Free NCAA Football Prediction: Cougars vs. Midshipmen Odds
Looking for Houston Cougars vs. Navy Midshipmen free picks? College football betting sees the Cougars taking on the Midshipmen on Saturday, October 22nd at Navy Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 8 predictions like this HOU-NAVY free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 8
(3-3) Houston Cougars vs. Navy Midshipmen (2-4)
Date: Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Time: 12:00 pm EST
Venue: Navy Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: HOU -3 | NAVY +3 (Bet Now!)
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Cougars -150 | Midshipmen +125
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 52
The Houston Cougars will head to Annapolis and take on the Navy Midshipmen for some American Athletic Conference action this weekend. Houston will open as the three-point road favorites here, with the total opening at 50.5.
HISTORY: Tulsa and Navy have crossed paths in each season since becoming AAC rivals. Navy leads the all-time series 7-2, after winning six of the last seven meetings.
Houston Cougars
Houston had a rough month of September to start the season. The Cougars got scares from in-state foes UTSA and Rice, and fell to future Big 12 rivals Texas Tech and Kansas. Dana Holgorsen’s team lost to Tulane in their opener, but they got a big comeback last time out against one of their fiercest conference rivals.
In Week 6, Houston (+3) defeated Memphis, 33-32, covering for first time since Week 2.
Clayton Tune brings a ton of experience to the position, and it showed in the come from behind victory over Memphis last weekend. The senior quarterback threw for a season-high 366 yards with three touchdown passes and added a touchdown rush on the ground versus the Tigers, and he can really overpower Navy with his arm here if that momentum travels.
Tune has thrown for 1,567 passing yards with 12 touchdowns to four interceptions, while rushing for 214 yards and three scores during September.
Brandon Campbell and Ta’Zhawn Henry have split the load early for Houston. Henry had a big game against KU, gaining 163 total yards (56 rush, 107 rec), while scoring a rushing and receiving touchdown and he followed it up with a 100-yard performance versus Rice. Campbell transferred home from USC to lead the Cougars in rushing with 296 yards and three scores.
Nathaniel Dell is one of the best receivers in the country and he should be playing on Sundays in the future. Dell surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for his career after burning crosstown rival Rice for the second year in a row, and he caught ten passes in win over Memphis. Dell is among conference leaders with 43 receptions, 534 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Navy Midshipmen
The tide has turned a bit for the Midshipmen after opened the season with losses to Delaware and Memphis. Navy (+16.5) responded after their bye week by picking up a big road win over East Carolina, then covering in their Commander-in-Chief matchup with Air Force. The Midshipmen came through once again for loyal bettors with a big home underdog win over Tulsa, then found themselves on the right side of one of the worse beats last week.
In Week 7, Navy lost to SMU, 40-34, covering the 12-point underdog spread on a last minute score.
Navy scores 23.3 points per game, while allowing 24.1 ppg.
Tai Lavatai has made Navy competitive this season. The junior quarterback may have had the best outing of his career last Friday versus SMU. Lavatai threw for 138 yards, rushed for 120 yards, and scored four total touchdowns (2 pass, 2 rush), and nearly captained another upset for the Midshipmen.
Lavatai has thrown for 662 passing yards with four touchdowns to one interception, while rushing for 265 yards and five more touchdowns.
Navy has worked through multiple ball carriers to begin the season. Fullback Daba Fofana posted career-high of 159 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Tulsa, and he now leads Navy with 336 rushing yards. Running backs Maquel Haywood and Vincent Terrell II have provided some explosiveness. Haywood has 298 rushing yards, and leads the team with 6.1 yards per carry. Terrell II had a career-high 93 yards in the win over Tulsa.
Tight end Jayden Umbarger has been Tavatai’s security blanket, and he leads the team with 13 receptions and 169 receiving yards.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- HOU are 3-3 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- NAVY are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Cougars are 3-5 ATS in their last 8 road games.
- Midshipmen are 3-5 ATS in their last 8 home games.
Free Week 8 NCAA Football Final Analysis:
Houston’s comeback victory last time out was huge and it should serve as a turning point in their season. The Cougars were projected to contend in the AAC this season, but a slow start has set them back a bit. This road contest will mark the beginning of a ‘light’ stretch, and it’s not too late for Houston to figure things out.
It’s hard to ignore what Navy has been able to do against the spread this season, but it’s easy to see the Cougars overpowering them here offensively. While that may be the case, Houston inability to defend is alarming, and with the Midshipmen consistently generating chunks at a time this season, it opens up another angle here. The magic number of 52 feels manageable with the way these two teams have been playing. Houston’s capable of doing the heavy lifting, and five of their first six games have his this number.
With sunny skies set to hover the Naval Academy, take the total for this AAC clash this Saturday.
4* Free Week 8 NCAA Betting Pick: Over 52
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