Houston vs. Oklahoma Total Pick
Will No. 4 Oklahoma’s offense be able to continue to put up big points when the Sooners make their 2019 debut on Sunday against Houston at 7:30PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
215 Houston vs. 216 Oklahoma
Sunday, September 1, 2019
7:30PM ET – Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC
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Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, Oklahoma is the clear favorite at home, as the Sooners are getting odds of -23 points against Houston. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 80 points. The public betting currently has 73 percent going on Houston as the underdog. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NCAAF Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Houston starts with Holgorsen
The Houston Cougars were a respectable team last season, as they went 8-5 on the year and 5-3 in the AAC. The team is now being coached by former West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen. He was 61-41 with the Mountaineers. Houston was 6-7 against the spread last year and 9-4 with the over.
Houston put up an impressive 43.9 points and 512.5 yards per game last season on offense. The Cougars have seven starters back from that unit. D’Eriq King returns under center for the squad. He threw for 2,982 yards and 36 touchdowns last year while rushing for 674 yards and 14 scores. He has 1,000-yard receiver Marquez Stevenson back as well. Defensively, Houston was pretty rough. The Cougars gave up 37.2 points and 496.4 yards per game last year. They have just three starters back on defense this year.
Sooners eye national title
Oklahoma is coming off a Big 12 title and playoff appearance in 2018, but lost to Alabama in the semifinal. The Sooners were 12-2 overall and 8-1 in the Big 12. The team is entering its third season with Lincoln Riley as head coach. He is 24-4 through his first two season. Oklahoma was just 6-7-1 against the spread last year while going 11-3 with the over.
The Sooners were the nation’s top offense last season while producing a second consecutive Heisman winner in Kyler Murray. Oklahoma averaged 48.4 points and 570.3 yards per game in 2018. The offense has four starters back this year and welcomes in former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts to run the offense. Hurts threw for 765 yards and eight touchdowns in limited action for the Tide last season. Leading rusher Kennedy Brooks is back for the Sooners as well. He rushed for 1,056 yards and 12 touchdowns. Trey Sermon is back as well. He ran for 947 yards and 13 touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb also returns at receiver. He caught 65 passes for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns. Up front, Oklahoma has just one starter back on the offensive line. Defensively, Oklahoma struggled in 2018. It gave up 33.3 points and 453.8 yards per contest. The defense has eight starters back this year, including five in the front seven.
College Football Betting Trends
Houston
Houston has hit the over in four straight road games and in five of its last six non-conference games.
Oklahoma
The Sooners have hit the over in five of their last six home games and in 12 of their last 15 overall.
Prediction:
This total is very high and it seems possible these two programs could hit it, but I think the Oklahoma offense isn’t going to be as productive with Hurts. He isn’t quite the runner Murray was and not quite the passer that Baker Mayfield was. He should still be solid, but not put up the same points. Houston could move the ball, but Oklahoma has a lot back on defense and could be improved, especially at home. Holgorsen knows Oklahoma and could expose some weaknesses, but I just don’t see both teams competing for 35-45 points in this one.
College Football Week 1 Prediction: Houston/Oklahoma Under 80