Grambling State football vs. Houston: Scouting report, prediction
Grambling State is on a revenge tour called the Texas Two-Step.
The tour begins on the road against Houston.
The Tigers (1-1) are coming off a 37-0 loss at Southern Miss, but they can remedy two burns with a different outcome against the Cougars (1-1) on Saturday (6 p.m. on ESPN+).
Here is what you need to know about the matchup between the Tigers and the Cougars.
It became personal
It's the third meeting between the two schools, with Houston being the winner in both matchups. The Cougars blanked the Tigers 47-0 in their last meeting. And, the first game wasn't much better with Houston winning 42-22.
A victory would mark the first win against an American Athletic Conference opponent and provide exponential momentum heading into the State Fair Classic against Prairie View next weekend.
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Figuring out Grambling's quarterback
Grambling State has used two quarterbacks who have combined for 133 yards passing.
Starter Elijah Walker has completed 12 of 24 attempts. Walker is also the team's leading rusher with 20 carries for 81 yards. He has run for more yards than he's thrown.
Aldon Clark has completed 8 of 19 attempts but hasn't had the same success running the ball. Clark has attempted, or been forced, to run five times and has obtained negative yardage.
The ability to use Walker's mobility is a plus, but if the majority of his plays are runs then the opportunity for success is minimized.
The quarterback situation is a massive area that needs to be addressed . The QB will face a Houston defense that held Rice to 86 yards passing, the fewest by an opponent since Dana Holgorsen was named coach in 2019.
Minimizing the big play
Over his career, quarterback Clayton Tune has been a deep-ball threat for Houston. He had a 97-yard pass play in 2019. Last weekend, he completed a pass against Rice for 35 yards. That goes along with completing 39 of 68 attempts for 410 yards, and like Walker, he's also the leading rusher for Houston.
The opportunity to see how Tune uses his legs to create open passing or rushing lanes might be a learning experience for Walker.
The numbers favor Houston
According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Tigers only have a 1.6% chance of winning and the Cougars are a 34-point favorite. So, there is a lot to prove and almost nothing to lose for the clear underdogs.
After a 44-7 win over Rice last week, Houston's defense and offense are riding high and looking to continue their success.
Prediction
Houston 42, Grambling 10: The Tigers don't have the offensive cohesiveness to put together an offensive attack that catches the Cougars by surprise.