Cincinnati vs Houston Picks and Predictions for Saturday, November 7, 2026

Cincinnati travels to Houston on Saturday for a Big 12 matchup at TDECU Stadium. Kickoff is at 3:30 pm ET on Fox. The Bearcats (5-3, 2-3 Big 12, tied for 8th) lost 49-25 to Utah last Saturday and have dropped three of their last four games. No. 17 Houston (6-2, 3-2 Big 12, tied for 4th) is coming off a 21-13 loss at Utah after winning four straight. Houston is favored by 11.5 points, with the total at 62.5. Win big with our free college football picks.

Cincinnati Looking to Get Back on Track

Cincinnati has struggled to put together wins lately. The Bearcats fell 49-25 to Utah on Saturday after beating Texas Tech 37-24 the previous week. Cincinnati also lost a 45-42 game at West Virginia and was beaten 34-7 by Arizona. The Bearcats have scored at least 25 points in four of their last five games, but they've allowed 24 or more in each of those contests.

JC French IV (1,773 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, three interceptions) has completed 67.1% of his passes. Cole Tabb has been Cincinnati's biggest threat on the ground, rushing for 752 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 9.5 yards per carry. Gi'Bran Payne has added 485 rushing yards. JV Gibson leads the receivers with 461 yards and four scores. Jonathan Thompson has 63 tackles, while MJ Cannon has three interceptions.

Injuries: D. Witherspoon and Gi'Bran Payne are questionable.

Houston Looking to Respond After Utah Loss

Houston had its four-game winning streak snapped in a 21-13 loss at Utah on October 24. Before that, the Cougars defeated Oklahoma State 35-32, Kansas State 35-16 and UCF 27-17. Houston also beat Georgia Southern 42-28 in September. The Cougars scored at least 27 points in each of those four victories, although Oklahoma State kept things close throughout their October 17 meeting.

Conner Weigman (2,053 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, two interceptions) has completed 65.7% of his throws. Amare Thomas leads Houston with 620 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Tight end Patrick Overmyer has seven touchdown catches, while Makhi Hughes has rushed for 516 yards. Re'Shaun Sanford II has added 447 yards on the ground. On defense, Kentrell Webb has 46 tackles, and Ashton Porter leads the team with three sacks.

Injuries: J. Thurman, John Hebert and M. Tounkara are out. J. Strozier Jr. and E. Noel are questionable.

Key To The Game

Cincinnati's running game could cause problems for Houston, especially with Tabb averaging 9.5 yards per carry. The Cougars have an advantage at quarterback, where Weigman has thrown 20 touchdowns against only two interceptions. Houston needs to prevent the big plays that have kept Cincinnati competitive despite its recent losses.

Cincinnati vs Houston Game Pick

• Cincinnati Bearcats +11.5

Houston has been the more consistent team, but laying 11.5 points could be difficult against Cincinnati's offense. The Bearcats have scored at least 25 points in four of their last five games, and Tabb gives them a chance to move the ball without relying entirely on French. Houston won three of its last four victories by 14 points or fewer, including a three-point win over Oklahoma State. Weigman's passing numbers give the Cougars the advantage, but Cincinnati has enough offensive talent to stay competitive. I'll take the Bearcats to cover the spread.

Cincinnati vs Houston Over/Under Pick

• Over 62.5

Cincinnati's defense has allowed 49, 24 and 45 points in its last three games. The Bearcats have also scored 25, 37 and 42 during that stretch, making their recent contests difficult to keep low-scoring. Houston has the passing attack to take advantage, with Weigman throwing 20 touchdowns and Thomas averaging more than 15 yards per reception. Cincinnati can answer through Tabb and French, particularly if Houston struggles to contain the running game. The Cougars scored at least 27 points in four straight wins before facing Utah. I expect enough offense from both sides to take the over.