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Houston vs. UTSA Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 1

By Reed Wallach

Nov 19, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Clayton Tune (3) drops back to pass
Nov 19, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Clayton Tune (3) drops back to pass / Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
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Two double-digit winning teams from last season do battle in San Antonio on Saturday.

Houston and UTSA look to follow up incredible 2021 campaigns, each team winning 12 games, with an even stronger 2022. But is one further along than the other?

The Cougars enter San Antonio as road favorites as the Roadrunners must replace their star running back and 1,500 yard rusher in Sincere McCormick, while Houston returns their quarterback Clayton Tune.

Can UTSA follow up their dream season that included a Conference USA title against a formidable G5 opponent? Let's dive into odds and find the best bet for one of the most competitive matchups on the Week 1 slate:

Houston vs. UTSA Odds, Spread and Total

Houston vs. UTSA Betting Trends

  • UTSA is coming off a 12-2 season, most wins in school history
  • UTSA has gone 3-1 against the spread (ATS) as a home underdog
  • Houston went 3-2 ATS as a road favorite last season and 6-1 straight up on the road

Houston vs. UTSA Prediction and Pick

I already bet Houston -4, as mentioned on Tuesday's Early Reed episode, as I see UTSA in for a step back after a dream season.

The team must replace the foundation of their offense in McCormick, and the defense was underwhelming last season. They feasted on turnovers, ranking top five in the country in turnover margin at +13 and were bottom 20 in explosive pass defense.

Enter Tune and his trusty receiver Nathaniel 'Tank' Dell. Tune passed for over 3,500 yards last season and Dell hauled in 90 catches for more than 1,300 yards. The Cougars have plenty of firepower to gash a suspect UTSA defense that only returns five starters.

On the other side, I expect the Cougars elite pass rush to dominate a rebuilding UTSA offense. The team wasn't overly explosive, but relied heavily on McCormick to generate an above average success rate. While veteran quarterback Frank Harris is under center again (27:6 touchdown to interception ratio), I'm concerned that the Roadrunners defense can hold up over the course of the game.

I'm taking the better team that won 12 of their last 13 games to start strong on the road. Overall, I think there are big things in store for a Houston team that came up short in the AAC Championship Game in 2021. 2022 is the year for Dana Holgorsen.

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