Both teams play this one on a short week. Each played the Saturday before, and this is a Friday night kickoff. That's a quick turnaround for Colorado and a quicker one for Houston, which has to travel to altitude in that time. The forecast helps both offenses: 52 degrees, clear, 0% chance of rain and about 10 mph of wind. Weather won't decide this one.
These two teams have played 3 of the same opponents, and the results mostly favor Houston. The Cougars won 35-16 at Kansas State, while Colorado needed a field goal's worth of margin to beat the Wildcats at home. Houston beat Oklahoma State 35-32. Colorado lost 57-24 in Stillwater. Utah is the exception. Houston's offense stalled in a 21-13 loss in Salt Lake City, while Colorado lost to the Utes by just 3 at home. So Colorado can stay close with a good Big 12 team at Folsom. They've done it once.
Houston's win over Cincinnati wasn't comfortable, either. The Bearcats drove to the Houston 42 late, and the Cougars only got the ball back after replay ruled a JC French IV throw a backward pass, with Houston recovering at 2:11. That's 2 one-score wins over Oklahoma State and Cincinnati. Houston can beat good teams without blowing them out. It also gives a home underdog a chance if they can keep it close into the 4th quarter.
The stakes are clear. A win keeps Houston in the Big 12 and Playoff race with a ranked résumé. Colorado is 3-6, and one more loss guarantees a losing season. That's what made the hot-seat question come up in the first place. Folsom on a Friday night with the season on the line is the best chance Colorado has left to change that story.
