This match up may prove far more interesting than people think. Houston travels to the famed Rose Bowl for what should easily be their most difficult non-con game of the season. UCLA hosts Houston after their Pac 10 opener against Stanford and before a trip to Austin Texas.
Houston will have no problems scoring this year, as Heisman Candidate QB Case Keenum returns, with 8 of his offensive pals. Keenum is re-writting the record book at Houston, and will be firing away all season. This club scored more than 40 points in 8 of it's 13 games last season. More of that is on the way. The defense was the problem for Houston last year, and only 6 starters return from last years team. LB gets hit especially hard. Houston is hoping that Juco transfers can make up for the loss at LB. Still, this team allowed 35 or more points 6 times last season. Improvment is needed.
UCLA has to keep away from the injury bug. 8 starters return on an offense that was riddled by injuries last year, and often anemic, being held to 21 or less points 6 times. The defense only returns 5 starters from a unit that did very well last year, giving up 21 or less points 6 times, a pretty good trick in the wild Pac 10. They must retool their defenslve front line, which was hit very hard by graduation and the NFL defection of DT Brian Price.
From a wagering point of view, the over looks like a potential play, with Houston stacked on offense, weak on defense, and UCLA much the same. The problemis that UCLA just does not get into that many shootouts, only having 3 games hit a total of 50 or more points last season, including their bowl game against Temple. Watch how high the number is. UCLA is 4-1-1 ATS vs non-con opponents under Neuheisel, and normally a fast starter. They are also a very good home favorite, going 14-5-1 in the past 5 years in that role. Houston is 4-1 as an away dog in the past two seasons. Houston should easily be 2-0 entering this game, playing an FCS team and UTEP at home before going out West. UCLA faces a much tougher road, going to Kansas State and hosting Stanford before this match up. Keep that in mind when the line comes out.
Houston will have no problems scoring this year, as Heisman Candidate QB Case Keenum returns, with 8 of his offensive pals. Keenum is re-writting the record book at Houston, and will be firing away all season. This club scored more than 40 points in 8 of it's 13 games last season. More of that is on the way. The defense was the problem for Houston last year, and only 6 starters return from last years team. LB gets hit especially hard. Houston is hoping that Juco transfers can make up for the loss at LB. Still, this team allowed 35 or more points 6 times last season. Improvment is needed.
UCLA has to keep away from the injury bug. 8 starters return on an offense that was riddled by injuries last year, and often anemic, being held to 21 or less points 6 times. The defense only returns 5 starters from a unit that did very well last year, giving up 21 or less points 6 times, a pretty good trick in the wild Pac 10. They must retool their defenslve front line, which was hit very hard by graduation and the NFL defection of DT Brian Price.
From a wagering point of view, the over looks like a potential play, with Houston stacked on offense, weak on defense, and UCLA much the same. The problemis that UCLA just does not get into that many shootouts, only having 3 games hit a total of 50 or more points last season, including their bowl game against Temple. Watch how high the number is. UCLA is 4-1-1 ATS vs non-con opponents under Neuheisel, and normally a fast starter. They are also a very good home favorite, going 14-5-1 in the past 5 years in that role. Houston is 4-1 as an away dog in the past two seasons. Houston should easily be 2-0 entering this game, playing an FCS team and UTEP at home before going out West. UCLA faces a much tougher road, going to Kansas State and hosting Stanford before this match up. Keep that in mind when the line comes out.
