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SMU-Houston Preview

Oct 22, 2009 - 4:22 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Southern Methodist (3-3) at No. 17 Houston (5-1), 7:30 p.m. EDT

Houston overcame a slow start in its last contest. Another one this weekend and the 17th-ranked Cougars might not be so fortunate in the end.

Playing at home for the first time in a month, Houston looks for a fourth consecutive victory over SMU on Saturday night in a Conference USA matchup.

Houston (5-1, 1-1) and its high-powered offense scored a season-low nine points in the first half last Saturday before dominating in the final two quarters to beat Tulane 44-16 for its first conference victory.

The Cougars, No. 17 in their first-ever appearance in the initial BCS standings this week, lead the nation in total offense (560.3 yards per game) and passing (425.3).

Despite his team's subpar first-half effort against Tulane, coach Kevin Sumlin doesn't seem concerned that will become a trend.

"Whenever we don't score every time we have the ball everybody seems to think we've got a problem," said Sumlin, who's team is third in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 40.8 points per contest. "We'd love to score every time we have the ball, but sometimes that doesn't happen."

While the slow start didn't come back to haunt Houston last week, it could against SMU (3-3, 2-0), which despite allowing 30.7 points per game, has forced 20 turnovers - fourth in the nation - including 13 interceptions.

The Mustangs have outscored their opponents 94-50 in the first half, and they're the only team in Conference USA without a league loss. Two of their defeats have come in overtime.

Last October at home against Houston, SMU led by 12 points after three quarters before getting outscored 21-3 in the final quarter to fall 44-38 during a frustrating 1-11 season.

"They're beyond dangerous," said Sumlin, whose team's only loss was a 58-41 defeat at UTEP on Oct. 3. "They're a good football team. They have talent, a good scheme and are well coached."

The Cougars, though, have averaged 39.7 points during their three-game winning streak over the Mustangs thanks in large part to Case Keenum.

Leading the nation in passing yards with 2,501, Keenum is 47 of 63 for 668 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in two games against SMU.

Keenum, who recorded his sixth straight 300-yard passing game by throwing for 371 yards and two TDs versus Tulane, knows another sluggish start Saturday could hurt Houston's chances of catching SMU in the division standings.

"It sets the tone for the whole team, offense, the defense, special teams," said Keenum, who has surpassed 300 yards passing 19 times in 32 career games. "Whether we get the ball or the defense is out there to start fast and get a stop, it sets the tone for the game."

The Cougars would certainly love to start strong as they return to Robertson Stadium after playing their last three away from home. Houston, which won 29-28 over Texas Tech in its last home game Sept. 26, has won 11 in a row at Robertson since a 37-35 loss to East Carolina on Sept. 29, 2007.

"You've just got to go out there and make some big plays real early and get everybody out there having fun," said receiver Tyron Carrier, who has caught 39 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns. "You've got to show your excitement and show that you want to make plays and then everybody will become involved in it."

SMU is looking to bounce back from a 38-35 overtime loss to Navy last Saturday, its third defeat in four contests.

Shawnbrey McNeal rushed 15 times for 131 yards and Emmanuel Sanders caught six passes to become the school's all-time leader with 240 career receptions for SMU, but the Mustangs couldn't hold a 14-point halftime lead.

Sanders has caught 22 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns in three games against Houston.

The Mustangs have lost three straight against ranked opponents since beating then-No. 22 TCU 21-10 on Sept. 10, 2005.