Houston Cougars vs. Oklahoma Sooners Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 7th 2024

Preview and Prediction

Oklahoma and Houston did not face each other last year while both were members of the Big 12 conference.

However, the Sooners' move to the SEC ultimately led to a matchup between the two programs from different conferences.

This Saturday, the Cougars will take on the 15th-ranked Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma.

The game was announced in August of last year after Oklahoma's previously scheduled non-conference game against Georgia was cancelled due to the Sooners' impending move to the SEC.

In their season opener, the Sooners (1-0) dominated defensively, holding Temple to under 200 total yards and only 69 rushing yards.

While their defense was strong, the Sooners are looking for more from their offense. Despite scoring 51 points, 33 of those came off turnovers, which often gave the offense favorable field position.

Quarterback Jackson Arnold had a solid performance, throwing for four touchdowns and no interceptions, but only totaled 141 passing yards.

The Sooners are currently dealing with injuries on their offensive line, with starting center Branson Hickman potentially missing the game due to an ankle injury. They have also been hit with injuries to several wide receivers, including Jayden Gibson, Nic Anderson, and Jalil Farooq, as well as still working on the return of Andrel Anthony after he suffered a season-ending knee injury last October.

According to Sooners coach Brent Venables, Anthony is making progress and Anderson is expected to return soon.

"We need other players to step up," said Deion Burks, who had three touchdown receptions in the opener. "The season will bring challenges, but it's about who will step up and fill those roles."

The Cougars (0-1) are coming off a 27-7 loss to UNLV in their season opener.

Houston coach Willie Fritz, in his first year with the team after coming from Tulane, is considering making changes to the lineup, particularly on the offensive line. Against UNLV, the Cougars gave up five sacks and only managed 26 rushing yards, while also being called for eight holding penalties.

With the Sooners' strong defensive performance in their opener, Houston will need to limit their mistakes in order to have a chance at victory.

"We're evaluating everything...we need to put our players in a position to succeed," said Fritz. "Sometimes that means making changes, which can be difficult. We will continue to experiment with different rotations until we find the right fit."

Two former Sooners, linebacker Jamal Morris and cornerback Latrell McCutchin Sr., are listed as starters for the Cougars in Saturday's game. Morris played for Oklahoma from 2019-2021, appearing in 20 games but recording only eight tackles. He had seven tackles in the season opener.

"I believe he will continue to improve," said Fritz. "He has a strong work ethic and enjoys practicing and learning."

Fritz has experience coaching against the Sooners, as his Tulane team faced them in 2021 and gave them a tough game before ultimately falling 40-35.

The Sooners have won three of their four previous meetings with the Cougars, including both games played in Norman. In their last matchup in 2019, Oklahoma defeated Houston 49-31.

PREDICTION

Houston Cougars

11

39

Oklahoma Sooners

Houston Cougars vs. Oklahoma Sooners Recap SEP 7TH 2024