West Virginia Mountaineers vs Houston Cougars Prediction, 10/12/2023 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: West Virginia Mountaineers vs Houston Cougars

Date: Thursday, October 12, 2023

Location: TDECU Stadium in Houston, TX

TV: FS1

Odds/Point Spread: Cougars (+6)

Total/Over-Under: 52

The Houston Cougars (2-3) will try to defeat the West Virginia Mountaineers (4-1) at TDECU Stadium on Thursday, October 12, 2023. West Virginia opens this game as 6-point favorites. The total is 52.

The West Virginia Mountaineers head into this game 4-1 for this season. In their last contest, the Mountaineers stepped onto the field against the TCU Horned Frogs and walked away with a win by a score of 24-21. Jahiem White led the offense in rushing for the Mountaineers with 5 attempts for 46 yards (9.2 yards per carry). Garrett Greene went 10/21 with 142 yards passing. He had a QB rating of 104.4 and ended the contest with no picks. On the ground, the Mountaineers gave up 135 yards on 38 attempts, which is 3.6 yards per rush allowed. West Virginia conceded 23 completions on 41 attempts for a total of 298 yards, and a completion rate of 56.1%. When all was said and done, they tallied 64 plays which gave them a total of 343 yards. The West Virginia Mountaineers ran the ball 43 different times and totaled 201 yds, earning them an average of 4.7 yards per carry.

The Mountaineers have earned 1,737 total yards for this campaign. When it comes to getting in the endzone, West Virginia has amassed 6 touchdowns through the air and 11 touchdowns on the ground. They have given the ball to the opposition 5 different times. West Virginia has accumulated 98 1st downs offensively, and they have committed 18 infractions for 167 yds. As a unit they have an average of 191.8 yards via the ground game which ranks them 33rd in the country. In terms of getting in the endzone, the West Virginia Mountaineers have an average of 26.4 PPG.

The Mountaineers sit in 33rd in college football in terms of the opposition scoring, conceding 19.0 PPG. They are giving up an average of 3.3 yards per tote and 114.8 rushing yards per game on the season. Over the course of this season, they have allowed 574 rushing yards through 5 contests. Concerning yards through the air, the Mountaineers are giving up 1,103 yds which puts them in 36th in Division 1. They have conceded 220.6 yards per outing via the pass and allowed a completion percentage of 50.0%. Overall, they are surrendering 335.4 yards per contest putting them at 36th in the nation. They have surrendered 8 touchdowns via the pass and 3 touchdowns on the ground.

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The Cougars step onto the field holding a record of 2-3 for this season. The last time they took the gridiron, the Cougars took a defeat with a final score of 49-28 against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Donovan Smith (4 TDs) ended the game with 335 yds on 29/40 passing while his quarterback rating was 175.9. He didn't toss any interceptions and his average yards per attempt was 8.4. Parker Jenkins carried the ball 13 times for 71 yds, ending the game with 5.5 yds per carry for Houston. Houston ended up running for 4.5 yards per carry, totaling 154 yds on 34 attempts. The Cougars finished the contest with a total of 489 yards while running 75 plays (6.5 yds per play). The Cougars secondary conceded a completion rate of 63.6%, relinquishing 161 yards on 14 for 22 passing. Houston allowed 37 run attempts for 239 yds (6.5 yards per carry).

The Houston Cougars maintain an average of 414.0 yards/game, which is good for 53rd in the country. The Houston offense has compiled 271 yards of penalties on 31 violations, which has them sitting 83rd in Division 1 in terms of making mistakes. They hold an average of 133.0 yards via the ground game and have run for 665 yards for this season. They have given away 3 picks while surrendering 0 fumbles and they have been able to tally 111 1st downs. When it comes to their ability to score points, the Cougars are ranked 81st in D-1 with an average of 27.4 points per game. Over the course of the season thus far, the Cougars have compiled 1,405 yards via the pass in addition to an average of 281.0 passing yards per contest, which has them sitting 26th in the nation.

The Cougars are conceding 29.8 points per contest, which has them ranked 100th in D-1. Houston has yielded a total of 818 yards rushing (163.6 yards per game) as well as 10 touchdowns via the rush on the season. Overall, they have surrendered 149 pts. They have yielded 8 touchdowns through the air as well as 242.2 yards/game, which puts them in 92nd in Division 1. The Cougars defense has been on the field for 339 plays, which ranks them 38th in Division 1. Their defense has tallied 3 fumbles and 6 interceptions on the campaign.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Cougars +6

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