Free NCAA Football Prediction: Bulls vs. Cougars Odds
Looking for South Florida Bulls vs. Houston Cougars free picks? College football betting sees the Bulls taking on the Cougars on Saturday, October 29th at TDECU Stadium in Houston, TX. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 9 predictions like this USF-HOU free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 9
(1-6) South Florida Bulls vs. Houston Cougars (4-3)
Date: Saturday, October 29th, 2022
Time: 12:00 pm EST
Venue: TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: USF +17.5 | HOU -17.5 (Bet Now!)
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Bulls +550 | Cougars -800
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 61.5
The Houston Cougars will host the South Florida Bulls for their homecoming game this weekend from TDECU Stadium. Houston will open as the 17-point favorites here at home, with the total opening at 61.5
HISTORY: Houston and USF have faced off eight times since 2001, with the Cougars holding a 6-2 series lead, and scoring 50+ points in each of the past three meetings.
South Florida Bulls
It’s been another long season for the South Florida football program. The Bulls have failed secure a FBS victory this season, with blowouts from BYU, ECU, and Louisville standing out. Now while the Bulls are indeed 1-6, they still possess that south Florida grit, and they’ve put a pair of scares on in-state foe Florida and AAC power Cincinnati. Last time out, the Bulls almost made use of their points for the second Saturday in a row.
In Week 7, USF lost to Tulane, 45-31, missing the generous margin by two points and dropping to 2-5 against the spread this season.
USF scores 25.3 points per game, while allowing 37.5 ppg.
Gerry Bohanon felt the effects of transferring from Baylor to USF, and he season was altered by a hit in the Tulane game. Sophomore Katravis Marsh entered and threw a pair of touchdown passes, and he will more than likely make the first start of his career this weekend in Houston.
Brian Battie has brought some life to the USF backfield. The scat back from Sarasota has eclipsed the 80-yard mark four times this season, including a career-best 150 yards versus Florida. Battie leads the team with 493 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Xavier Weaver led the team in receiving last season and he’s on-pace to do so again this season. The junior wideout has been reliable, catching five passes or more in five of six games this season, and he leads USF in receptions (36) and receiving yards (455).
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 AAC opener, but bounced back a pair of road victories. The Cougs defeated Memphis behind a season-saving fourth quarter, and they gave the Midshipmen all they could handle last Saturday.
In Week 6, Houston defeated Memphis, 33-32, improving to 3-4 ATS this season.
Houston scores 32.3 points per game, while allowing 31.7 ppg.
Clayton Tune brings a ton of experience to the position, and it showed in the come from behind victory over Memphis. The senior quarterback threw for a season-high 366 yards with three fourth quarter touchdown passes and added a touchdown rush on the ground versus the Tigers. Tune tossed a season-high five touchdowns in the win over Navy, and his third homecoming start should go fairly well against a vulnerable USF defense.
Tune has thrown for 1,828 passing yards with 17 touchdowns to four interceptions, while rushing for 256 yards and three scores through seven starts this season.
Brandon Campbell and Ta’Zhawn Henry split the load early for Houston, but true freshman Stacy Sneed got a lot of work last week. With Henry on the shelf, and Campbell going down, Snell turned 20 carries into 100 yards. It’s an encouraging sign for a run game that was dormant for a few weeks, and Snell should see ample opportunity versus USF this weekend.
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 51 receptions, 627 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- USF are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- HOU are 3-3 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Bulls are 4-4 ATS in their last 8 road games.
- Cougars are 5-3 ATS in their last 8 home games.
Free Week 9 NCAA Football Final Analysis:
Houston’s bounced back nicely after a rough patch during non-conference play, and this will mark the second of a very manageable four-game stretch into their trip to Greenville to face ECU. Now since the margin feels a bit steep here, we do know Houston’s offense is capable of carrying the hold and holding their own offensively.
USF has made great use of their points in two notable road contests with Florida and Cinci, and they nearly capitalized at home versus Tulane last weekend. It’s an attractive trend to test, but with the Bulls quietly looking better with Marsh at quarterback, they should be able to contribute to the magic number against a liable Cougar defense that’s given up 27 or more in six of seven games played.
Houston should do the heavy lifting here, take the over for this one, but definitely gives the Cougs spread a look as well, as they should show out in this homecoming spot.
4* Free Week 9 NCAA Betting Pick: Over 61.5
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