SMU Mustangs vs. Houston Cougars Odds & Game Pick (2021)
These teams are both having a great year. Houston is 6-1, and SMU is still undefeated at 7-0. This week, one of these teams will lose. The great news is this game is a pick, which is always great for betting. This game has a lot of value, but any of these teams can win. That means it is a great idea to lower the number of units when betting on this game. Let us look into this matchup of two great teams.
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Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Details
- Opening Lines: Houston -0.5, Total 62.5
- Current Lines: Houston -1, Total 61.5
Overview
SMU has been phenomenal on the offensive side of the ball. They are averaging 43 points per game, and they can move the ball in all sorts of ways. Quarterback Tanner Mordecai throws for an average of 332 yards, and SMU runs the ball for 193 yards per game. They are an efficient team on offense and score a lot of points. On defense, they are decent. They give up an average of 23 points per game, but the opposing offenses they have played against this year are not as good as Houston. So there is a chance that this game turns into a shoot-out.
Houston has an explosive offense as well. They average 39 points per game, although they do not average nearly as many yards as SMU. Houston throws for 236 yards per game and runs the ball for 127 yards per game. Still, great numbers, but SMU has the advantage on the offensive side of the ball. Houston has a clear advantage on defense. They are allowing 17 points per game on defense, and if you take out their first game of the year, that number has gone down to 11 points per game. Ever since that first game, Houston has been a force on the defensive side of the ball.
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Bottom Line
Both of these teams can move the ball on offense, but Houston has the better defense. With both of these teams’ high scoring capability, the team that can turn the other team’s touchdowns into field goals will win. Houston has the better chance of doing that. Not only are they better defensively, but they also have home-field advantage, and there is betting value on them covering the spread. All signs point to picking Houston to win this game. I will root for the home team in this game and grab Houston while there is still value.
Pick: Houston Cougars -1 (-105)
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Cameron Lynch is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Cameron, check out his archive and follow him @captron26.