Is Houston Next for Reality Check?

HOUSTON -- Already today we've found out Miami and Florida State aren't quite back as much as we believed and Cal isn't quite the threat we thought.

Could there be another back-to-reality moment coming tonight with the 17th-ranked University of Houston Cougars host Texas Tech in a heavily anticipated matchup of high-powered offense. The Cougars, of the Conference-USA became BCS buster candidates two weeks ago when they went into Stillwater, Okla. as an unranked team and left with a stunning 45-35 win over then No.5 Oklahoma State.

Follow after the jump for the rest of Terrance Harris' live blog from Houston.

UH is trying to make it two Big 12 teams in a row tonight against the Red Raiders in a matchup of old Southwest Conference foes. But for the first time this season, the 2-0 Cougars will be facing a team that is strong both offensively and defensively. The Red Raiders are definitely a defensive upgrade over Oklahoma State, which create problems for Houston and quarterback Case Keenum.

The Red Raiders (2-1) are coming off hard fought 34-24 loss to No. 2 Texas last week in a game in which they gave Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Colt McCoy serious trouble at times. Tech's first-year starting quarterback Taylor Potts, who leads the nation in most major passing categories, also was impressive during the loss on the road to the Longhorns.

If the Cougars, who are favored to win, are able to come away with another Big 12 win, they will be considered a legitimate contender for BCS acceptance should they then make it through C-USA play undefeated.

Houston is expecting a sold out crowd to pack Robertson Stadium for what could be the biggest game the Cougs have played in the last 20 years. Kickoff has been pushed back to 9:26PM ET.

FIRST QUARTER

This isn't quite the start Texas Tech was looking for. On the Raiders opening drive, quarterback Taylor Potts fumbled the ball away at the Red Raiders 34 on the drop back.

The Cougars show showed their appreciation by converting the turnover into a score when Kennum connected with James Cleveland on perfectly placed slant pass for a six-yard touchdown pass that put them ahead 7-0 with 10:43 to play. Keenun also had a perfect sideline pass on a rollout to Cleveland that moved UH to the 22.

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Okay let the fireworks begin. Minutes after the Cougars scored their first touchdown of the night, Texas Tech responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with running back Baron Batch running around the left corner for a six-yard touchdown that made it 7-7 with 6:59 left in the first quarter.

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After two quick touchdowns early in the quarter, the first quarter morphed into a defensive struggle for both explosive offenses.. What' looked like a shootout in the making ended in a 7-7 tie.

SECOND QUARTER

The Cougars are still seeking their second touchdown of the night, but they did come away with 30-yard field goal by Jordan Mannisto after a promising drive died at the 13 yard line to give them the 10-7 lead with 8:52 remaining in the first half. Keenum took a costly sack with the Cougars within striking distance that could have re-energized the capacity crowd.

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So who says Texas Tech can't run the football? In a drive that began with a 35-yard end around by running Harrison Jefffers, the Red Raiders ran the ball down the throats of Houston. And it was only fitting that the drive end with a 11-yard run up the middle by Batch to give the Raiders their first lead of the night at 14-10 with 5:59 remaining in the second quarter. Tech ran the ball five times during the seven-play, 85-yard drive.

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Intent on establishing the run for the first time this season, Mike Leach makes his point with back-to-back long drives highlighted by gashing runs. That's right runs. Batch had a couple nice runs up the middle, but then it was Jeffers who raced up the middle breaking tackles along the way for a 13-yard touchdown run that gave the Raiders a 21-10 lead with 59 second remaining in the first half. All three of the Raiders touchdowns in the first half have come on runs.

The interesting thing on the most recent rushing touchdown, is it came right after a Houston timeout.

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The Cougars put together a scoring drive in the final 59 seconds that ended with a 50-yard field goal by Mannisto after some curious use of timeouts near the end. The Cougs went into halftime trailing 21-13.

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Those who are expecting a shootout between the two high-powered offenses of Texas Tech and Houston have to be scratching their heads after the first two quarters.

It's been anything but the aerial attack this non-conference has been billed to be. The Cougars weren't able to get on track during the first half, scoring their only touchdown on a short drive following a turnover early in the first quarter. They've had to settle for two field goals in the second quarters.

Texas Tech, the most prolific passing offense in the country, has pulled the old bait-and-switch in the first two quarters. They've relied heavily on the run to completely confuse the Cougars. The Raiders have rushed the ball 19 times for 117 yards. They have just 145 yards through the air.

Baron Batch has been the workhorse with 76 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries in the first two quarters.

THIRD QUARTER

The Cougars finally get going offensively with an impressive third quarter drive that reduced their deficit to 21-20 when Beall plunged in from one-yard out with 7:14 remaining in the quarter. UH marched 87 yards on seven plays as Keenun's passing touch returned. The biggest of the pass plays was a 45-yard bomb to Tyron Carrier in which the reciver had to come back for the ball at the Tech 26.

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Who would have guessed it would haven taken Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts until the end of the third quarter to throw his first touchdown pass? Well with Leach fascinated with the run, Potts finally got his first touchdown pass with 4:19 remaining in the third when he hit Tramain Swindall on a short slant that turned into a tackle-breaking 24-yard touchdown reception that put the Raiders back in control with a 28-20 lead.

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UH doesn't appear ready to fold them yet. The Cougars keep fighting back. Sparked by the second Tech turnover of the night, the Cougars converted a 20-yard field goal attempt by Mannisto to pull within 28-23 of the lead with 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Cougs final scoring drive of the third quarter has set up an interesting fourth quarter that is sure to produce some sparks.

FOURTH QUARTER

Leach might have made the biggest mistake of the night by electing to go for it on fourth-and-goal at the 1 instead of kicking the field goal that would have put the Raiders ahead by 8 points. Potts was stuffed on the quarterback sneak, turning the ball over on downs midway through the fourth quarter. Texas Tech has no timeouts remaining should UH reclaim the lead on the ensuing drive.

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Texas Tech appears to have stopped the momentum of the Cougars by coming up with a huge interception of a Keenum pass to Monroe over the middle. Backup safety Will Ford stepped in front of Monroe for the pick at the Tech 34 that stopped a potential go-ahead scoring drive by the Cougars.

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Heading down to the sidelines for postgame interviews with the Raiders holding a 28-23 lead with 6:40 remaining.

The Cougars drive 95 yards on their final drive and Keenun runs in from four yards out with 49 seconds remaining for the decisive touchdown for the 29-28 win over Texas Tech. The 17th-ranked Cougards have now defeated two straight Big 12 opponents in a row.