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Texas Tech football: Houston Cougars that could be problems for Tech

By Matthew Conner

Sep 23, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith (1) runs with the ball on a play during the second quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith (1) runs with the ball on a play during the second quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Houston’s head coach Dana Holgorsen stands on the sidelines against Texas Tech, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Houston’s head coach Dana Holgorsen stands on the sidelines against Texas Tech, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at Jones AT&T Stadium. /

Maybe the Big 12 schedule is bringing the Texas Tech football team some help this weekend.  Sitting at just 1-3 on the year and reeling after an unexpected loss to West Virginia, the Red Raiders are set to host what might be the worst team in the conference, Houston.

Picked to finish 12th in the preseason conference poll, the Cougars have done little to disprove those lowly expectations.  Thus, Tech fans are feeling oddly confident in the chances of seeing Joey McGuire’s team pick up its first win of the year against an FBS team.

On the other hand, we did just witness the Red Raiders falling to the team that was picked last in the preseason Big 12 poll.  Also, we have no idea what the Red Raiders will bring to the table on offense after the loss of QB Tyler Shough, one of the team’s most respected leaders.

Still, Houston is a team that Tech should expect to beat.  At 2-2 on the season, the Cougars do have a better record than Tech but they have not looked nearly as competent in their losses as the Red Raiders have in theirs.

After narrowly beating UTSA 17-14 in Houston to open the year, Dana Holgorsen’s team was surprisingly upended by cross-town rival, Rice 43-41.  Though Rice is a bit more feisty this year than in most, no Big 12 team should drop a game to the Owls under any circumstances.

In week three, Houston got a rude introduction to life in its new conference.  Drubbed 36-13 at home by TCU, the Cougars showed no indication that they are ready to be a factor in a Power 5 league.  Last week, they got back on the winning track by taking care of Sam Houston State 38-7.

Interestingly, this week will be the first time that Houston has played a game outside of Space City in 2023.  What’s more, life in Lubbock has not been kind to the Cougs.

Having not won in the Hub City since 1990, U of H is 0-3 at Jones Stadium since 2010.  That includes last season’s 33-30 double-OT loss.

Though the Cougars are now a permanent part of Tech’s orbit, many Red Raider fans likely haven’t paid much attention to them given the low preseason expectations and the lackluster start to the year.  So to start getting ready for this must-win game, let’s take a look at some Cougars that could be problems for the Red Raiders on Saturday.

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