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FACTS & STATS: Site: Joe Aillet Stadium (30,600) -- Ruston, Louisiana. Television: ESPN3. Home Record: Houston 1-0, Louisiana Tech 1-0. Away Record: Houston 1-0, Louisiana Tech 0-1. Neutral Record: Houston 0-0, Louisiana Tech 0-0. Conference Record: Houston 0-0, Louisiana Tech 0-0. Series Record: Houston leads, 3-2.

GAME NOTES: The Houston Cougars will put their unblemished record on the line this weekend on the road against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in a non- conference matchup.

Houston got another big weekend out of Heisman Trophy candidate Case Keenum, as the Cougars rolled to a 48-23 win over North Texas last time out. Houston pulled away from the Mean Green in the third quarter and are now 2-0 for the third consecutive season. The difference this season is that Keenum is healthy and as poised as any quarterback in the country, and Houston is beginning to look like the Conference USA's team to beat.

Louisiana Tech almost upset Southern Miss in the opener and almost blew a win against Central Arkansas last weekend, after running back Lennon Creer fumbled with just over two minutes to play. Central Arkansas' Jerre McKnight scooped up the loose ball and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown to give the Bears a 42-35 lead. But true freshman quarterback Nick Isham engineered a game-tying drive in the final minute, and the Bulldogs held on in overtime to earn their first win of the season. The Bulldogs have a tough two-game stretch with Houston and Mississippi State the next two weeks before opening WAC play at home against Hawaii on October 1st.

Houston leads the series 3-2, but Louisiana Tech has won the last two matchups, which came in 1994 and 1995.

Keenum threw for five touchdowns and accounted for 467 yards of total offense against North Texas, with 458 coming through the air. It was the 13th career 400-yard passing game for Keenum, who is currently sitting fourth on the NCAA's all-time passing list. Houston was in a dogfight with North Texas in the first half, but Keenum strung together scoring drives in the first four possessions of the second half to put the game out of reach. Houston has a plethora of weapons, as receiver Justin Johnson had 87 yards and two scores against North Texas. Senior Patrick Edwards added eight catches for 187 yards and Tyron Carrier caught a pass for the 41st consecutive game, the longest streak in the country.

Houston's defense shut down North Texas running back Lance Dunbar, and held the Mean Green to just 289 yards of total offense, including just 170 yards through the air. While Houston's offense has posted 873 yards in the air through two games, the defense limited UCLA and North Texas to just 494 yards combined. Unlike the previous week when UCLA nearly came from behind to win in the second half, Houston's defense finished strong against North Texas, forcing the Mean Green to punt on five of its six second half possessions. Linebacker Marcus McGraw is once again the unit's best player, leading the team in tackles (23, one TFL).

Despite the fumble late against Central Arkansas, Creer has been the rock of the Bulldog offense. He had 177 yards rushing with three touchdowns against the Bears, and has 230 yards and four scores through two games. Isham struggled to get going against Southern Miss in the opener, but found confidence early against Central Arkansas. The true freshman threw his first career touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, and he went on to finish the game with 318 yards and two touchdowns. After Central Arkansas went up by seven late, Isham orchestrated a seven-play, 72-yard scoring drive in 1:10 to send the game to overtime. The Bulldogs have posted 786 yards of total offense through two contests.

The defense caused major problems for Southern Miss quarterback Austin Davis and the Golden Eagle's offense in the opener, but allowed 42 points against Central Arkansas, including 25 in the second half. While the Bulldogs had 10 penalties for 115 yards and two turnovers, the defense also surrendered 445 yards of total offense, including 372 passing yards. While shoring up the secondary is a concern, Louisiana tech has been effective against the run, allowing just 226 yards through two games at clip of 3.3 yards per carry.

Louisiana Tech showed promise in its opener against Southern Miss, but seemed to have taken a step back last weekend in an overtime win over Central Arkansas, which threw all over the Bulldogs defense. Isham is going to be a star, and he showed flashes of being a gunslinger last weekend, a quality that could come in handy against the up-tempo Cougars. Expect Louisiana Tech to play well at home (and Creer to get his rushing yards), but Keenum will ultimately take advantage of the secondary and the Cougar defense will finish off the rookie quarterback in the second half.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Houston 38, Louisiana Tech 21