College Football Spread - Houston Cougars (-2.5) at East Carolina Pirates
by Dave D
Saturday, December 5th – 12:05 PM ET
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
College Football Spread: Houston -2.5
Houston: The Week That Was
The Cougars wrapped up the Conference USA West Division crown by crushing their crosstown rivals from Rice, 73-14. Houston rolled up 59 points in the first half and rested star quarterback Case Keenum for the second half. The Cougars amassed 463 passing yards and 221 rushing yards, didn’t commit a turnover, and were guilty of just one penalty. They were, however, playing an opponent that won just two games all year.
Nevertheless, the victory and the C-USA West title wiped away the frustration created by a pair of conference losses to UTEP and Central Florida. Houston should send a gift package to the Marshall Thundering Herd, the team that beat Southern Methodist on Nov. 21 and enabled the Cougars to reach the C-USA Championship Game.
Houston Cougars (-2.5) @ East Carolina Pirates >> Join to Bet Now
East Carolina: The Week That Was
The Pirates beat Southern Miss last weekend, 25-20, to clinch Conference USA East Division title and set up this showdown with Houston. Southern Mississippi scored a touchdown to tie the game at 20-all with 7:35 left in the fourth quarter, but the Pirates blocked the extra point, and ECU defensive tackle C.J. Wilson returned the loose ball the other way for a defensive two-point conversion and a 22-20 lead.
The Pirates tacked on a field goal and shut out the Golden Eagles the rest of the way to return to the C-USA Championship Game and defend the league title they won last year at Tulsa. This was a typical East Carolina game, in that the Pirates – while not endowed with a thermonuclear offense – remained stout and steady on defense, and found the ability to grind out a close win in the final minutes of regulation.
The Week That Is:
ECU’s defense has not allowed 20 points to any C-USA opponent this season. When the Pirates lost to Southern Methodist, 28-21, on Oct. 10, a blocked field goal return and a pick-six accounted for 14 of SMU’s 28 points. Coach Skip Holtz owns a defense that doesn’t just hold down opponents, but makes defining plays in the fourth quarters of close games.
Houston, on the other hand, has given up at least 35 points in five separate games this season. Fortunately for coach Kevin Sumlin, UH boasts Case Keenum, a video-game machine of a quarterback who has been as consistent as any signal caller in the country.
From his team’s season opener through game 12 against Rice, Keenum – even on bad days – has generally topped 300 yards passing and has enabled his team to score at least 30 points. This is why Houston has a chance to win its second C-USA title in four years.
There are two reasons the Pirates should win: First, they’re at home; second, they own a defense… unlike Houston. In a great contrast of styles, take East Carolina to defend its C-USA championship.
Football Betting Pick: East Carolina +2.5
