Houston quarterback Conner Weigman (1) avoids pressures by Texas Tech defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard (0) during the first half of a NCAA college football game in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025.
Jason Fochtman
The University of Houston rolls into Lubbock as a touchdown underdog to No. 13 Texas Tech on Friday night, but it’s becoming something of a trendy upset pick.
In fact, the Red Raiders opened as 9 ½-point favorites over No. 22 Houston, but that since has dropped to 7 ½. The straight-up upset vibes are beginning to pick up steam, including on the set of CBS Sports Network’s “Inside College Football Show” where all four of the show’s experts, including former college coaches Brian Kelly and Rick Neuheisel, picked the Cougars to win.
Kelly, who is in his first year as a TV analyst after getting fired by LSU last year, praised UH quarterback Conner Weigman, who helped Texas A&M beat Kelly’s LSU team twice before he transferred to Houston following the 2024 season.
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“I really like Conner Weigman, his maturation as a quarterback,” Kelly said. “I saw him when I was at LSU when he was at A&M. Big, physical player. Obviously, they have a running game as well. I think their balance is enough that they could go in there and come up with a big victory.”
Neuheisel, who was the head coach at Colorado, Washington and UCLA, compared Weigman to another Aggies transfer in Haynes King, who went on to have a successful career at Georgia Tech and now is the backup with the Carolina Panthers. There also is some concern with Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond, who has thrown for just two touchdowns in his first two games back from last year’s ACL injury.
“He’s going to put them on his shoulders and he’s going to carry them,” Neuheisel said of Weigman. “He’s got the ability with his legs. He’s a competitive son of a gun and I think right now, listen Will Hammond is trying to get back and he’s had some moments, but he’s not consistent right now. I’m going to go with Houston and Willie Fritz to get it done on the road.”
Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Aaron Taylor, who won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers, is more concerned with a Texas Tech defense that gave up 417 passing yards to Oregon State last week in a game the Red Raiders trailed midway through the fourth quarter before coming back to win on the road 35-24. A week earlier, Houston gave up 376 passing yards to the Beavers in a 33-20 win at home.
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“I think Houston’s going to win this game,” Taylor said. “I’m kind of going back and forth about it, because we all sat there on the set Saturday and watched Texas Tech get lit up on the back end … This Texas Tech team isn’t as good as the one we saw last year. I think Houston gets them.”
Brian Jones, who grew up in Lubbock but played linebacker at Texas before spending four seasons in the NFL, raved about the Houston offense, specifically pointing out explosive skill position players in running back Makhi Hughes and receivers Amare Thomas and Koby Young.
“This is going to be a good test for Texas Tech’s defense, which still is pretty sturdy as far as stopping the run. It’s the back end that worries me,” Jones said. “I’m going to go with an upset. I’m going to take the Coogs.”
Before moving on, Adam Zucker, the show’s host, made sure none of potential nasty feedback from Lubbock would be directed at him.
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“Just to be clear, everyone at Texas Tech watching,” he said, “I don’t make picks, I just report them.”