The SMU Mustangs will travel to face the Houston Cougars in an NCAA college football game set for Friday afternoon. <br /> <br />Kick off time the day after Thanksgiving is set for 12PM Eastern Time from Houston with national television coverage provided by ESPN2. <br /> <br />The college football odds from this contest have the home team Houston Cougars favored by -9 ½ points with a total of 64 points. <br /> <br />SMU has won two straight to move within one win of bowl eligibility at 5-5 after a 16-6 road victory at the South Florida Bulls last week as a -6 point wagering favorite. The game total landed at under 55 ½ points. SMU was up 3-0 at the half then scored the next 13 points in the second half for the win. <br /> <br />The Mustangs offense posted 280 yards with 51 rushing for under 2 yards a carry. Freshman quarterback Neal Burcham hit on 9 of 18 passes for 91 yards with a touchdown and pick. Each team committed two turnovers. SMU survived going 5 of 14 on third down. On defense the Mustangs gave up 259 yards to offense to South Florida with 42 rushing yards for two yards per run. <br /> <br />Houston Cougars have lost three straight to fall to 7-4 on the 2013 campaign after a 24-17 home defeat last week to the Cincinnati Bearcats as a -2 ½ point wagering favorite. The game total came in at under 60 points. The Cougars could not overcome a 17-7 first half deficit. <br /> <br />The Houston offense produced just 278 yards with 33 running on 31 carries. John O’Korn hit on 13 of 30 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown. The team had two turnovers and forced three away from the Bearcats. Houston had trouble sustaining drives going 4 of 17 on third down. On defense the Cougars give up 573 offensive yards to the Cincinnati offense with 172 running for over 4 yards per run attempt.
