2016 Houston Cougars Football Predictions and Season Win Total Picks

by Robert Ferringo - 7/27/2016

Houston Cougars wide receiver Chance Allen

2015 Record: 13-1

2016 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 9.5*

2016 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Under'

Tom Herman's Houston Cougars were a revelation in 2015, with the ex-Ohio State offensive coordinator and rookie head coach leading UH to a 13-1 record. Houston won American Athletic Conference regular-season and conference titles and wrapped the season up with a blowout win over Florida State in the Peach Bowl. Houston finished the year ranked No. 8 in the country.

I may be the only college football handicapper or analyst that isn't buying Houston this year. They have 11 starters back from last year's group, including stud quarterback Greg Ward. And Herman looks like a very talented guy that will continue the Houston coaching pipeline to major programs (Art Briles and Kevin Sumlin are recent alum).But I think Houston is overrated coming into the season, and this is a team I am actively looking to bet against.

The Cougars lost their No. 1 receiver (by a lot) as well as top running back Kenneth Farrow. Six of their top 10 tacklers are gone as well. The offense is now almost solely dependent on Ward. Hey, he's a good guy to be dependent on. He had 4,100 total yards last year alone. But he's a dual-threat quarterback that is one hit away from the injury list, and if that happens Houston won't recover.

The Cougars start the season against powerhouse Oklahoma and will face athletic, hard-hitting defenses at Cincinnati and versus Connecticut in the first month of the season. Houston opens with nine games in nine weeks (late bye), and they don't have back-to-back home games until mid-November. I think this team is going to get knocked around early in the season and will be worn out by Halloween.

They also close the year with revenge-minded Louisville and at Memphis in back-to-back primetime games against teams they eked out wins against last season.

Houston was charmed in Herman's first season. They had three wins by three points or less, and their three biggest AAC victories (Cincinnati, Memphis and Temple) came despite being outgained. I think that Herman will have a sophomore slump. This team will start the season in the Top 25. They won't end it there. This is an easy 'under' call.

2016 Houston Cougars Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Location

Sat, Sep 3rd, 2016 Oklahoma 12:00 PM NRG Stadium

Thu, Sep 15th, 2016 at Cincinnati 7:30 PM Nippert Stadium

Sat, Sep 24th, 2016 at Texas State7:00 PM Jim Wacker Field

Thu, Sep 29th, 2016 Connecticut 8:00 PM TDECU Stadium

Sat, Oct 8th, 2016 at Navy 3:00 PM Jack Stephens Field

Sat, Oct 15th, 2016 Tulsa 1:00 PM TDECU Stadium

Sat, Oct 22nd, 2016 at SMU 1:00 PM Gerald J. Ford Stadium

Sat, Oct 29th, 2016 Central Florida1:00 PM TDECU Stadium

Sat, Nov 12th, 2016 Tulane 1:00 PM TDECU Stadium

Thu, Nov 17th, 2016 Louisville 08:00 PM TDECU Stadium

Fri, Nov 25th, 2016 at Memphis 01:00 PM Liberty Bowl Memorial

All Times EST

*Season Win Total Odds from 5Dimes Sportsbook.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past five years, earning nearly $13,000 in total football profit with four of six winning seasons. Robert tallied over $20,000 in football profit between 2011 and 2015, including his amazing 2013 NFL season in which he hit 62.1 percent (95-58). Robert has produced 14 of 22 winning football months and an amazing 37 of 57 winning football months over the past decade. Robert has eight of nine winning NFL preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 750 totals picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted two of three winning seasons and is 122-92 over the last three years (57.0 percent).

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Pick:	CHICAGO BEARS +3
Start:	November 24, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #256 Chicago Bears +3 over Minnesota Vikings (1p.m., Sunday, November 24 FOX) We used the Bears as a free play winner last Sunday and easily covered the spread and should have been an underdog outright winner. Now we will ride them for a second straight week against another NFC North rival, the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are 8-2 on the season, yet are only around a field goal favorite. I still do not trust Sam Donald to win consistently over the course of a 17 game regular season. Minnesota is not as good as their 8-2 record would indicate and playing outdoors in Chicago on Sunday will cause issues for them on both sides of the ball. Chicago has been hit or miss this season, but they will be up to play another divisional rival and we expect them to take this down to the wire as well. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend Card featuring top plays in college and NFL football. Read More Read Less

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