach Mike Bloomgren is looking for either game 1 starter Wiley Green or Luke Mccaffrey to take charge and be the go-to guy. Against Arkansas Green got most of the playing time, passing for 152 yards and a touchdown
but he threw three interceptions. Mccaffrey, who played at Nebraska last season, is getting more comfortable in the system and should see his minutes on the field go up against Houston.
How will UH utilize Marcus Jones?
The multi-talented corner/return specialist added to his duties against Texas Tech, lining up on occasion on offense, where he gained four yards on two carries and caught three passes for 0 net yards with a long of three yards. From his cornerback position Jones was the team’s second-leading tackler with six tackles, five unassisted. Jones made a touchdown-saving tackle near the goal line that proceeded a Tech lost fumble. He returned two punts for 13 yards.
Can either side establish a run game?
Through the first full week of the season, Rice as well as Houston, have put together anemic rushing attacks. Houston’s 89 rushing yards ranks 99th-best among FBS teams. Rice isn’t much better. The Owls’ 87yard per game average is 97th. Mulbah Car led the Cougars in rushing yards with 37 on 13 carries. The Owls’ top rusher was Khalan Griffin with 35 yards on 13 carries. Rice’s identity is pounding the ball. They came up well short last week.
Rice is stingy in first quarter
Against Rice last week Arkansas punted on its opening drive, extending the Owls’ streak of 15 straight games without allowing the opponent to score on its first drive of the game. The last team to score on Rice on its opening drive was Texas in 2019 at NRG Stadium. Until Arkansas scored a first-quarter touchdown, the last offensive score in the opening quarter against Rice came at UTSA in the seventh game of 2019.