Things have changed quite dramatically in recent years, starting with the introduction of the playoff format in college football. Besides adding the 4-team playoff, we have also seen what is now known as Week 0 added to the schedule, which is a few games played on the Saturday before the official opening week of the college football season. We have also seen some of the bigger teams trying to make an early impression on the playoff committee by scheduling tough games in Week 1. In the past, the first couple of weeks of the season were essentially nothing more than warm-up games for the better teams, as they would traditionally go against the lesser lights.
We are also seeing the opening week spread out, with games running from Thursday all the way through to Monday. We have a Sunday night game in primetime to look forward to this weekend, with the Houston Cougars hitting the road to play the Oklahoma Sooners. If you like high-scoring football, this should be the game for you. The Sooners come into this one as a 23-point favorite, with the point total set at a staggering 80 points.
Houston vs Oklahoma 2019 College Football Week 1 Odds, Game Info & Pick
- When: Sunday, September 1, 7:30 PM EST
- Where: Memorial Stadium, Norman
- TV: ABC
- Radio: SiriusXM
- Live Stream: ABC Go
- College Football Week 1 Odds: Oklahoma -23 (Total 80)
2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship Odds, Predictions & Picks
Weather Forecast
- Partly Cloudy: 33°C/91°F
- Humidity: 66%
- Precipitation: 10%
- Cloud Cover: 38%
- Wind: 8 mph SE
- Stadium Type: Open
Why bet on the Houston Cougars?
The Houston Cougars saw their 2018 season come to a bit of a brutal end. They started out the season with an impressive 7-1 record, but things started to go off the rails very quickly after that. They closed out the year losing 3 of their last 4 games, surrendering points at an alarming rate in the process. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they were then truly humbled in the Armed Forces Bowl, losing 70-14 to Army.
Their defense fell apart in the second half of the year, and if they haven’t been able to sort that out, they could be in for a painful start to 2019. Houston are 8-2 SU in their last 1o season openers and are 15-2 SU in their last 17 September games. I’m not so sure those record will improve on Sunday.
Team Stats
Offense- Points per Game: 43.92
- Passing Yards: 295.43
- Rushing Yards: 217.00
- Yards per Play: 6.60
Defense
- Points per Game: 37.15
- Passing Yards: 275.54
- Rushing Yards: 220.92
- Yards per Play: 5.94
Why bet on the Oklahoma Sooners?
Sunday will represent that start of a new era for the Oklahoma Sooners, as they will have a former National Championship winner under center to start this one. Former Alabama QB Jalen Hurts will be leading the charge, bringing with him a dual threat that automatically makes an already powerful Oklahoma offense that much more dangerous. It is perhaps for that reason alone that Oklahoma will be starting the season ranked at the #4 spot.
The reigning Big 12 Champions will be looking to get back to the playoffs for the 3rd straight season and will be looking to advance beyond the semi-finals this time around, losing to Alabama last year. Oklahoma are a perfect 9-0 SU in their last 9 September games, as well as being the winners of their last 10 home games.
Team Stats
Offense- Points per Game: 48.36
- Passing Yards: 322.86
- Rushing Yards: 247.43
- Yards per Play: 8.60
- Points per Game: 33.29
- Passing Yards: 294.00
- Rushing Yards: 159.79
- Yards per Play: 6.13
Georgia vs Vanderbilt 2019 College Football Week 1 Odds & Game Preview
Houston vs Oklahoma 2019 College Football Week 1 Betting Trends
- Cougars are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played in week 1
- Cougars are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games played on a Sunday
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston’s last 5 games against an opponent in the Big 12 conference
- Sooners are 9-0 SU in their last 9 games played in September
- Sooners are 10-0 SU in their last 10 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 11 of Oklahoma’s last 15 games
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Houston vs Oklahoma
I think we are in for a bit of a shootout here, although whether these two can actually go beyond that huge point total remains to be seen. I am taking the Sooners to win and cover, and I think the total may creep just OVER.
Score: Houston Cougars 30 – Oklahoma Sooners 55
