Houston dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (Getty)
Two powerhouse offenses meet at NRG Stadium in Texas on Saturday when No. 3 Oklahoma takes on No. 15 Houston.
Both ranked in the top 10 in scoring in 2015. The Sooners (43.5 points per game) were 4th, while the Cougars (40.4) 10th.
And neither expect much of a drop off in 2016. Oklahoma returns quarterback Baker Mayfield (43 total touchdowns in 2015) and running backs Samaje Perine (17 TDs) and Joe Mixon (11 TDs). Houston gets high-octane quarterback Greg Ward Jr. back under center this season. He was one of two quarterbacks in the FBS to throw for at least 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000. Clemson’s Deshaun Watson was the other.
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Oklahoma opened up as a 10-point favorite, but that number has gone up slightly to 11.5, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The oddsmakers also expect a high-scoring affair as the total has been set at 68.
Keep reading to see all the important game details, including betting information and prediction:
Oklahoma-Houston Game Details
When: Saturday, September 3, 2016
Where: NRG Stadium — Houston, Texas
Time: Noon ET
TV Channel: ABC
Oklahoma-Houston Betting Preview
Betting information provided by OddsSharks.com
Opening Line: Oklahoma (-10)
Current Point Spread: Oklahoma (-11.5)
Total: 68
Money Line: Oklahoma -480 … Houston +380
Oklahoma-Houston Prediction
Oklahoma 38-34
Ward Jr. is going to give the Oklahoma defense fits, no doubt about that. And there’s a good chance they’ll be able to get into the face of Sooners QB Mayfield, who was sacked 39 times last season (second-most in the FBS). But in the end, Mayfield’s play-making ability, coupled with the 1-2 punch of Perine and Mixon, will be too much for the Cougars and Bob Stoops’ crew squeaks out a win. Which will be huge considering they face preseason No. 6 Ohio State and No. 13 TCU in Weeks 3 and 4, respectively. But I do like the Cougars to cover the spread and the over coming in on the total.
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Oklahoma vs. Houston: Point Spread, Total & Prediction