The upstart West Virginia Mountaineers will try to build on their breakout season when they visit the Houston Cougars on Thursday for a key Big 12 matchup. The Mountaineers are one win shy of last season’s total of five wins. After losing to Penn State in Week 1, they’ve used a great defense and a strong rushing attack to win four straight. The Cougars are still looking for their first win in the Big 12 in their first season in the league. They’re looking for a win to turn their season around after blowout losses to TCU and Texas Tech in their first two Big 12 games.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at TDECU Stadium in Houston. The Mountaineers are three-point favorites, with West Virginia’s latest odds against Houston at 49.5 points total, according to the consensus. Before locking in any Houston vs. West Virginia picks, make sure you see college football betting advice and picks from the Projection Model.
projection mode simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, the company has generated staggering profits of over $2,000 on its top college football picks for $100 players. Anyone who follows it sees great rewards.
Now, the model has locked in on West Virginia vs. Houston and released its top picks. You can now head to to view the selection of models. Here are the college football odds and betting lines for Houston vs. West Virginia:
- West Virginia vs. Houston Point Spread: West Virginia -3
- West Virginia vs. Houston Total Score: 49.5 points
- West Virginia vs. Houston money line: West Virginia -153, Houston +129
- WVU: Mountaineers are 2-1 in their last three games and are betting favorites
- UM: Cougars are 2-1 in their last three conference games and are betting underdogs
- West Virginia vs. Houston picks: View picks
- West Virginia vs Houston Live Streaming: fubo (Free Trial)
Why West Virginia has coverage
So far, the Mountaineers have featured a running attack that has worn down opposing defensive units and allowed them to control the clock. Leading rusher CJ Donaldson is a physical and explosive runner who can keep the chains moving. He has rushed for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Garrett Greene is a crafty and opportunistic runner who ranks second on the team with 185 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
West Virginia coach Neal Brown, known for his high-octane offense during his time in Troy, told the media this week that the Mountaineers have had success despite a lack of quality in the passing game. He said the club plans to continue integrating more vertical passing plays, noting that a game plan centered around the team’s strengths has paid off. Find out which team to choose here.
Why Houston can be covered
The Cougars are known for their high-octane offense under coach Dana Holgorsen, a former West Virginia University coach considered a pioneer of the spread offense now popular in college football. The Cougars are averaging 414 yards of total offense per game and their passing attack ranks 26th nationally with 281.2 yards per game. Houston’s mainstay thus far has been its defense, which allowed nearly 30 points per game and 470 yards of total offense in a 43-41 upset loss to Rice in Week 2.
However, in two wins against UTSA and Sam Houston, the Cougars allowed just 21 points combined. Part of their defensive numbers can be attributed to facing tough opponents like Texas Tech and TCU. Holgorsen told the media this week that the team spent much of the bye week working on snaps and distribution discipline, which have been the team’s two main weaknesses so far. Even so, an experienced defensive line has been a strength of the team, led by junior forward Nelson Ceaser, who led the team in sacks with 4.5. Find out which team to choose here.
How to pick Houston vs West Virginia
The model has simulated West Virginia and Houston 10,000 times, and the results are in. The model favors total points and produces deficit picks that hit well over 50%. You can only see selection and analysis of this model on .
So, who will win, West Virginia or Houston, and which team will shoot well over 50%? Visit now to see who’s better in the West Virginia vs. Houston matchup, all from an advanced computer model that’s been up $2,000 on its top college football picks since launch More dollars and find out.