Houston vs Arizona Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Nov 15, 2024 3:37 AM ET

All of a sudden, Houston started to play well.

The first year under Willie Fritz got off to a slow start, but with three wins in the last four games - including a stunner over Kansas State - changed everything. Now at 4-5 there’s a shot to go bowling by winning two of the last three with Baylor and at BYU to close.

Arizona has fallen into the abyss. The defense has been awful, the offense can’t get going, and the team is on a five-game losing streak that’s only getting worse.

Three of the last four losses have been no-hope blowouts including a 56-12 clunker at UCF. This, at TCU, and Arizona State - the Wildcats have to win out to go bowling.

Houston vs Arizona: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Friday, November 15, 2024
Game Time: 10:15 pm ET
How to Watch: FS1
Venue: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
Teams: Arizona (3-6), Houston (4-5)
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- Week 12 Schedule, Predictions

Why Houston Will Win

Arizona can’t stop the run even a little bit.

The defense was struggling from the start, but it’s been extra super-bad against everyone’s ground game. The early win over Utah provided a false hope. Arizona gave up more rushing yards in each successive week after that with UCF rolling for over 300 last week.

Houston doesn’t get all that physical, but it can tear off yards in chunks. The team is 3-0 when getting to 200 yards on the ground, Arizona is 1-6 when allowing over 5.5 yards per carry, and …

Why Arizona Will Win

Houston doesn’t move the ball well enough.

It’s one of the worst teams in the country on third downs without any downfield passing game and not enough points when there’s a chance - Houston is dead last in the nation in red zone scoring.

How can Arizona fix the problems? The passing game has to be even more explosive, the running game has to average at least 4.5 yards per carry, and the defense desperately needs to come up with takeaways.

Houston is 0-5 when turning it over multiple times, Arizona has forced two or more takeaways four times, and …

Houston vs Arizona: Who Will Win?

Can Houston stay sharp?

It beat Kansas State with the passing game going 12-for-12 and the team only getting penalized twice. On the flip side, Arizona couldn’t have been worse.

The Arizona offensive front isn’t holding up, the ten penalties were a problem, and the team just can’t get going. It’s not playing like it has any confidence, Houston is on a good run, and as long as the turnovers don’t get ugly - four Houston giveaways were costly against Kansas - the success continues.