College football preview: Houston at South Florida

When/where: 2:45 p.m. Saturday; Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.

TV/radio: ESPNU; 950 AM.

Records: Houston 4-3, 2-2 American Athletic Conference; USF 7-0, 4-0.

Houston update: For the Cougars to have any chance two areas must improve: second-half defense and turnovers. The Cougars have allowed 80 points after halftime in consecutive losses to Tulsa and Memphis. In three losses, UH has committed 11 turnovers. ... The Cougars have not lost three straight games since 2013. ... LB Matthew Adams (ankle) is questionable and RB Dillon Birden (elbow) and WR Ellis Jefferson (knee) are out. ... RB Duke Catalon has rushed for 314 yards and six touchdowns in the last three games and will be asked to shoulder much of the load with Birden expected to miss the rest of the regular season.

USF update: The No. 17 Bulls are off to the best start in school history in coach Charlie Strong's first season. ... USF has scored at least 30 points in 24 consecutive games, a modern day record dating back to 1936. ... The margin of victory in seven wins has been by an average 23 points. ... USF owns the nation's longest winning streak at 12. ... QB Quinton Flowers has accounted for 1,858 yards and 19 touchdowns. ... RB Darius Tice has rushed for a team-high 613 yards and seven TDs. ... DT Bruce Hector (10 tackles for loss, four sacks), SS Devin Abraham (four interceptions) and MLB Auggie Sanchez (six tackles for loss, two interceptions) are players to watch on defense.

Source: chron