Free Week 2 Prediction: Cougars vs Cardinals
Week 2 College football betting sees the Houston Cougars taking on the Louisville Cardinals Saturday September 12th at Papa John’s-Cardinal Stadium in Louisville. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football predictions.
Week 2
Houston (1-0) vs. Louisville (0-1)
Date: Saturday, September 12th
Time: 12:00 PM
Venue: Papa John’s-Cardinal Stadium – Louisville
NCAA Football Spread: Houston +13.5
NCAA Betting Total: 54.5
Bet Now!Click here to view… CFB ATS Stats & Expert NCAAF Betting Insight!
This may not mean much to the Cardinals but they probably had the most impressive loss last week. They were 11 point underdogs up against a very very good Auburn team in a big time environment and they did not shy away.
A 7 point loss isn’t worth much at the end of the season. But, in terms of how Bobby Petrino should feel about what is ahead of his team, the feeling must be good.
Houston opened with an overmatched opponent and beat them handily.
[dfads params=’groups=220&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
This week will prove for these teams whether opening the season with an inferior opponent or challenging your team right out of the gate is the better way to start.
Houston
In their opener, Houston looked great all around. Greg Ward, Jr. was nearly perfect.
They ran the ball effectively and protected the football except for one fumble – two crucial things to win football games in college.
The defense they will run into this week is much different than that of Tennessee Tech. Louisville can defend both the run and the pass. They can bring pressure and they can force you to turn the football over.
Ward, Jr. will have to protect the football better than Jeremy Johnson did for Auburn last week. The Cardinals picked Johnson off three times last week but didn’t capitalize as well as they could have – probably what cost them the football game.
[dfads params=’groups=226&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
The Cougars defense isn’t strong enough to protect them against a short field so if Ward, Jr. turns the ball over, the Cardinals could run it up quick.
Louisville
Louisville opened their first possession last week without having named a starting quarterback. So, they sent two out there. They ran Reggie Bonafon in motion out wide and Lamar Jackson ended up in the backfield back to pass.
He ran towards the sideline and threw the ball on the run into triple coverage which was easily intercepted by Auburn.
Not exactly the way you want to start the football season.
Jackson would later make his way into the game and make all sorts of plays with his arm and his feet. On several different occasions, he displayed some Michael Vick-esque maneuvers in the backfield and picked up yardage.
He finished the game with a poor passing stat line but rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts. His passing wasn’t as bad as the numbers show and after all he was up against one of the best defenses in the SEC.
Will Muschamp is a great defensive mind and Jackson had the Auburn defense scratching their heads on some plays.
[dfads params=’groups=219&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
The Cardinals have a great run defense but it will be the Cougars’ passing attack that will test them the most.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
Cardinals were 7-6 ATS in 2014, including 3-2 in non-conference games
Cardinals were 2-1 ATS in 2014 after a loss
Cougars were 7-5-1 ATS in 2014 including 3-2 in non-conference games
Cougars were 4-0-1 ATS in 2014 as away team and 3-0-1 ATS as underdog
Free Week 2 NCAA Football Prediction
Jackson played a better second half and made a lot of plays with his feet but good coaches can contain that after a week of watching film. When he improves his ability to throw the football, he will be a difficult dynamic QB to defend. Louisville will win the game, but it won’t be a blowout.
4* Free NCAA Betting Pick: Houston +13.5
If Jackson gets too confident in his dual threat skills and turns the football over, Houston could sneak up on the Cardinals and win the football game.
Week 2 Free Score Prediction: Louisville 27 – Houston 21
We’ll be providing 4* free College football predictions on the blog all season long, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free CFB Football picks!
CappersPicks.com has College football odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NCAA football lines up for early games as well.