Week 5: Houston at East Carolina

Each team has played a challenging non-conference schedule, with Houston losing to Oklahoma State, Air Force and Colorado State and East Carolina upsetting nationally ranked Virginia Tech and West Virginia. For Houston, moving into league play won't make matters any easier. The Pirates are ranked 23rd nationally after an overtime loss to North Carolina State and are one of C-USA's top pass defenses.

The game will match two of the league's premier quarterbacks. Houston's Case Keenum has passed for 1,521 yards and 16 touchdowns through four games, putting him on pace to throw for nearly 50 touchdowns and 4,500 yards. East Carolina's Patrick Pinkney hasn't put up the flashy numbers, but has been a solid leader. His pass efficiency rating of 149.2 ranks second in the league and one place ahead of Keenum.

Keenum will have to shake off the disappointment of an ill-fated final pass in last weekend's loss at Colorado State. With eight seconds left, the Cougars decided to go for the win on third down from the Colorado State 16-yard line (instead of a field goal and a tie) and Keenum's pass to the end zone was intercepted.

ECU suffered a similar heartbreak. The Pirates fumbled the ball on their initial possession in overtime and the Wolfpack scored on their possession to end ECU's hopes for a 4-0 start and a move closer to the top 10 in the national rankings.

Notes:

Houston tight end Mark Hafner caught a four-yard touchdown pass in last weekend's game against Colorado State to extend a personal streak. Hafner has caught a TD pass in four consecutive games.

East Carolina's defense had an interception and a fumble recovery in last weekend's loss to North Carolina State. It marked the fifth straight game the Pirates have forced at least one turnover.

Houston did not force a turnover in last weekend's game and committed four turnovers. For the season, the Cougars rank 10th in C-USA in turnover margin at minus-2.

East Carolina defensive back Van Eskridge returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown against North Carolina State for his second career TD. He returned a fumble 50 yards for a score last season against UTEP.

Key player (Cougars) — Case Keenum, QB

Keenum, a sophomore, has tossed 16 touchdown passes through four games or two more than he threw a year ago. Keenum has passed for 300 or more yards in five straight games, a first for the program in 16 years. ECU could slow Keenum. The Pirates allow only 176 passing yards per game.

Key player (Pirates) — Patrick Pinkney, QB

Pinkney committed a rare mistake in last weekend's loss to North Carolina State in overtime. He fumbled on ECU's first overtime possession giving N.C. State the break it needed to upset the Pirates. Pinkney, however, has the personality and background to quickly recover.
 
East Carolina by 10