2007 Houston Cougars Football Preview

2007 Houston Cougars season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Houston Cougars football preview as well as the 2007 Houston Cougars Football Schedule. If you are college football betting against the college football odds consider Maddux's winning NCAA football picks.

Coach: Art Briles (5th year at Houston)
Team Name: Cougars
2006 Overall Record: 10-4
Returning Starters: 13

In 2006, the Houston Cougars (10- 4 overall, 7- 1 C-USA) finished first in C-USA West and then beat Southern Miss 34- 20 for the league championship. In the Liberty Bowl the Cougars lost to South Carolina 44- 36. In three of the past four years, Houston has gone bowling. That should be the case again this year.

Houston put an average of 33.0 PPG on the board last season with a potent passing attack and a balanced ground game. Four-year starting QB Kevin Kolb is gone, which means the Cougars will start the relatively inexperienced sophomore Blake Joseph (56 YDs, 0 TDs, 1 INT). In the past, the offense has featured speedy receivers spread across the field. This season RB Anthony Aldridge (95 CAR, 959 YDs, 10 AVG, 8 TDs) and will be used more. Senior WR Donnie Avery (57 REC, 852 YDs, 5 TDs) heads a talented group of receivers. The Cougars have a good foundation on the O-line.

The defense gave up too many third down conversions, with 47% efficiency they were ranked 110th. The club shifts from a 3- 4 to a 4- 2- 5. The frontline looks like one of the better ones in C-USA, while the linebackers are tough and intelligent. Junior DE Phillip Hunt is back as the team's sack leader with eight and senior WLB Trent Allen (95 tackles, 49 solo) anchors the aggressive line-backing group. The secondary features a very bright and athletic corner—junior Kenneth Fontenette.

The Cougars open the season at Oregon where they have a chance to upset the Ducks. Alabama will be very tough to beat, while Tulsa is their primary swing game. Although they are without their star QB, the team has enough talent to make adjustments. Houston looks primed to take their conference again.

Houston Cougars Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Sep 1	Oregon	Away
Sep 15	Tulane	Away
Sep 22	Colorado St	Home
Sep 29	E Carolina	Home
Oct 6	Alabama	Away
Oct 13	Rice	Home
Oct 20	UAB	Away
Oct 27	UTEP	Away
Nov 4	SMU	Home
Nov 10	Tulsa	Away
Nov 17	Marshall	Home
Nov 24	Texas Southern	Home

 

For more info on the 2007 Houston Cougars football program, view the Cougars website or read up on the rest of the non BCS ncaa football teams below.