Head Coach Lincoln Riley and the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners are preparing to host Coach Dana Holgorsen and the Houston Cougars at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and ABC will broadcast the action.
Betting Preview: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Houston Cougars
Oklahoma has been tabbed as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 25 points to Houston. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at a pretty-high 83 points, and if one school gets out in front in the early stages, it’ll likely result in a decent in-game betting scenario.
Sharp bettors have been siding with the over. The game’s over/under was originally set at just 79.
The Sooners went 12-2 straight up (SU) last season while the Cougars went 8-5 in 2018. Against in-conference competition, the Cougars finished 5-3 SU and the Sooners were 8-1 SU versus Big 12 programs. Each program posted a 3-0 record SU against out-of-conference competition in 2018.
The Cougars averaged 273.6 passing yards per game and 215.0 rushing yards per game versus their eight AAC opponents last year. The team was able to score 43.5 points per game against those opponents and gave up 36.4 per contest. When facing non-conference schools, those figures all improved, as they averaged 52.3 points-for and 30.5 points-against, along with 355.5 pass yards per game and 253.0 rush yards per game.
Against out-of-conference foes in 2018, the Sooners passed for 268.3 yards per game and ran for 228.3 per game on their way to 46.7 points per outing. When facing only Big 12 opponents, the offensive unit registered 51.6 points per game by averaging 336.4 passing yards and 276.3 rushing yards. The Sooners defense allowed 18.7 PPG to non-conference foes and 37.6 to Big 12 teams
If last year’s results can translate to 2019, then it’s looking like the Sooners ought to have the advantage in all aspects of the ground game, as their running backs logged 6.6 yards per carry last season while their defense allowed a YPC of 4.1 to opponents. The Cougars rushed for 5.2 yards per carry last year while allowing a YPC of 4.7 to opponents.
Houston Cougars at Oklahoma Sooners Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: Oklahoma, ATS Winner: Houston, O/U: Over
Betting Notes
- Houston created 29 rushing touchdowns last season.
- Oklahoma put up a whopping 42 rushing touchdowns last season.
- The Houston offensive line allowed 30 sacks last season. Their defense created 23 sacks.
- Oklahoma offense allowed 19 sacks last season. Their defense sacked opposing QBs on 28 occasions
- Houston put up 45 passing touchdowns last season.
- Oklahoma logged 43 passing touchdowns last season.
