NCAAF Odds Makers Give Houston 7 ½ Points in Their Game vs. SMU

The NCAAF betting odds makers are giving the Houston Cougars 7 ½ points in their game versus the SMU Mustangs this Saturday, Oct. 23rd.

The Cougars haven’t been the same since their starting QB, Case Keenum, went down with a serious injury on Sept. 18th in a 13 to 31 loss to UCLA as 3 ½ point favorites.  Since Keenum went down, Houston has gone both 1 and 2 straight up and 1 and 2 against the spread.

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The NCAAF odds on their game versus SMU this Saturday speaks to the issues that Houston has been having lately.  Can the Cougars find something within themselves to keep this game within the number?

Houston Cougars at Southern Methodist Mustangs

Where:  Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, Texas

When:  Oct. 23rd, 2010 at 3:30 pm EST

TV:  TBD

NCAAF Betting Lines

Houston Cougars                    +7 ½ -110        O 62 ½ -110

SMU Mustangs                       -7 ½ -110         U 62 ½ -110

The NCAAF odds are what they should be according to the wagering trends.

• The Houston Cougars are 0 and 5 ATS in their last 5 games on the road.
• The Houston Cougars are 1 and 5 ATS in their last 6 games on field turf.
• The SMU Mustangs are 5 and 2 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss.
• The SMU Mustangs are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

Any hopes Houston had of making noise this college football season were dashed as soon as Case Keenum fell to the ground.  The Cougars keep scoring points, they put up 42, 24 and 31 in their last 3 games, but have a non-existent defense.

Houston’s D has given up 24 points only once this season, to UTEP in a 54 to 24 victory, and have given up 31, 23, 47 and 34 points in their last 4 games.  The Cougars’ last game was particularly disheartening and has to be the reason that the NCAAF odds makers are giving them so many points in their Saturday matchup against SMU.

Houston entered their last game versus lowly Rice as 9 ½ point road favorites. They left that game with a 31 to 34 straight up loss hanging over their heads.  How the heck did Houston lose to Rice?  By not even thinking about playing defense.

SMU is a much better team than the Rice Owls.  The ‘Stangs beat Rice 42 to 31 and then beat Tulsa 21 to 18 before succumbing to the Navy Midshipmen in a 21 to 28 loss.  Although SMU is only 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games, they’ve been playing well.  They were only 1 ½ point dogs versus Navy.  They failed to cover against Tulsa by only 3 ½ points and they pushed against Rice as a double-digit favorite.

The loss to TCU was a cover, push or failed cover, depending on what football betting odds sports bettors received.  TCU beat SMU by 17 points, 41 to 24.  In most books, the spread was 17 ½ points.

SMU is probably a better overall team than Houston, but the real reason to back SMU in this game is because their defense is better than Houston’s.  The Mustangs allow 26 points per game and 360 total yards.  The Cougars allow 31 points per game and 394 total yards.

SMU takes on Houston at home.  They have a better defense. They’re offense is just as good. The ‘Stangs are the pick to cover versus the NCAAF odds in the sportsbook.

NCAAF Betting Pick:  SMU Mustangs -7 ½ -110

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