Houston Football: Preseason game-by-game predictions for 2017 season
By Zach Bigalke
Trips to Philadelphia to face Temple have been traps for many a team in recent years. The Owls won the American Athletic Conference last year after crushing South Florida 46-30 at home in late October. That victory proved the difference between playing in the American championship game and waiting for a bowl assignment.
Temple made the most of its chance, taking down Navy on the road. Houston fell hard last year in Annapolis, and that was the beginning of their fall from contention. It is always hard to write off the Owls, but this year is probably a good time to get out of Philly without a schedule-crushing loss.
As September winds down, though, the Cougars will already be a battle-hardened team. Unlike last year, where the Louisville game continued to linger on the schedule, all the Power Five games will be out of the way before the conference slate begins. That could make all the difference.
Houston might have a bit of a slow start against the Owls as they feel out their surroundings. The Cougars should still be up at the break thanks to a touchdown in the waning seconds of the second quarter. A defensive game in the first half will open up after halftime, and the Cougars will be able to pull away with a convincing victory.