West Virginia vs Houston Odds, Spread & Picks (Thursday, Oct. 12)
by Brady Trettenero in College Football
Updated Oct 12, 2023 · 2:01 PM PDT
Sep 30, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back CJ Donaldson Jr. (4) runs the ball in the fourth quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY SportsWest Virginia vs Houston is a Big 12 college football showdown set for Thursday nightThe latest odds have set the Mountaineers as 3-point road favorites over the CougarsRead below for WVU vs Houston odds, spread and picks for Thursday night
A Big 12 showdown takes center stage in Thursday night college football as the West Virginia Mountaineers pay visit to the Houston Cougars. The latest betting odds price WVU as -3 road favorites at TDECU Stadium.
Let’s dive deeper into the West Virginia vs odds as we offer our prediction and picks for this Big 12 clash.
West Virginia vs Houston Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| WV Mountaineers | -3 (-110) | -146 | Over 49.5 (-114) |
| Houston Cougars | +3 (-110) | +102 | Under 49.5 (-106) |
In the West Virginia vs Houston odds, the Mountaineers are favored by 3 points, and the over/under is offered at 49.5.
Kickoff for this Big 12 clash is 7:00 PM ET on FS1.
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Odds as of October 11th at FanDuel Sportsbook. Claim a FanDuel promo code to bet on Thursday’s CFB game.
West Virginia Betting Analysis
West Virginia enters this Thursday night clash with plenty of momentum riding a four-game winning streak. After suffering a 38-15 defeat at the hands of Penn State in Week 1, the Mountaineers have yet to lose a game, including beating TCU 24-21 last weekend.
Yeah, we comin'.#HailWV | #BeatHouston pic.twitter.com/FtRmxLx05H
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) October 12, 2023
Mountaineers quarterback Garrett Greene has thrown for 544 yards and 4 touchdowns this season, while RB CJ Donaldson Jr. has been a force on the ground, rushing for 348 yards and 4 TDs. On the receiving end, Hudson Clement leads with 239 receiving yards and 3 scores.
Defensively, WBU has had one of the better defenses in the Big 12 this season, allowing an average of 335 yards and 19 points per game. Linebacker Lee Kpogba has been a key player with 40 tackles, including in Week 6 when his play helped keep TCU scoreless in the second half.
Houston Betting Analysis
Houston enters Thursday night college football with a lackluster 2-3 record. The Cougars are coming off a deflating 49-28 loss to Texas Tech in which the Red Raiders racked up 239 total rushing yards and dominated Gouston in the trenches.
Houston’s run defense is a big concern entering this game, as it ranks 12th in the Big 12 and 96th nationally, allowing 163.6 yards per game. Defensive lineman Nelson Ceasar is at least a standout s, with 21 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 6 tackles for loss. Furthermore, the Cougars rank fifth nationally in turnover margin (1.20).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlZuW3qZQ_g&ab_channel=MatthewLovesBall
Offense hasn’t necessarily been an issue for Houston, but certain areas need improvement. While the Cougars rank fifth in the Big 12 in total offense (414 YPG), they struggle to score points in the red zone, ranking 116th nationally with points on just 72.7% of their red zone trips.
Former TTU quarterback Donavan Smith is now under center for Houston, and he’s coming off a decent performance against his old team in which he completed 30-41 passes for 336 yards and four touchdowns. On the year, Smith has thrown for almost 1,400 yards and rushed for 162.
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West Virginia vs Houston Prediction
When it comes to our West Virginia vs Houston prediction, it’s hard to get behind Dana Holgorsen’s team, even though they are at home. Before you rush out to bet on the Cougars bouncing back on their own field, consider that Houston is 3-6 ATS as a home underdog under Holgorsen.
We expect West Virginia to rely heavily on their ground game, as quarterback Garr Green has a conservative play style, with no passing touchdowns in two full FBS games. This bodes well for the Mountaineers facing one of the Big 12’s worst rush defenses.
Another thing to consider here is WVU’s lethal pass rush, which has racked up 12 sacks through five games. Houston’s Donovan Smith excels in extending plays but has yet to face a pass rush like the one the Mountaineers will bring.
Here are some betting trends to note for this mid-week Big 12 clash:
Houston are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games at home.Houston are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games played in week 7.West Virginia are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games.
In our CFB power rankings, WVU has moved up a few points while Houston has moved down several points. West Virginia is expected to be favored in all their upcoming games except for a trip to Oklahoma. A win here put them at 3-0 in conference play with almost a quarter-percent chance to make it to Arlington.
It might not be pretty, but look for the Mountaineers to control the tempo of the game with their rushing attack and win this one by at least a field goal.
WVU vs Houston Pick: Mountaineers -3 (-110)
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