I’ve been rather productive for a Sunday – mowed the lawn, worked out, walked the dog – and am now watching a little college baseball. Gonna keep these previews coming, and here is the Week 6 foe.

Houston Cougars (in Starkville)

• Conference: Conference USA West

• 2008 record: 8-5 (6-2, 3rd), beat Air Force 34-28 in Armed Forces Bowl

• Final ranking: Unranked

• Coach: Kevin Sumlin (1 year, 8-5 record)

• Returning starters: 12 (7 offense, 5 defense, 0 specialists)

• Last meeting: Houston 28, MSU 16 (Oct. 22, 2005, in Starkville)

• On the Web: uhcougars.com

If you’re like me, what you know about Houston football is that they had a really good offense back in the late 1980s – or maybe early ‘90s, I don’t know – and that they had a receiver, Patrick Edwards, who last year suffered a grotesque break when his leg slammed into a metal cart behind Marshall’s end zone. Edwards is coming back from the injury, and there is much more to the Cougars than him.

Houston might be MSU’s homecoming opponent, but don’t expect a pushover. The Cougars once again have a high-powered offense – it ranked second in the country in total offense last season – led by junior quarterback Case Keenum, who passed for 5,020 yards (second in the nation) and 44 touchdowns – David Klingler type numbers. Top receiver Tyron Carrier (1,026 yards, 9 TDs), a sophomore, also returns. Houston’s also got a potent running game led by sophomore Bryce Beall (1,247 yards, 13 TDs).

So the challenge for MSU’s defense is obvious. You’ve got a balanced, attacking offense – albeit one that abuses C-USA defenses – and any weakness State has will get exposed. If it turns into a shootout, will Dan Mullen’s offense be able to keep up?

This will be the final game of a three-game home stand for the Bulldogs. Going 2-1 in that stretch would be huge.

Up next: Middle Tennessee State