Houston Cougars vs SMU Mustangs Prediction, 11/5/2022 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Cougars vs SMU Mustangs

Date: Saturday, November 5, 2022

Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, TX

TV: NFL Network

Odds/Point Spread: Mustangs (-2)

Total/Over-Under: 66

Gerald J. Ford Stadium is where the SMU Mustangs (4-4) will take on the Houston Cougars (5-3) on Saturday. SMU opens this game as 2-point favorites. The betting total is set at 66.

The Houston Cougars come into this matchup with a record of 5-3 for this year. In their last matchup, the Cougars played the USF Bulls and earned the victory with a final of 42-27. Lucas Coley went 2/2 with 7 yards passing. He had a QB rating of 129.4 and finished the contest without throwing an interception. Stacy Sneed was the leader on the ground for the Cougars with 10 totes for 60 yards (6.0 yds per carry). In the game, they had 64 plays which gave them a total of 490 yds. The Houston Cougars ran the rock 25 different times and had 103 yds, which came out to an average of 4.1 yds per attempt. Against the run, the Cougars gave up 154 yds on 31 tries, which calculates to 5.0 yds per rush surrendered. Houston allowed 24 pass completions on 34 tries for 275 yards, and a completion percentage of 70.6%.

When it comes to putting the ball in the endzone, the Houston Cougars hold an average of 33.5 points per game. As a team they average 141.5 yards on the ground giving them a rank of 74th in Division 1. The Cougars have attained 3,347 total yards for the year. When it comes to scoring touchdowns, Houston has compiled 21 touchdowns via the pass and 10 rushing touchdowns. Houston has amassed 174 first downs offensively, and they have been flagged for 73 penalties for 649 yds. They have given the ball to the opposition 12 times.

In terms of passing yardage, the Cougars are allowing 2,050 yards which ranks them 94th in Division 1. They have relinquished 256.3 yards per contest via the pass as well as allowing a completion percentage of 62.4%. In total, they have allowed 404.9 yards/outing putting them 93rd in college football. They have relinquished 16 touchdowns through the air and 13 touchdowns via the ground game. Opposing teams are running for an average of 4.1 yards per running attempt and 148.6 rushing yards per contest on the season. For the season, they have allowed 1,189 running yards through 8 games. The Cougars sit in 106th in college football regarding team defense, allowing 31.1 PPG.

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The Mustangs head into this matchup 4-4 for this year. The last time they took the gridiron, the Mustangs went home victorious with a score of 45-34 when they played the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Kevin Jennings (1 TD) ended the contest with 91 yards on 8/11 passing while his quarterback rating was 172.2. He kept the ball away from the defense with no picks and his average yards per pass attempt was 8.3. Tyler Lavine carried the football 17 times for 72 yards, walking away from the game with 4.2 yds per carry for SMU. The Mustangs finished with a total of 468 yds and they ran 78 plays (6.0 yds per play). SMU ran the football for 3.2 yds per attempt, finishing the contest with 158 yards on 50 carries. SMU surrendered 37 run attempts for 182 yds (4.9 yards per carry). The Mustangs passing defense gave up a completion percentage of 50.0%, relinquishing 216 yds on 15 for 30 through the air.

Regarding their ability to score points, the Mustangs are sitting 26th in the country with an average of 35.6 points per game. For the season so far, the Mustangs have earned 2,600 passing yards as well as an average of 325.0 throwing yards per game, which is ranked 9th in Division 1. The SMU Mustangs are averaging 458.6 yards/game, which has them sitting 25th in Division 1. The SMU offense has 366 penalty yds on 38 infractions, which has them ranked 113th in college football in terms of giving up free yards.

SMU has yielded a total of 1,615 yards rushing (201.9 yards/game) as well as 17 touchdowns on the ground on the year. They have allowed 12 touchdowns from the passing game as well as 219.3 yards per game, ranking them 52nd in D-1. The Mustangs defense has taken part in 599 plays, which has them ranked 105th in college football. The Mustangs are giving up 30.0 PPG, which puts them 97th in the nation. In total, they have given up 240 total points.

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Mustangs -2

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