Houston vs Tulsa NCAA Football Picks 11/23/2019

Game: Houston Cougars vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Date: Saturday, November 23, 2019

Week 13

Location: Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, OK

TV: ESPNU

Odds/Point Spread: Tulsa -4

Total/Over-Under: 57.5

Clayton Tune and the Houston Cougars head to Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium on Saturday where they'll meet the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. The odds on this matchup have Tulsa as 4-point favorites. The Cougars are 5-5-0 ATS and 5-4-1 when betting on the total. The Golden Hurricane are 4-6-0 when wagering on the over/under and 6-4-0 against the spread.

The last time they took the field, the Houston Cougars played the Memphis Tigers and lost 45-27. Clayton Tune led the team on the ground for that contest. His longest run of the day went for 68 yards and he tallied 1 TD for the game. He ran for a total of 65 yards on 10 carries which means he ran for an average of 6.5 yards per carry. Marquez Stevenson led the team in receiving yardage with a tally of 89 yards on 5 catches. He averaged 17.8 yards per reception for that contest. Running the show from under center for the Cougars was Clayton Tune who went 14/22 with 157 yards through the air and added 1 touchdown. He walked away from this game with no interceptions. The Cougars ran the ball a total of 30 times and earned a total of 99 yards giving them an average of 3.3 yards per run. On the day, the Cougars totaled 14 1st downs and they totaled 3 penalties for 40 yards which means they were extremely disciplined in this game. For the game, they ran 52 plays for 256 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Houston gave up 23 completions on 35 tries totaling 367 yards, and a completion percentage of 65.7%. Against the run, the Cougars gave up 164 yards on 39 carries which is an average of 4.2 yards per attempt allowed. For this contest, they gave up a total of 531 yards and earned 1 takeaway.

The Cougars come into this game with a record of 3-7 in 2019. For total yardage, they are currently ranked 8th in the American Athletic Conference and 73rd in Division 1 with 3,953 yards. They are one of the most potent offenses in the country averaging 30.3 points per game, which has them at 62nd in Division 1. As a unit, they have an average of 200.6 rushing yards per contest which is 5th in the AAC. The Cougars have one of the worst defenses in the nation, giving up 33.8 points per game ranking them 11th in the AAC. When it comes to yards through the air, the Cougars have allowed 1,947 yards. Teams are completing 60.9% of the throws they are attempting against them and averaging 8.2 yards per try. In discussing yards on the ground, Houston is allowing 170.3 yards per contest putting them 7th in the American Athletic Conference and 80th in the country. Opposing teams are running for an average of 5.1 yards per rush which has them at 11th in the American Athletic Conference and 109th in the country overall. In total, they have conceded 1,703 yards rushing through 10 games.

Related: Gambling 101 Series on How Odds are Calculated - Watch Tony George Explain

In their last outing, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane faced the UCF Knights and notched a win by a score of 34-31. Shamari Brooks led the team on the ground for the game. He had a long run of 8 yards and he notched 1 TD for the game. He racked up a total of 69 yards via 24 carries which gave him an average of 2.9 yards per carry. Keenen Johnson was the receiving yardage leader by racking up 75 yards on 6 receptions. He notched an average of 12.5 yards per catch for the game. Taking the lead at quarterback for the Golden Hurricane was Zach Smith who went 10/14 with 127 yards through the air and completed 1 TD. He finished this contest without throwing a pick. The Golden Hurricane ran the ball 55 times and earned 139 yards earning them an average of 2.5 yards per run. On the day, they ran 79 plays for 353 yards. Overall, the Golden Hurricane had a total of 21 first downs and they had 5 penalties for 55 yards which tells us their heads weren't always in the game. When discussing the defense, Tulsa gave up 23 catches on 38 throws for a total of 290 yards, and a completion percentage of 60.5%. In the game, they allowed 457 yards and forced 3 turnovers. Against the run, the Golden Hurricane gave up 167 yards on 46 tries which is an average of 3.6 yards per run allowed.

Related: Get college football picks & tips on all of today's games

The Golden Hurricane head into this game 3-7. Tulsa needs to do more to make teams respect their running game by averaging 132.3 yards on the ground per contest, putting them 105th in college football. As a team, they have compiled a total of 1,323 yards rushing through 10 games, so they are going to want to make some changes to the ground game if they want to make teams respect them. The Golden Hurricane average 398.7 yards per contest overall putting them 68th in D-1 and 7th in the American Athletic Conference. The Golden Hurricane are allowing 32.8 points per contest ranking them 9th in the American Athletic Conference and 105th in the nation. Their passing defense is one of the middling groups in Division 1. They are allowing 210.8 passing yards per contest. For yards through the air allowed per game, the Golden Hurricane currently sit at 5th in the American Athletic Conference. When talking about points allowed, they have given up 328 total points. In discussing yards on the ground, they are conceding 201.5 yards per contest ranking them 108th in the country and 10th in the AAC. This year, they have conceded 2,015 yards rushing and 28 rushing touchdowns.

Who will win tonight's Cougars/Golden Hurricane college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Cougars +4

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here