Houston is a ranked Top 10 program anchored by national DPOY candidate JoJo Tugler, while Jacksonville State is a Conference USA squad coming off a blowout loss to Samford in an exhibition and enters with two key players — G. Polk (out, lower leg) and M. Johnson (questionable) — already compromised. The Cougars are playing at home, have elite defensive infrastructure, and face a shorthanded mid-major squad that got torched by a lesser opponent — talent and health both point to Houston covering -36.5 with ease.

Houston is rolling into this one with C. McCarty (knee) and C. Weaver (eligibility) both questionable, meaning the Cougars may be shorthanded against a Jacksonville State squad that's got 15 bodies ready to grind — covering 36.5 points is a MOUNTAIN even for a healthy Power Four program. Nobody believes in the Gamecocks, but early-season blowout spreads of this magnitude are notoriously hard to cover when the favorite's depth takes a hit and the underdog plays loose with nothing to lose. Give me Jacksonville State +36.5 all day — the doubters can keep sleeping on them!