Sam Houston State Bearkats vs Houston Cougars Prediction, 9/23/2023 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Sam Houston State Bearkats vs Houston Cougars

Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023

Location: TDECU Stadium in Houston, TX

TV: BIG12|ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Cougars (-15)

Total/Over-Under: 38.5

TDECU Stadium is where the Houston Cougars (1-2) will attempt to defeat the Sam Houston State Bearkats (0-2) on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Sam Houston State opens this contest as 15-point underdogs. The betting total comes in at 38.5.

The Sam Houston State Bearkats step onto the field holding a record of 0-2 for this season. The last time they took the field, the Bearkats played the Air Force Falcons and took a loss by a final of 13-3. Keegan Shoemaker went 8/14 with 44 yards passing. He had a quarterback rate of 83.5 and finished the contest without throwing a pick. Zach Hrbacek was the leader on the ground for the Bearkats with 10 attempts for 29 yards (2.9 yards per attempt). In all, they tallied 44 plays for 80 yds. The Sam Houston State Bearkats ended up rushing 30 times and accounted for 36 yards, which earned them an average of 1.2 yards per carry. Against the run, the Bearkats conceded 244 yds on 59 attempts, which averages out to 4.1 yds per rush allowed. Sam Houston State gave up 1 completions on 3 tries for a total of 14 yds, and a completion rate of 33.3%.

Regarding putting the ball in the endzone, the Sam Houston State Bearkats have an average of 1.5 points per contest. As a unit they have an average of 37.0 yards via the ground game giving them a rank of 133rd in the country. The Bearkats have racked up 265 total yards over the course of this year. In terms of getting in the endzone, Sam Houston State has compiled 0 touchdown through the air and 0 touchdown on the ground. Sam Houston State has recorded 16 1st downs as a team, and they have been flagged for 9 penalties for 72 yds. They have surrendered the ball 3 different times.

The Bearkats rank 22nd in D-1 when it comes to team defense, conceding 13.5 PPG. They are allowing teams to run for an average of 3.8 yards per rush and 178.0 rushing yards per game so far this year. In total, they have conceded 356 rushing yards through 2 games. When it comes to passing yards, the Bearkats have given up 159 yds which puts them in 1st in the country. They have allowed 79.5 yards per outing through the air and allowed a completion percentage of 58.3%. In total, they have surrendered 257.5 yards per game which ranks them 12th in college football. They have yielded 0 touchdown through the air as well as 3 touchdowns running the ball.

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The Cougars come into this game with a record of 1-2 for this season. When they last played, the Cougars took a defeat with a final score of 36-13 against the TCU Horned Frogs. Donovan Smith finished the game with 225 yds on 17/35 through the air while his QB rating was 91.1. He threw 2 interceptions and his average yards per pass attempt was 6.4. Stacy Sneed carried the rock 10 times for 36 yards, ending the contest with 3.6 yds per attempt for Houston. The Cougars finished the game with 266 yards while running 62 plays (4.3 yds per play). Houston ran for 1.5 yards per carry, finishing the contest with 41 yds on 27 carries. Houston gave up 51 attempts on the ground for 250 yards (4.9 yards per carry). The Cougars secondary allowed a completion percentage of 64.9%, relinquishing 314 yds on 24 out of 37 passing.

In terms of their scoring prowess, the Cougars are 96th in the country holding an average of 23.7 points per outing. The Houston Cougars maintain an average of 347.7 yards per contest, which has them ranked 92nd in the country. The Houston offense has totaled 129 penalty yds on 16 infractions, which has them ranked 85th in the nation in terms of hurting your team. They have given away 3 interceptions while letting opponents recover 0 fumbles and they have been able to obtain 58 1st downs. During this campaign thus far, the Cougars have racked up 718 yards via the pass along with an average of 239.3 passing yards per outing, which has them sitting 67th in the nation. They hold an average of 108.3 yards per game on the ground and have toted the ball for 325 yards for the year.

Houston has allowed a total of 527 yards on the ground (175.7 yards per game) in addition to 6 touchdowns by way of the ground game on the year. They have conceded 6 touchdowns through the air in addition to 308.0 yards/game, which has them in 127th in D-1. Their defense has totaled 2 fumbles and 5 interceptions for the year. The Cougars defense has participated in 232 plays, which has them sitting 119th in D-1. The Cougars are allowing 31.0 PPG, which has them ranked 112th in college football. Over the course of the season, they have given up 93 total points.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Bearkats +15

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