The 2021 American Athletic Conference Championship Game is set for Saturday, December 4, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, so we bring you the best Houston vs. Cincinnati betting pick and tips along with the latest odds update on BetDSI Sportsbook. 

Both Houston and Cincinnati went 8-0 in the conference play. They meet for the first time in 2021, and the Bearcats search for their third straight victory over the Cougars. Last year, Cincinnati trounced Houston 38-10 as an 11.5-point home fave, and this time around, the Bearcats are 10.5-point home favorites with a total of 53.0 points.

The Cougars hope to stay sharp defensively  

The Houston Cougars (11-1; 7-5 ATS) are unbeaten since the opening game of the season and a 38-21 defeat to Texas Tech at the neutral site. Over the last three weeks, the Cougars have outlasted Temple, Memphis, and UConn, allowing only 38 points in the process and scoring 113 in a return.

Last Saturday, Houston had an easy job against the UConn Huskies, though the Cougars failed to cover a huge 32.5-point spread in a 45-17 road victory. They held the Huskies to 238 total yards, while junior signal-caller Clayton Tune led the way on the other side of the ball, throwing for 301 yards and four touchdowns.

The Cougars are scoring 38.8 points per game (tied-9th in the country) on 149.3 rushing yards (81st) and 272.4 passing yards (23rd). They are yielding 19.8 points in a return (19th) on 98.3 rushing yards (8th) and 192.0 passing yards (18th).

The Bearcats want to retain the crown

The Cincinnati Bearcats (12-0; 7-5 ATS) finished the regular season undefeated and will look to defend the AAC title. Last year, they beat Tulsa 27-24 in the championship game, and the Bearcats hope for another strong display in front of the home fans.

Cincinnati is coming off a convincing 35-13 road victory at East Carolina in Week 13. The Bearcats held the Pirates to 282 all-purpose yards and racked up 444 in a return. Senior QB Desmond Ridder went 17-of-28 for 301 yards and a couple of touchdowns and interceptions, while junior RB Jerome Ford had 20 carries for 85 yards and a TD.

The Bearcats are tallying 39.6 points per game (8th in the country) on 177.3 rushing yards (tied-51st) and 253.6 passing yards (47th). They are surrendering 15.8 points in a return (3rd) on 141.8 rushing yards (49th) and 160.6 passing yards (3rd).

Trends:

Houston:

  • 11-1 ATS in the last 12 outings as double-digit underdogs
  • 5-2 ATS in the last seven games against the American Athletic Conference

Cincinnati:

  • 1-4 ATS in the last five games played in December 
  • 1-4 ATS in the last five outings as double-digit favorites

Houston vs. Cincinnati Pick

The Bearcats are one step away from becoming the first school out of the Power 5 to be selected to the CFB Playoff. They will be under huge pressure in this clash, while the Cougars will be fired up to spoil the party.

We should see a great defensive battle, and the Cougars should have enough firepower to keep it close, even though the Bearcats will have huge support from the stands. Houston’s defense has been terrific as of late, so Cincinnati will have a tall task to win this contest by 11 or more points. The Cougars have covered in 11 of their last 12 showings as double-digit dogs.

Pick: Take Houston +10.5 at -110               

The Total:

I’m going with the under, as the two top-10 defensive teams face off against each other. Both Houston and Cincinnati will struggle to move the ball frequently against each other, so they should not combine for more than 53 points.

The under is 5-1 in the Bearcats’ last six games overall, and it is 4-1 in their previous five showings as double-digit favorites. Also, four of the last six matchups between Houston and Cincinnati have gone under the total.

Pick: Go under 53.0 points at -110