Saturday Night Football: Houston vs BYU Prediction, Pick & Odds

• We’ve made our Houston vs BYU prediction for Saturday night Big 12 action
• The No. 19 BYU Cougars are laying 12 points at home against struggling Houston
• Read below for Houston vs BYU odds, prediction and best bets

The Houston Cougars (4-7, 3-5 Big 12) travel to Provo, Utah, to face the No. 19 BYU Cougars (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Kickoff is set for 10:15 p.m. ET at LaVell Edwards Stadium, with ESPN handling the broadcast.

The Saturday Night Football odds list the BYU Cougars as notable home favorites, with a win required to keep their CFP aspirations alive. Houston, meanwhile, aims to salvage a disappointing season by playing spoiler.

Here is a look at our Houston vs BYU prediction and odds for Saturday night college football.

Houston vs BYU Odds

BYU comes in as a solid 12-point home favorite over Houston. The moneyline suggests BYU has about an 85% chance to win outright, which makes sense given their stellar record and home-field edge.

The total sits at just 41.5 points, hinting at a defensive struggle. Both teams can really defend – BYU ranks second in Big 12 scoring defense (20.3 ppg) while Houston sits fifth (22.3 ppg). The Cougars are a combined 13-7-1 to the under this season.

Odds as of November 30, 2024, at ESPN Sportsbook. Register with the ESPN promo code to bet on Saturday Night CFB.

Houston Betting Analysis

Houston stumbles into this one after dropping two straight – a 20-10 loss to Baylor and an ugly 27-3 drubbing by Arizona. Their offense has been a mess, with QB Zeon Chriss (67/106, 668 yds, 4 TD, 7 INT) now leading the nation’s lowest-scoring attack at 13.6 points per game.

The lone bright spot has been RB Re’Shaun Sanford II, who’s shown flashes with 413 rushing yards and a score. The ground game averages a respectable 4.2 yards per carry, but Houston’s inability to sustain drives has limited their rushing attempts.

Play the next play 😤#GoCoogs | @MeowWolf pic.twitter.com/MsDWRRFLZO

— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) November 30, 2024

The Cougars actually lead the Big 12 in total defense (321.9 ypg) and have locked down some solid offenses. Their resume includes impressive wins over Kansas State, TCU, and Utah. The defense has held opponents under 24 points in seven of eleven games.

Houston’s secondary has been particularly strong, allowing just 190.8 passing yards per game. They’ve recorded 12 interceptions on the season and rank third in the conference in pass defense efficiency.

For Houston to pull this off, they’ll need their defense to shine and force some key turnovers.  Chriss has to avoid the picks that have plagued him lately (4 INTs in the last two games). The offense must find ways to extend drives and keep BYU’s attack off the field.

BYU Betting Analysis

BYU’s dream season hit a rough patch with consecutive losses to Kansas (17-13) and Arizona State (28-23). After starting 9-0 and flirting with the CFP, they now need help to reach the Big 12 title game.

QB Jake Retzlaff (193/328, 2,629 yds, 20 TD, 10 INT) leads a balanced attack that can beat you several ways. The explosive Chase Roberts (48 catches, 767 yards, 4 TDs) has been his go-to target, averaging an impressive 16 yards per catch.

Jake Retzlaff leading the Cougars to another victory🫡
Retzlaff Highlights⬇️#GoCougs | #Big12FB pic.twitter.com/evgiuZXxY8

— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) November 10, 2024

LJ Martin (99 carries, 543 yards, 5 TDs) anchors the ground game. BYU’s offense puts up 30+ per game, and they’re nearly unbeatable at home under the lights (30-4 since 2019). The Cougars are averaging 34.8 points in home games this season.

BYU’s defense should focus on stuffing the run and daring Houston to throw. Build a lead, make Houston pass, and let that opportunistic defense (14 takeaways) do its thing. The Cougars are 7-4 ATS this season and have covered four straight at home.

Houston vs BYU Prediction

Everything points to BYU bouncing back strong. They’re the better team on both sides of the ball and should feed off a rowdy home crowd on Senior Night.

Houston’s defense might keep it interesting early, but BYU’s firepower and Houston’s turnover issues should be the difference. That 30-4 home night record under Kalani Sitake speaks volumes.

I see BYU controlling this one start to finish. Lay the 12 points with confidence – the motivated home squad from Provo should roll to a comfortable win.

Saturday Night CFB Pick:

• BYU -12 (-110)

This Saturday night, football fans are in for a treat as the Houston Cougars take on the BYU Cougars in what promises to be an exciting matchup. Both teams are coming off strong performances in their previous games and will be looking to continue their winning streaks.

Houston is currently 4-1 on the season and is coming off a dominant 44-7 victory over Tulane. Their offense has been firing on all cylinders, led by quarterback Clayton Tune who has thrown for over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns so far this season. Their defense has also been impressive, holding opponents to just 19.6 points per game.

BYU, on the other hand, is undefeated at 5-0 and is coming off a thrilling 35-27 win over Utah State. Quarterback Jaren Hall has been a standout player for BYU, throwing for over 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns. Their defense has also been solid, allowing just 16.6 points per game.

In terms of odds, Houston is currently a slight underdog with odds of +3.5, while BYU is favored with odds of -3.5. This indicates that oddsmakers believe BYU has a slight edge in this matchup.

In terms of prediction, this game is shaping up to be a close one with both teams having strong offenses and defenses. However, BYU’s undefeated record and home-field advantage give them the edge in this matchup. I predict that BYU will come out on top with a final score of 31-28.

Overall, Saturday night’s game between Houston and BYU is sure to be an exciting one for football fans. Both teams have been playing well this season and will be looking to continue their winning ways. Be sure to tune in to see which team comes out on top in this highly anticipated matchup.