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Houston Cougars 2015 NCAA Football Odds & Predictions

2015-16 Football Previews (AAC) — Cougars

The Houston Cougars are typical of most mid-major programs. Just when they think they are getting things really rolling they lose a senior quarterback, or a hot coach, and they are right back to square one.

In 2011 they went 13-1 thanks to the combo of QB Case Keenum and HC Kevin Sumlin (both now gone). They might have even gone to a BCS game were it not for a loss in the Conference USA title game to Southern Miss. Since then they have been competitive but 8-5 is not 13-1. It wasn’t even good enough for Tony Levine to keep his job.  This is Houston right?

NCAA Football Gambling Lines

AAC Lines

AAC 2015-16 College Football Preview – Houston Cougars

Head Coach:  Tom Herman
2014 Record:  8-5
Odds to win AAC:  +600
Win Total:  8.5

For 2015 the Cougars have brought in Tom Herman, who recently helped the Ohio State Buckeyes with the title last season as their offensive coordinator. The Cougars have a reputation as a pass happy program but it is too early to tell what they will be this year as Herman definitely prefers a more balanced power attack.

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What we do know is that they have enough returning talent and a reasonable enough schedule such that anything less than contending in year one will put Herman on the hot seat pretty quickly. The Cougars want to win.

Strengths

The identity of the Cougars is going to change with Herman at the controls…eventually. Likely gone are the throw-on-every-down days in favour of a more balanced attack. He has the personnel to be more balanced with underrated running back Kenneth Farrow and mobile QB Greg Ward Jr.

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The best position group on the team is probably the defensive secondary led by SS Adrian McDonald and CB William Jackson. Some are saying they have the best secondary outside of the Power 5.

The defense has been a very opportunistic group in the past.

Weaknesses

This is not going to be a dominating team, but it is hard to point out one area that is going to be a glaring weakness. Their biggest challenge is probably going to be adjusting to the new coach’s approach.

Coming from OSU and the Big Ten, the mantra is going to be “let’s get physical” to punish teams more than just beat them — it might be hard to pull off. On the field, they are pinning a lot of hopes on their quarterback Greg Ward Jr. He is a very good athlete, kind of what Herman had at OSU with Braxton Miller, but he is also a little guy who might not be ready to take the pounding.

He also hasn’t proven much yet and with John O’Korn gone there isn’t much depth behind him.

Houston Cougars 2015-2016 Prediction: 7-5

Herman is likely a good hire, but I think he is going to need a bowl victory to match the 8-5 records of the past two seasons. Those weren’t good enough for the program but they are probably a fair start to a new era.

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Essentially, I think the Cougars are going to win the games they are supposed to this season. I don’t give them a chance against Louisville on the road and in the AAC tilts against UCF, Cincinnati and Memphis are going to be very tough. They are lucky to be in the lighter West Division this season and by the end of the year it will be obvious that they are playing a different brand of Houston football.

Time will tell whether Herman can get them over the hump to win in double digits regularly in the future. Betting wise, I don’t see this squad helping you much.

Maybe look under on some totals as they might be artificially high based on past reputations.

Houston Cougars 2015 College Football Schedule

September 5 – Tennessee Tech

September 12 – @ Louisville

September 26 – Texas State

October 3 – @ Tulsa

October 8 – SMU

October 16 – @ Tulane

October 24 – @ UCF

October 31 – Vanderbilt

November 7 – Cincinnati

November 15 – Memphis

November 21 – @ Connecticut

November 27 – Navy

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By The Wiesguy

The Wiesguy is a newcomer to the handicapping scene. Hailing from Toronto, Canada he is always sweet on the underdogs and you can often find his thoughts, musings and picks at moneydogs.blogspot.com.