Houston at Cincinnati

The Houston Cougars lost a lot of starters from last year's team that lost just one game, and that one was without QB Greg Ward, Jr. Ward has once again become part of the injury report and sat out last week's win over Lamar with an injured right shoulder. Making matters worse is RB Duke Catalon is nursing a bad ankle. While they have both been cleared to practice, this is a short week of practice as they head to Cincinnati for a Thursday Night affair. Cincinnati has had a pair of easy games to open 2-0. While the Bearcats have averaged 33 points per game in the two games, they have done so while generating eight total turnovers from their two opponents. Despite all the extra possessions vs. weak competition, they certainly have not proven to be a strong offensive team. Houston held a very strong Oklahoma offense to 23 points, and it will be a challenge for the Bearcats to get there. That being the case, Houston on a short work week will have to top their scoring output in each of their first two games to get this one over the top of a total into the 60s. Houston has played eight straight UNDER the total as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points, and the Bearcats are 68-45 to the UNDER on turf in their last 113. I don't see this one getting there, so make the play on the UNDER.