The Houston Cougars and Baylor Bears meet at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, Saturday at noon ET in the season opener for both teams. We analyze the Houston-Baylor college football betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
The Bears are ranked 24th in the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Houston at Baylor: Betting odds and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 4:41 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Baylor -176 | Houston +145
- Against the spread/ATS: Baylor -3.5 (-110) | Houston +3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 62.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Houston at Baylor: Three things to know
- The Cougars and Bears recently agreed to this game after having COVID wipe out previously scheduled games for both. Houston was supposed to play Memphis Friday, while Baylor had last week’s trip to Louisiana Tech canceled after numerous Bulldogs turned up COVID positive.
- Cougars QB Clayton Tune took over for the departed D’Eriq King last season, posting 1,533 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while completing 59.2 percent of his passes. He also ran for 244 yards and two scores in 2019.
- Like the Cougs, Bears QB Charlie Brewer threw for 2,950 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions, while also running for 337 yards and 10 touchdowns. Baylor rolled up 35.2 points per game, ranking 17th in the country.
Get some action on this game or any other matchup with a college football bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!
Houston at Baylor: Odds, betting lines and picks
Prediction
Baylor 45, Houston 38
Money line (ML)
BAYLOR (-176) was lucky to secure a game against Houston (+145), as both teams were in desperate need of an opponent to finally get the ball rolling on the 2020 season. The Bears are the play here because they’re on their home field. They’re on the borderline of how much juice I like to lay, but as long as it doesn’t go over -180, I’m in.
Against the spread (ATS)
BAYLOR (-3.5, -110) has the dual-threat Brewer running the offense, and it was truly efficient last season. Houston’s Tune is good, but he is a bit mistake-free and quarterback play will be the difference here.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 62.5 (-110) should be the way to go, although a slower start wouldn’t be surprising given all of the time off to begin the season. Still, these teams strike fast on those little short crossing routes, and they move to the line quickly, maximizing their time. A lot of high-percentage passes keep things moving, and betting Unders involving Baylor or Houston is just not a good idea.
Also see:
- Get the latest from College Football News
Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]