The Tulsa Golden Hurricane (+17) will clash with their in-conference foe Houston Cougars (-17) at TDECU Stadium. The game will commence at 8:00 p.m. ET and ESPN has the TV rights.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. Houston Cougars Betting Preview
The Golden Hurricane come into this Thursday AAC game as a big underdog and they’re currently being given 17 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline bettors would currently need to lay down $1,400 to win $100 back on the Cougars (-1400). The Golden Hurricane are getting +780 moneyline odds. Some solid in-game betting scenarios may present themselves during the contest.
The Golden Hurricane are 1-3 against the spread (ATS) and are down 1.2 units so far. They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an Over-Under record of 0-3. The Cougars have gained 0.0 units this season. The team is 2-2 ATS and has an O/U record of 3-1.
The Golden Hurricane are just 1-3 straight up (SU), including 0-1 SU against conference opponents. The Cougars are 3-1 SU overall and are also 0-0 SU in conference play.
The Golden Hurricane came up short to Temple 31-17 in a game where the passing attack could’ve been better as Luke Skipper completed only 22 passes on 41 attempts for 195 yards and three interceptions. Corey Taylor II (96 rushing yards on 23 attempts, two TDs) and Shamari Brooks (65 yards on 22 carries) led the ground attack in the loss while Justin Hobbs (nine receptions, 78 yards) and Jarion Anderson (five catches, 44 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Houston takes the field this week having just earned a 70-14 win over Texas Southern. The defensive secondary allowed the Tigers to air it out for 278 yards. Bobby Hartzog Jr. was a force to be reckoned with, recording 173 yards and a score on nine catches for Texas Southern. As a group, the Cougars collectively completed 33-of-49 passes for 386 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. D’Eriq King went 20-for-25 for 200 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while Clayton Tune was 12-of-23 for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Chandler Smith (80 yards on 11 rush attempts, two TDs) and Kelan Walker (105 yards on nine carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground game in the win while Marquez Stevenson (six receptions, 67 yards, one TD) and Courtney Lark (five catches, 46 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Tulsa’s run the ball on 63.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Houston has an overall rush percentage of 48.6 percent. The Golden Hurricane have rushed for 209 yards per game and have eight touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Cougars are logging 253 rush yards per game and have 12 total rushing TDs.
If 2018 results can translate to this game, then it appears the Cougars ought to own the edge in all aspects of the ground game, as their running backs has generated 6.4 yards per carry while their defense has allowed a YPC of 2.8 to opponents. The Golden Hurricane have recorded 4.0 yards per carry while allowing 4.4 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Golden Hurricane offensive scheme has tallied 182 yards per contest through the air overall and has four passing TDs so far. The Cougars have put up an astonishing 356 pass yards per game and have 17 total pass scores.
Tulsa seems to have an edge when it comes to limiting the pass. The team’s allowed opponents to rush for an average of 181 yards and pass for 176 yards per game. The Houston defense has allowed 389.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 114.0 yards per game on the ground. The Golden Hurricane are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.67 to opponents, while the Cougars have given up a 7.89 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Skipper has put up 544 yards this season. The signal-caller has completed 49-of-89 attempts with three passing scores and five interceptions. He has a 3.15 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 1.94 over the last two games.
In the home locker room, D’Eriq King has completed 54-of-83 passes for 766 yards, 10 TDs and one INT. King’s ANY/A stands at 11.10 for the year and 9.68 over his last two games.
When these two squads met last year, Tulsa won by four touchdowns 45-17.
Free Prediction: Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. Houston Cougars
SU Winner – Houston, ATS Winner – Houston
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Houston offense has lost two fumbles this season while Tulsa has let seven get away.
The Houston defense has registered six sacks on the year while Tulsa has four.
As a team, Tulsa has averaged 3.84246575342466 yards per carry across its past three games and 3.4 over its last two.
Houston has averaged 6.2 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.7 over its past two.
Over its last three matches, Houston is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Tulsa was favored by 6 points in its last game and the Over/Under going into it was 54. The under cashed and Tulsa failed to cover in the 31-17 defeat to Temple.
In its last three matchups, Tulsa is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Houston was favored by 55 points in its last outing and the Over/Under going into it was 64. The over cashed and Houston covered in the team’s 70-14 victory over Texas Southern.
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