Through 3 Quarters
Down three at the end of last quarter, the SMU Mustangs have now snagged the lead. It’s anybody’s game after three quarters, but SMU is ahead of the Houston Cougars 34-30.
The Mustangs have been riding high on the performance of QB Tanner Mordecai, who has passed for three TDs and 233 yards on 20 attempts. Speaking of playmakers, CB Bryan Massey went all the way with a kickoff return for touchdown in the third quarter.
WR Nathaniel Dell has led the way so far for Houston, as he has caught nine passes for three TDs and 165 yards.
Who’s Playing
No. 19 SMU @ Houston
Current Records: SMU 7-0; Houston 6-1
What to Know
An American Athletic battle is on tap between the SMU Mustangs and the Houston Cougars at 7 p.m. ET Saturday at TDECU Stadium. Both teams come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous games.
SMU made easy work of the Tulane Green Wave last week and carried off a 55-26 win. The game was pretty much decided by the half, when the score had already reached 31-7. No one had a standout game offensively for the Mustangs, but they got scores from WR Reggie Roberson Jr. and RB Brandon Epton Jr..
Meanwhile, it may have taken overtime to finish the job, but Houston ultimately got the result they were hoping for last week with a 31-24 victory over the East Carolina Pirates. The team ran away with 24 points in the first half and mostly just sat on those in the second to pick up the win. Like SMU, Houston didn’t have any clear offensive standouts, but they got scores from WR Nathaniel Dell, TE Christian Trahan, and RB Alton McCaskill.
This next contest is expected to be close, with SMU going off at just a 1-point favorite. They covered a 14-point spread last Thursday, so bettors might be thinking that will translate to further success against a lower spread.
The Mustangs are now a perfect 7-0 while the Cougars sit at 6-1. Two stats to keep an eye on: SMU is 211th worst in the nation in thrown interceptions, having thrown seven on the season. Houstons have had an even harder time: they are stumbling into the matchup with the 193rd most thrown interceptions in the nation, having thrown six on the season. It’s possible one of these Achilles’ heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.
How To Watch
- When: Saturday at 7 p.m. ET
- Where: TDECU Stadium — Houston, Texas
- TV: ESPN2
- Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Ticket Cost: $20.00
Odds
The Mustangs are a slight 1-point favorite against the Cougars, according to the latest college football odds.
The line on this game has moved a bit since it opened, as it started out with the Cougars as a 1-point favorite.
Over/Under: -112
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Series History
SMU have won three out of their last five games against Houston.
- Oct 24, 2019 – SMU 34 vs. Houston 31
- Nov 03, 2018 – SMU 45 vs. Houston 31
- Oct 07, 2017 – Houston 35 vs. SMU 22
- Oct 22, 2016 – SMU 38 vs. Houston 16
- Oct 08, 2015 – Houston 49 vs. SMU 28
