Houston Cougars vs Kansas Jayhawks Prediction, Odds and Picks for Tomorrow, 10/19/24

We have been waiting and waiting for the Kansas Jayhawks to get their first Big 12 victory. The wait is still ongoing as it has been over a month since the Jayhawks last won a football game. The story has seemingly been the same for the Jayhawks all year. They play their opponent tough all the way up until the final minute, where they concede a game winning score. One of the early season conference favorites are reeling and are desperation mode for a win. The Houston Cougars got their first conference win of the season last week and can get back to a .500 conference record with a win at Arrowhead this Saturday. After being shutout for two straight games, the Cougars made a change at quarterback before last weeks game. They moved over to sophomore quarterback Zeon Chriss and it paid off for the Cougars. They defeated TCU 30-19 behind 141 yards passing and 97 yards rushing from their new quarterback. Chriss’s highlight play was a 71 yard touchdown run late in the first half.

For me, this feels like the last chance the Jayhawks have to prove themselves that they are a formidable football team. Week after week, Kansas has found new ways to lose football game and lose bettors money that are backing the Jayhawks behind an idea that they “need to win one eventually.” Things are looking for Houston going into this game, which is why I believe this spread has come down all they way to -4.5. With the change at quarterback, Houston looked last week like a team that redefined themselves. Despite this, Kansas is still the better team on paper. Quarterback Jalon Daniels has struggled with turnovers, but has also shown spots where he looks like one of the better quarterbacks in the conference. Running back Devin Neal has run the football at a rate of 5.8 yards per carry this season. The Jayhawks also have no large injury concerns. Defense was the problem for Kansas against Arizona State. They couldn’t get a stop when it mattered, surrendering 21 4th quarter points. The Jayhawks also allow their opponents to convert on third down 41% of th time. Kansas is coming off a bye this week, so their defense should be ready to play this week going into Arrowhead. Houston quarterback Chriss no longer has the surprise factor he did against TCU. Kansas needs to keep Chriss contained and forced to throw the football.

Kansas -4.5 available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.