Canceled: Houston at SMU: 12/5/20 College Football Picks and Prediction

On the season, Houston is averaging 33.2 ppg on 425.8 total yards per game (267.8 passing yds/g; 158.0 rushing yds/g). Offensively, Houston has been led by QB Clayton Tune who has completed 60.6% of his passes for 1,562 yards, 11 TD, & 6 INT. Tune is also the 2nd leading rusher for the Cougars as he has 233 yards & 4 TD’s on 52 carries. The top receiving threats for the Cougars have been Keith Corbin (24 rec, 333 yards, TD), Marquez Stevenson (16 rec, 278 yards, 3 TD), and Nathaniel Dell (17 rec, 252 yards, 2 TD). Leading the way for the Cougars backfield has been Kyle Porter who has 324 rushing yards & 4 TD’s on 81 carries.

Defensively, Houston is allowing their opponents to average 33.0 ppg on 435.2 total yards per game (244.3 passing yds/g; 190.8 rushing yds/g).

The SMU Mustangs lost their 2nd straight game and dropped to 7-3 (4-3 AAC) on the season after being defeated by the East Carolina Pirates, 52-38, this past Saturday. SMU had no answers for the East Carolina offense in the 1st half and couldn’t fight all the way back after going into halftime trailing by a 45-7 margin. SMU was outgained by East Carolina by a 493-384 margin and committed three turnovers in the loss. Leading the way for the Mustangs was QB Shane Buechele who completed 35 of 50 passes for 314 yards, 2 TD, & 2 INT.

On the season, SMU is averaging 38.6 ppg on 494.5 total yards per game (318.0 passing yds/g; 176.5 rushing yds/g). Offensively, SMU has been led by QB Shane Buechele who has completed 65.4% of his passes for 3,095 yards, 23 TD, & 6 INT. The top receiving threats for the Mustangs have been Rashee Rice (48 rec, 683 yards, 5 TD), Kylen Granson (35 rec, 536 yards, 5 TD), Danny Gray (33 rec, 448 yards, 4 TD), and Tyler Page (39 rec, 422 yards, 2 TD). Leading the way for the SMU backfield has been Ulysses Bentley IV who has 913 rushing yards & 11 TD’s on 170 carries.

Defensively, SMU is allowing their opponents to average 30.9 ppg on 422.2 total yards per game (241.9 passing yds/g; 180.3 rushing yds/g).

The Cougars are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games as a road favorite and 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win. The Mustangs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games. 

This should be an entertaining game to watch as both of these offenses know how to put up points, while both defenses have struggled. SMU is fading a bit down the stretch and after seeing their defensive performance in the 1st half against East Carolina, I think the play here is to take Houston to cover this small spread. Good Luck!