A BCS Bowl is not up for grabs but the Conference USA Championship is on Saturday at Noon ET when No. 18 Houston faces East Carolina at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Houston is 10-2 this season and 8-3 against the point spread odds. The Cougars have won and covered in their last two games. Trends show that both of the Cougars losses this season come on the road.
East Carolina is 8-4 this season and 5-6 against the spread. The Pirates have won three straight and five of their last six to reach the title game. Trends show that just one of the four ECU losses come at home and that the Pirates have won five-straight conference games.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.com have made Houston 2.5-point road favorites over East Carolina on Saturday afternoon. The over/under total for this game has been established at 68.5.
Houston has the top offense in the nation, scoring 44.9 points and racking up 583.3 yards per-game. The Cougars are all about airing it out as quarterback Case Keenum leads the country with 4,922 yards passing and 38 touchdowns with only six interceptions. The Pirates have the second best defense in Conference USA, holding opponents to 21.3 points per-game. The Pirates are holding teams to 2,883 passing yards on the year.
East Carolina has a lower-profile offense than Houston, scoring just 26.9 pints with 363.8 yards per-game. Houston’s defense is giving up 28 points and 445 yards per-game this season. The Cougars have been beaten up against running teams, giving up 2,619 yards on the ground. ECU will look to utilize Dominique Lindsay in this game as he has rushed for 954 yards and three touchdowns on the year.
The key to this pick is whether the ECU offense can keep Keenum and the Houston offense off the field. If the Pirates are able to control the ball on offense, it would favor them. If ECU struggles on offense, it will be tough for them to keep pace with Houston’s fast and furious offense. Trends don’t favor either team in this game and with the odds only at 2.5 points, we suggest a pick of Houston over ECU with the over in a high-scoring game.
Our College Football Week 14 Free Pick for this matchup is: HOUSTON -2.5 and OVER 68.5.
College Football Week 14 Betting Trends
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 23-39 ATS (-19.9 Units) in road games against conference opponents since 1992.
HOUSTON is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in road games after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins over the last 2 seasons.
E CAROLINA is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
E CAROLINA is 1-1 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
E CAROLINA is 1-1 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
Week 14 College Football Injury Report
HOUSTON
No Injuries reported
E CAROLINA
[DL] 11/12/2009 - A.J. Johnson out indefinitely ( Knee )
[LB] 11/12/2009 - Matt Thompson out indefinitely ( Elbow )
[RB] 12/02/2009 - Jonathan Williams out indefinitely ( Knee )
[WR] 12/02/2009 - Jamar Bryant "?" Saturday vs. Houston U ( Shoulder )
[DT] 09/24/2009 - Antonio Allison out indefinitely ( Foot )
[TE] 11/09/2009 - Rob Kass out for season ( Leg )
[DB] 11/09/2009 - Dekota Marshall out for season ( Leg )
Houston at East Carolina Odds
Houston Cougars -2.5 Over 68.5 (-115)
East Carolina Pirates +2.5 Under 68.5 (-105)