Dec. 26, 2025, 9:43 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
The Kinder’s Texas Bowl is Saturday, featuring the LSU Tigers<\/a> (7-5) and No. 24 Houston Cougars<\/a> (9-3). Kickoff from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, is at 9:15 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s<\/a> NCAA football odds around the LSU vs. Houston odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions<\/a> for the best bets.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0Rankings:\u00a0US LBM Coaches Poll<\/a>, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n Watch NCAA football on Fubo!<\/a>LSU vs. Houston odds<\/p>\n Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook<\/a>; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub<\/a> for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:32 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Houston 27, LSU 20<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Houston has virtually no opt-outs for this game.<\/p>\n The Cougars average 28.3 points per game, led by QB Conner Weigman and his 21 touchdown passes and 11 rushing touchdowns.<\/p>\n LSU averages 21.8 points per game.<\/p>\n With uncertainty and opt-outs, don’t trust LSU against a better-than-expected Houston team.<\/p>\n BET HOUSTON (-115).<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n BET HOUSTON -1.5 (-105).<\/p>\n Nine of Houston’s 12 games surpassed 42 total points this season.<\/p>\n Three of LSU’s five losses had totals of 43 or higher.<\/p>\n BET OVER 42.5 (-110).<\/p>\n For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com<\/a> and BetFTW<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter\/X<\/a> and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:<\/p>\n Alabama<\/a> \/ Auburn<\/a> \/ Clemson<\/a>\u00a0\/ Colorado<\/a> \/ Duke<\/a> \/\u00a0Florida<\/a> \/ Florida State<\/a> \/\u00a0Georgia<\/a> \/ Iowa<\/a> \/ Kentucky<\/a> \/\u00a0LSU<\/a>\u00a0\/ Michigan<\/a>\u00a0\/ Michigan State<\/a> \/ Nebraska<\/a> \/ North Carolina<\/a> \/ Notre Dame<\/a>\u00a0\/ Ohio State<\/a>\u00a0\/ Oklahoma<\/a> \/ Oregon<\/a> \/ Penn State<\/a> \/ Tennessee<\/a>\u00a0\/ Texas<\/a> \/ Texas A&M<\/a> \/ UCLA<\/a> \/ USC<\/a> \/ Washington<\/a> \/\u00a0Wisconsin<\/a> \/ College Sports Wire<\/a> \/ High School<\/a> \/ Recruiting<\/a><\/p>\n Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. 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