Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Friday, October 1st, 2021 

Venue: Chapman Stadium, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Where to Watch: ESPNU

DraftKings:  Spread: Tulsa -3:  O/U: 56.5

Circa:  Spread:  Tulsa -3.5:  O/U: 57

Caesars:  Spread: Tulsa -3:  O/U: 56.5

Tulsa: 1-3 (AAC)

Houston: 3-1 (AAC)

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Our prediction for Friday, October 2nd is….  Tulsa 31 - Houston 24

Houston lost their season opening game to the Texas Tech Red Raiders 38-21.  The Cougars have been on a three game, less competitive, winning streak since.  They beat Rice 44-7, beat Grambling 45-0, and the Navy Midshipmen 28-20.  

Tulsa lost their opener in a tight game to UC Davis 19-17.  They lost again in game 2 to Oklahoma State 28-23.  They lost again to Ohio State 41-20.  They finally got their first win in their fourth game… they beat Arkansas State 41-34.  1-3 on the season so far and yet Vegas has them favored over 3-1 Houston?  

The Houston Cougars offense is scoring 34.5 ppg on 362.5 yards per game.  They have a well-balanced offense getting 234 yards passing per game and 128 yards rushing. Starting Quarterback Clayton Tune leads the charge with 729 yards passing so far.  His glaring weakness is turnovers.  Clayton has 5 passing touchdowns and 5 interceptions.  He has to throw quickly as the offensive line has allowed Clayton to get sacked 10 times in 4 games. Alton Mccaskill is the leading rusher and the top red zone threat with 233 yards and 4 rushing TDs.  Nathaniel Dell is the big receiver with 3 TDs.

The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes are scoring 25.3 ppg on 489.8 yards per game.  They can really move the ball.  They are passing for 302 yards per game and rushing for 187 yards per game. Quarterback Davis Brin is 82-134 for 1,208 yards. He also has 5 TDs and 5 INT.  He also has been sacked 10 times… he also needs better offensive line play in front of him.  

This is a matchup of ALSO.  Both teams favor the passing attack while balancing it with a decent running game.  Both Quarterbacks must move the ball quickly or get hit because their O-line just doesn't stop anyone.

Houston has the 6th best defense in the FBS.  They only give up 244.8 points per game.  They are on a top ten list with Georgia, Wisconsin, and Iowa State.  It’s important to remember though… The Cougars had 3 straight games against creampuffs.  Navy was the best of the cream puffs and coincidentally they were the only cream puffs to move and score the ball.

Tulsa is not among the top 50 teams on defense.  Tulsa is tied with Northwestern for the 83rd best defensive team in FBS.  The list stops at 130, making Tulsa a below-average defense.  It’s important to remember here:  They played OHIO STATE and Oklahoma State.

Our prediction for Friday, October 2nd is….  Tulsa 31 - Houston 24

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The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tulsa's last 6 games

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games

Tulsa is 11-4 ATS against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.

Tulsa is 7-3 ATS when playing a team with a winning record over the last three seasons. 

Houston:  QB Clayton Tune Jr  RB Mulbah Car, TE Christian Trahan, WR KeSean Carter, WR Jeremy Singleton, WR Nathaniel Dell, LT Patrick Paul, LG Keenan Murphy, C Kody Russey, RG Tank Jenkins, RT Dennis Bardwell.

Tulsa:  QB Davis Brin, RB Shamari Brooks, TE Ethan Hall, WR Sam Crawford Jr, WR JuanCarlos Santana, WR Keylon Stokes, LT Tyler Smith, LG Dylan Couch, C Gerard Wheeler, RG Bryce Bray, RT Chris Paul

Houston: 

Passing:  Clayton Tune QB  729 yards

Rushing: Alton McCaskill  RB 233 yards

Receiving: Nathaniel Dell  WR  342 yards

Tackles:  Donovan Mutin LB  25

Interceptions:  Hasaan Hypolite  S  1

Tulsa:

Passing:  Davis Brin QB 1,208 yards

Rushing:  Shamari Brooks  RB  292 yards

Receiving:  Josh Johnson  WR  317 yards

Tackles:  Kenneth Ray S  29

Interceptions:  Travon Fuller CB 1 

Houston:  Dana Holgerson

Tulsa: Phillip Montgomery

Scattered Thunderstorms, Precipitation 40% chance, Humidity 76%