Expect a high scoring game in this one!

Southern Mississippi vs. Houston
12:00 PM ET, December 3, 2011
CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Coverage: ABC

Saturday is a full day of college football, starting with the Conference USA championship game between the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles and the Houston Cougars. This game is panning out to be an interesting battle between 2 great offenses and equally good defenses, both ranked top 20 in both categories the staggering difference are the records.

Houston likes the pass a little more than the run, averaging just less than 460 yards a game while the Golden Eagles stick to the power run, obtaining just over 200 yards a game on the ground. The Cougars are coming off one of their worst season ending 2010 5 and 7 they made a few changes, seems it worked out for them, currently 1st in the conference USA they have yet to lose a game.

Houston has made right all the season lost from last year except one, they lost to Southern Miss at the end of last season and they are the only team the Cougars have yet to make right.

The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles are having the best season they have had in a while losing only twice in the year to Marshall early and a last minute field goal by UAB on November 17. The Golden Eagles beat the Cougars last year in an entertaining last season game.

QB Austin Davis is ready to repeat, this season he has thrown for 3052 yards on 251 completions, he has also found the end zone 24 times, while Jamal Woodyard carries the ball on the ground. He has earned 653 yards on 102 carries with 3 touchdowns and wide receiver Ryan Balentine has caught 46 passes for 718 yards and 7 td’s.

The Houston Cougars are soaring high, having won every game this season up to this point and expected to re write history by beating Southern Miss. Houston has scored over 70 points 2 times this season, showing off their killer offensive and that they are not worried about driving the score up on anyone.

QB Case Keenum leads all college quarterbacks throwing an amazing 73.2 percent for 4726 yards with a staggering 43 touchdowns and only 3 picks, running back Charles Sims has assisted on the ground carrying the ball 95 times for 750 yards and 9 td’s while all star receiver Patrick Edwards has 74 catches for 1496 yards and 18 end zone celebrations.

Southern Miss must defend the long throw; Houston lives of throwing high and over the middle, taking that away will close the gap and force them to run the ball more. The Golden Eagles must protect the ball and their QB, too many sacks will create a hurrying mechanic that will only work against them, Houston also needs to go into this game knowing they are facing a difficult opponent, if they take this game too lightly or think they already won; it will be a long day for the Cougars. The line currently has Houston favorite by 13 points and the total at 72, I wouldn’t touch the spread, but I see this game going over the total and reaching the 100+ points.

THEDUCK