Thursday, September 29, 2016

TDECU Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Connecticut Huskies take on the Houston Cougars on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at TDECU Stadium. The opening line for this game has Houston as 24.5 point favorites. This season the Huskies are 0-3-1 against the spread and their over/under record is 2-2-0. The Cougars have an over/under record of 1-3-0 and they are 3-1-0 against the spread.

Bryant Shirreffs finished with 264 yards through the air for Connecticut last week. He completed 27 passes out of 45 attempts for a 60% completion percentage. The Huskies were led in rushing by Arkeel Newsome, who finished with 81 yards on 15 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 5 yards per carry. Noel Thomas was the team leader in receiving with a total of 111 yards and 14 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 8 yards per reception. As a team in that game Connecticut got a total of 23 first downs. Of those first downs, 10 came on the ground while 13 came through the air. They ran 91 total plays for 425 yards for the game. The Huskies ran for 144 yards on 45 attempts.

Greg Ward finished with 289 yards passing for Houston last week. He went 20 for 26, resulting in a 77% completion percentage. The Cougars were led on the ground by Duke Catalon, who finished with 70 yards on 10 carries. He ended the game with an average of 7 yards per rush. Steven Dunbar led the team in receiving with 79 yards and 5 catches. He finished the game with an average of 16 yards per reception. Houston had 32 first downs total. 14 came from running the ball and 14 came from a pass. They ran 82 total plays for 563 yards for the contest. The Cougars ran for 243 yards on 50 carries as a team.

Connecticut scores 21.3 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 109th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 20.3 passes on 30 attempts for a 67.5 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 215.3 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 81st in college football. The Huskies run for an average of 139.3 yards per game on 42.3 attempts for an average of 3.3 yards per carry. That ranks them 98th in the nation. They also run 72.3 plays per contest and average 4.9 yards per play for an average of 354.5 yards per game, ranking their offense 102nd overall this season. The Huskies average 20.8 first downs per game which ranks them 80th in the country. They accumulate 19 penalty yards per game via 2.3 penalties, which ranks 128th in the nation.

Connecticut allows 261.8 passing yards per game, ranking 99th in D-1, and they allow 22.5 points per contest on defense, which ranks 46th. They give up 18.5 completions on 31 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 59.7. The Huskies allow 119.8 rushing yards per game on 31 carries for an average of 3.9 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 35th in the country. Connecticut allows 381.5 total yards per game including 6.2 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 56th in terms of yards per game. They force 0.5 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 5 penalties for 48 yards per game, ranking them 40th among D-1 teams.

Houston averages 44.8 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 12th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 21.8 passes per game on 33.5 attempts for a 64.9 percent completion percentage. They throw for 274.3 yards through the air per game, ranking them 36th in Division 1. The Cougars run for an average of 223.3 yards per game on 54.5 attempts for an average of 4.1 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 32nd on the ground. They also run 88 plays per game and average 5.7 yards per play for a total of 497.5 yards per game, ranking them 23rd in the country on offense. The Cougars get an average of 27 first downs per game, which ranks 12th in the nation. They average 33.8 penalty yards per game via 3.3 penalties, ranking them 120th in college football.

Houston allows an average of 191.8 passing yards yards per game, which ranks 33rd in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 10.5 points per contest, which has them ranked 4th in the nation. They give up 18.3 completions on 29.8 attempts for a completion percentage of 61.3 per game. The Cougars allow 37 rushing yards per contest on 25.5 carries for a 1.5 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 1st in the country. Houston allows 228.8 total yards per game for an average of 4.1 yards per play, which ranks 5th in D-1. They force 1.8 turnovers per contest and 5.3 penalties for 52.8 yards in each contest, ranking 58th in the nation.

Connecticut Betting Trends

Connecticut is 2-2-0 against the over/under this season

Connecticut has an ATS record of 0-3-1 this season

Houston Betting Trends

Houston is 1-3-0 against the over/under this season

Houston has an ATS record of 3-1-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Connecticut

09/25/16 OL Brendan Vechery Leg "?" Thursday vs. Houston U
09/25/16 OL Daniel Oak Undisclosed "?" Thursday vs. Houston U
09/25/16 LB Omaine Stephens Leg "?" Thursday vs. Houston U
09/25/16 OL Tommy Hopkins Leg "?" Thursday vs. Houston U
09/25/16 OL Trey Rutherford Undisclosed injured last game, "?" Thursday vs. Houston U
08/28/16 LB Connor Freeborn Leg out for season

Houston

09/25/16 CB Brandon Wilson Leg "?" Thursday vs. Connecticut
09/25/16 OL Mac Long Undisclosed injured last game, "?" Thursday vs. Connecticut
09/25/16 RB Mulbah Car Knee expected to miss Thursday vs. Connecticut
09/21/16 WR Tren'Davian Dickson Personal left the team
08/20/16 WR Marquez Stevenson Collarbone expected to miss 6-8 weeks

Tony's Pick: Take Connecticut

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