It is a matchup of Top 15 teams on Saturday, September 3rd as the 4th ranked Oklahoma Sooners visit the 15th-ranked Houston Cougars in a game that can be seen on ABC. The Sooners are listed as 10-point favorites at the best betting sites for this game that will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston.
The Cougars are getting a lot of respect from the pollsters as they are ranked 15th in the country. Head coach Tom Herman said that his team has a chance to make the College Football Playoffs this season. “If we win all our games, where are we going to go?” Herman said, “We’re going to the playoffs.”
Shootout Expected
The Sooners have an explosive offense led by quarterback Baker Mayfield while the Cougars boast an offense led by Greg Ward Jr. Some of the best online betting sites have the total on this game listed at 68.
The Sooners ranked 7th in total offense last season and 3rd in points per game. The Cougars scored just over 40 points per game last season which was 10th in the nation.
Both Oklahoma and Houston were solid defensively last season but each defense faces a stiff test on Saturday. The Cougars relied on forcing turnovers to stop opposing teams last season as they forced 35 turnovers. Houston had the second best turnover margin in the country.
While both teams love to throw the ball each team also can run it very effectively. The Sooners feature Semaje Perine who has gone over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons as a starter while Houston has transfer running back Duke Catalon.
Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops had high praise for Perine saying, “I think with his size, I think what gets just overlooked is just how smooth he is. How does that big guy score through the smallest of holes and the speed he generates when he’s down field? You hardly ever see him get caught; you know how smooth he is really probably gets overlooked.”
Game Trends
The Sooners are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games in September. The Sooners are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games. The Cougars are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games. The Cougars are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games in September. The Cougars are 7-2 against the spread at sports betting sites in their last 9 neutral site games.
The Under is 5-1 in the Sooners last 6 non-conference games. The Over is 4-1-1 in the Cougars last 6 non-conference games.
College Football Picks
The question in this game is whether or not Houston is capable of stepping up in class to handle Oklahoma. The Sooners are national title contenders with a loaded offense and a solid defense. Houston has an exciting quarterback in Ward but they are not nearly as talented or as deep as the Sooners. I will lay the points and take the Sooners in this game and also play the game over the total.
