• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Houston-Air Force Preview

Dec 31, 2009 - 5:01 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Houston (10-3) at Air Force (7-5), 12:00 p.m. EDT

It's not hard to see why organizers wanted to see Houston and Air Force match up in the Armed Forces Bowl again after they played an exciting game in last year's edition.

The Cougars and their top-rated passing offense led by Davey O'Brien Award finalist Case Keenum look to overcome the Falcons' top-ranked passing defense in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday.

Houston (10-3) ended an eight-game losing streak in bowl games with a 34-28 victory over Air Force (7-5) last year. Keenum threw for one score and ran for two more as the Cougars avenged a 31-28 home loss to the Falcons in the regular season.

"We had a great experience last year and we played in a great game against a formidable opponent," Houston coach Kevin Sumlin said. "We look forward to another great game this season, and we expect a great challenge from a very good Air Force team."

After throwing 44 touchdowns as a sophomore, Keenum will enter the final game of his junior season leading the nation in total offense (429.3 yards per game), passing (419.2) and touchdown passes (43). The Cougars have the top-rated pass offense with 450.0 yards per game, led by the player who lost to Texas' Colt McCoy for the O'Brien award as the nation's top quarterback.

Keenum had a total of 614 yards passing in the two games against Air Force last season, but the Falcons have improved to own the nation's top-rated pass defense, yielding 148.7 yards per game.

"I think this is only the (seventh) time in bowl history that there has been a rematch and I feel it is a positive," Armed Forces Bowl director Brant Ringler said. "We always have a strong military fan base at the game and we feel very fortunate to have Air Force. It is great to have such a potent passing attack in Houston against the No. 1 pass defense in the country, Air Force."

Last season, Air Force ranked 50th in the nation in pass defense at 199.9 yards per game. The Falcons are well aware of Keenum's ability.

"Houston is an incredibly talented team," coach Troy Calhoun said. "They have great size and skill people. They have a great quarterback. They are absolutely loaded at receiver."

Keenum threw five touchdown passes four times, including in a 38-32 loss to East Carolina in the Conference USA title game. Keenum completed 56 of 75 passes for 527 yards but threw a season-high three interceptions.

Keenum fell two completions shy of tying the NCAA single-game record set by Eastern Michigan's Andy Schmitt in November 2008.

Three Cougars have at least seven touchdown receptions, led by Iowa transfer James Cleveland's 14. Cleveland, Tyron Carrier and Patrick Edwards all had at least 985 yards receiving.

"We like having the ball in our hands with a chance to win it," Keenum said. "We've got guys that can make plays downfield."

Houston was ranked most of the season and went 3-0 against teams from BCS conferences (Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Mississippi State).

"I have seen them play several times this season and they are impressive," Calhoun said. "To go into Stillwater, Oklahoma, and beat Oklahoma State is a difficult task and to do so in dominant fashion is no easy thing to do."

The Falcons have lost back-to-back Armed Forces Bowls under Calhoun. They have lost three straight bowls since beating Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Bowl in 2000.

"We never take that for granted," Calhoun said. "It is a great opportunity to play in a bowl game, but we aren't just content to play, we are going to play to win."

Air Force's offense offers a complete contrast to Houston, featuring the fourth-ranked rushing attack in the country at 273.6 yards per game. That's clearly a bad matchup for the Cougars, who rank 112th in allowing 213.1 yards per game on the ground.

Jared Tew and Asher Clark each gained more than 700 yards and combined for 12 touchdowns. Tew rushed for 149 yards and two scores in last year's bowl as Air Force held the ball for more than 38 minutes.

The Falcons are 0-6 at Fort Worth's Amon G. Carter Stadium, falling four times to TCU in addition to their losses in the Armed Forces Bowl.

This is the first bowl rematch since South Carolina and Ohio State met in consecutive Outback Bowls from 2001-02.

"To lose to a great team like Houston the way we did last year, you always want a second chance," guard Nick Charles said. "You don't always get second or third chances, but we have one."