Texas vs. Houston odds: Early point spread released on Longhorns, Cougars

In a first-time-ever Big 12 matchup, the Texas Longhorns (5-1) have opened as a 21.5-point favorite over Houston (3-3) on the road ahead of Week 8, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under-scoring total is set at 59.5 points.

It’s no surprise the Longhorns come in as heavy favorites, as ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives Texas a 93.6 percent chance of returning to Austin as victors.

These aren’t two teams that match up very often, either. Before 1995, it was a yearly series, aside from a three-year series between 2000 and 2002. The Cougars haven’t toppled Texas since 1991, the last time Houston won at home. The Longhorns have won the last seven matchups and lead the series 16-7 all-time.

Of course, Houston has caught the No. 9 Longhorns in an awkward position after a bye week that followed their 34-30 Red River Rivalry loss against Oklahoma. After a 5-0 start to the season, Texas is at a fork in the road where it can either pick back up its winning ways or turn one loss into two by default.

A first-time road environment against a brand new conference opponent that no one in a Texas uniform has experience against provides its own set of obstacles. The Longhorns have yet to face one of its four new conference opponents but get a healthy dose of new competition with Houston this weekend and BYU the next.

Despite sitting at .500 through six games, Houston has a strong offense that has the potential to rival Quinn Ewers and the Texas offense. Scoring at least five touchdowns in four of its first six games, Cougars QB Donovan Smith has been brilliant for Houston this season.

Passing for 1,600 yards so far this season — good for third-best in the conference behind Olahoma’s Dillon Gabriel and Ewers. A 13-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio to boot has made Smith one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the conference this season even though Houston’s record doesn’t reflect his prowess.

Smith is also a threat to beat you on the ground with 197 rushing yards and four touchdowns to add to his totals, though no tailback on Houston’s roster can rival the production of Jonathon Brooks and the rest of the Texas running back room, who has totaled over 1,000 rushing yards collectively this year.

The opening kickoff between the Longhorns and Cougars is set for Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET live on Fox.