Dec. 26, 2025, 9:43 p.m. ET
The Kinder’s Texas Bowl is Saturday, featuring the LSU Tigers (7-5) and No. 24 Houston Cougars (9-3). Kickoff from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, is at 9:15 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA football odds around the LSU vs. Houston odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
LSU went 3-5 in SEC play, going 2-4 in its final 6 games. The Tigers closed the regular season with a 17-13 road loss to No. 8 Oklahoma as 12-point underdogs with the Under (36) cashing.
Houston finished fourth in the Big 12, going 6-3 in conference play. The Cougars won 2 of their final 3 games, closing out the regular season with a 31-24 road win over Baylor as 2.5-point underdogs with the Under (57.5) cashing.
This is only the fourth-ever meeting between the teams. LSU holds a 2-1 lead, beating Houston 28-13 in Baton Rouge in 2000.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
Watch NCAA football on Fubo!LSU vs. Houston odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:32 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): LSU -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Houston -115 (bet $115 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): LSU +1.5 (-115) | Houston -1.5 (-105)Over/Under (O/U): 42.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)LSU vs. Houston picks and predictionsPrediction
Houston 27, LSU 20
LSU is in transition at head coach, between the fired Brian Kelly and newly hired Lane Kiffin. But interim coach Frank Wilson will handle head-coaching duties in the bowl. Among those opting out are QB Garrett Nussmeier, DE Harold Perkins, WR Aaron Anderson and CB Mansoor Delane.
Houston has virtually no opt-outs for this game.
The Cougars average 28.3 points per game, led by QB Conner Weigman and his 21 touchdown passes and 11 rushing touchdowns.
LSU averages 21.8 points per game.
With uncertainty and opt-outs, don’t trust LSU against a better-than-expected Houston team.
BET HOUSTON (-115).
Because there is only a 1.5-point spread, you can get slightly better odds betting Houston to cover and only risk a one-point win that doesn’t cover the spread. All of the Cougars’ wins this season are by at least 3 points. If the alternate spread is available, it might be worth pushing it to Houston -2.5.
BET HOUSTON -1.5 (-105).
Nine of Houston’s 12 games surpassed 42 total points this season.
Three of LSU’s five losses had totals of 43 or higher.
BET OVER 42.5 (-110).
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