To be honest, I'm surprised the University of Houston doesn't have a better record against Rice in recent years, with the Cougars' only win in the series coming in 2000, the same year they were a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Owls have won all six since, though, and last year was the only one in the last five that the final game has been decisive. Most surprisingly, the Cougars' 2002 and 2003 teams (both of which advanced to the NCAA super regionals) went a combined 2-11 against Rice, although to be fair both of those Owl teams advanced to the College World Series. I'm an economist by day, so I don't believe in teams' being "due," but I do think Houston has an excellent chance for a series upset this weekend for a few reasons:

1. Rice is on a high after sweeping then-No. 22 East Carolina last weekend in a series many predicted the Owls would lose and may not be quite ready for another emotional series.
2. After injuries to its top two starters, Ricky Hargrove and Luis Flores, earlier this year, Houston has heated up over the last couple weeks.
3. Houston has a lot to play for, probably more than Rice does. The teams are tied in the loss column, but Owls are effectively ahead because they've already played Conference USA title contender East Carolina. Houston has only been to the NCAA tournament once (last year) since losing to Rice in a 2003 Super Regional at Reckling Park, but C-USA is good enough this year that if the Cougars, who have a respectable RPI of 66 right now, go 17-7 or so in conference play, I imagine they'll make the NCAA tournament.
4. Houston has played its share of tough competition this season, as 17 of the Cougars' 32 games have come against the RPI top 100. Of course, Houston has lost all eight of its games against top-30 teams, but that experience could pay off this weekend against the Owls (RPI No. 4).

I would characterize this one as a friendly rivalry, particularly in baseball, since so many players from both teams hail from Houston or Dallas and have played with each other growing up and in summer leagues.

Did I mention the teams are tied in the loss column? (Rice has played one more C-USA series than UH.) A series sweep for either team puts them in the driver's seat for the conference championship, while a 2-1 split (particularly one in favor of the Cougars) puts East Carolina squarely back into the race.