GAME NOTES: The Houston Cougars remain in their hometown this postseason as they take on the TCU Horned Frogs in the second-annual Texas Bowl from Reliant Stadium. The Cougars finished in a first-place tie with Tulsa atop Conference USA's West Division with 6-2 league mark. The team was 8-4 overall this season marking its third straight winning season and third consecutive bowl bid. The Cougars really put things together late in the season, winning six of their last seven games. The success was enough to land head coach Art Briles a new job at Baylor, leaving the team under the guidance of interim head coach Chris Thurmond for the postseason. Next year, there will be a new dawn in Houston football lore, as former Oklahoma assistant Kevin Sumlin, who was hired on December 14th, will be the new head football coach. Sumlin also represents the first African-American to be tabbed a head coach in the state of Texas. Houston is 7-9-1 in bowl games all-time and brings a seven-game postseason losing streak into this game. The Cougars have not won a bowl game since topping Navy, 35-0 in the 1980 Garden State Bowl. TCU, which is under the guidance of seventh-year head man Gary Patterson, finished 7-5 this past season, including a 4-4 mark in the Mountain West Conference. The league record was good for just a fifth-place finish, despite the team winning two straight and three of its last four to close out the regular season. The Horned Frogs will be making their 23rd postseason appearance and the team is an even 3-3 in bowl games under Patterson. These teams have met each other 24 times since 1976. Houston holds a 13-11 edge all-time, but the Horned Frogs have closed the gap with seven straight victories in the series. Rutgers defeated Kansas State, 37-10, in the inaugural Texas Bowl last December.

The Cougars once again bring a potent and balanced offensive attack into the postseason. The team put up some gaudy numbers this year, averaging 36.3 ppg, thanks to 513.2 yards of total offense per game (fourth in the nation). The ground game has been lethal at 5.1 yards per carry and 239.9 yards per game (10th nationally). The passing game is just as deadly at 273.2 yards per game (27th nationally). Quarterback Case Keenum started half the games this year, but is tabbed the starter for this game, having completed almost 70 percent of his passes in 2007 (.698), for 1,924 yards with 13 TDs. The top target downfield was clearly WR Donnie Avery, who had a huge season with 81 receptions, for 1,336 yards and seven TDs. Anthony Alridge did most of the damage on the ground and was the team's workhorse, averaging a hefty 6.4 yards per carry, while churning out 1,568 yards (seventh nationally at 130.7 ypg) and 14 TDs on the year. The offensive line doesn't feature a single player over the 300 pound mark, but is anchored by All-CUSA-First Team member Jeff Akeroyd at right tackle.

Like most teams that possess prolific offenses, the defense is a step or two behind. That is the case in Houston, as the Cougars allowed a generous 29.9 ppg this year, on 365.7 yards of total offense. That of course, does not mean this team is void of defensive playmakers. The secondary is where it begins for the Cougars, led by safeties Rocky Schwartz and Kenneth Fontenette. Schwartz, who missed the 2006 season due to injury, returned with a fervor this season, pacing the team in tackles with 87. Schwartz also recorded two interceptions, forced three fumbles and recovered two. Fontenette was a Freshman All-American in 2005 and picked up All-CUSA-Second Team honors in '07, registering 60 tackles, four INTs and two fumble recoveries. The defense as a whole recorded 23 sacks this year and the main source of the pass rush came from All-CUSA- First Teamer Phillip Hunt. The 6-2, 250-pound junior end amassed 49 total tackles, while leading the team in TFLs (16.0) and sacks (9.5).

While not as explosive as Houston's offense, TCU does bring a balanced unit into this game as well. The team as a whole is averaging a steady 26.6 ppg. The Horned Frogs come in averaging almost 400 yards of offense (388.4), getting 169.1 on the ground and 219.3 through the air. It has been a redshirt freshman that has led this offense into battle this year. Andy Dalton set a school freshman record with 2,210 yards passing. However, his youth was evident in his TD/INT ratio, which was an even 1:1 (10 TDs and 10 INTs). The receiving corps lacks a go-to-guy downfield, but rather, has been successful with a number of outlets to turn to. Six players have recorded 20 catches or more for this team, led by Ervin Dickerson, who has hauled in 37 balls, for 457 yards and four TDs. Tailback Joseph Turner paced the team with 587 yards rushing (5.2 ypc) and six TDs. He is certainly peaking at the right time, as a great deal of his production came in the season-finale against San Diego State, where he torched the Aztecs for 226 yards and four TDs.

TCU has long relied on stifling defensive play and 2007 was no different. The Horned Frogs were once again one of the nation's top stop units, holding foes to a mere 19.2 ppg (17th nationally). Teams struggled to move the chains against TCU, which allowed just 109.4 ypg rushing and 210.6 passing. There are plenty of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball for TCU. The play up front is highlighted by three-time All-MWC member Chase Ortiz. The 6-3, 255- pounder finished the regular season with 41 total tackles, while pacing the team with 15.5 TFLs and 8.0 sacks. Another three-time all-conference performer reigns in the middle in the form of standout LB Jason Phillips. The junior MLB led the team in tackles this year (77), with 9.0 TFLs, one sack and one INT. Strong safety Stephen Hodge (53 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 7.0 sacks) must be accounted for in passing situations, as does sophomore CB Rafael Priest (33 tackles, three INTs).

The Horned Frogs will do their best to shut down the Cougars in this one, but Houston just has too much firepower and will make enough plays to get the job done in this Lone Star State matchup.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Houston 27, TCU 17