Houston Cougars vs. Navy Midshipmen Game Preview

Date: Saturday, November 29th
Start time: 6:00pm CT
How to watch: ESPN2
Line: Navy -9
Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, TX)

Players to watch

Houston

WR Marquez Stevenson
RB Kyle Porter
CB Damarion Williams
LB Zamar Kirven
S Deontay Anderson

Navy

QB Malcolm Perry
FB Nelson Smith
LB Diego Fagot
LB Jake Springer
CB Michael McMorris

Houston Outlook

Well, this is it. The end of the 2019 Houston Cougars football season. It didn’t go as planned, but it looks like Dana Holgorsen has a plan for the future. A disappointing season featured plenty of ups and downs, and the end is here. The Coogs will be focused this week, because stopping the triple option requires their attention. While the defense faces a tough challenge, the offense continues to wait for new players to step up. Everything continues to be about the long run and next season, so take that into consideration when watching this game. Clayton Tune’s consistency, a line that needs to get healthy desperately, and the emergence of consistent starts on defense all remain keys to watch.

Navy Outlook

Navy becomes the biggest Cincinnati Bearcats supporters this weekend, but they must take care of business too. If Cincinnati beats Memphis on Friday, the Midshipmen just need to beat Houston to get in the AAC Championship Game. If the Tigers win, it’s still a great season for Navy. Malcolm Perry and Ken Niumatalolo rediscovered the magic that made him great two years ago, and it’s the biggest reason the Midshipmen reached this point. Houston has struggled defensively this year, so Perry and the offense could be in store for a big game.

Prediction

Houston might have the entire Memphis fan base cheering for them if they can’t win Friday. That’s not the best way to get into the championship game, but there’s always a chance. It doesn’t feel like the Coogs have an upset in them, and stopping the triple option isn’t going to be easy. NAVY 31 HOUSTON 17