The thinking based on very high SSTs (STILL) in the gulf of mexico, and the lack of sheer throughout the projected path of Rita, is that she will attain major hurricane status (cat 3 or higher,) and some models even take her to category 5 strength. My thinking right now is that, seeing as we are still 5 days away or so, it will be very difficult to pinpoint an exact location for landfall. However, as you can see, the tropical model suite either take Rita to a landfall from Galveston to extreme western Louisiana... or between Chorpus Christi and the US/Mexico border. Most of the global models, including the ECMWF and AVN/GFS are with the further north camp, while the nogaps is south.
Rita will probably make landfall within 50 miles of Galveston, Texas as a major hurricane in 4 - 5 days... but all of Texas on the gulf coast will feel her effects, and there may be effects felt in either western Louisiana or Northern Mexico, depending on her exact track.
Remember, anyone from the US/Mex border to the TX/LA border should be on alert for a possible major hurricane this weekend.
oh... btw, oil prices will skyrocket. :(