If you look directly to the west of Rita, you'll see a complete weakness in the currents. The prevailing air currents tend to do a slight clockwise rotation around the GOM which helps lead so many hurricanes into the GOM. It's like a dog with really big teeth on a leash. If you look to the north of the hurricane, you'll see a pressure sitting there like a wall, keeping it south of the panhandle.
-------------------- The safest way to deal with a potential Hurricane hitting you...is to leave and just not be there at all.