Houston at Auburn Week 1 College Football Matchup Houston at Auburn Matchup - Week 1
Tue, Dec 28 2021 · Postseason · Neutral Site · 🏟 Protective Stadium Birmingham, AL · Turf · 47,100 cap
Houston✈ 566 miSame TZ Auburn✈ 99 miSame TZ
Away (Neutral)
17 13
Final
Home (Neutral)
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Houston
25
Auburn
26
P&R Line Auburn -0
P&R Total O/U 52.5
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Auburn -2.0 · O/U 51.5
Matchup Prediction
Houston has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Houston entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Houston wins
Lean
Game Control
75.9%
Houston wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
Auburn -2.0
O/U 51.5
Bovada
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Houston · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Auburn 2nd straight Home Game 🚌 Houston 3rd straight Road Game
Houston 2021 Schedule
Houston's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Houston vs Texas Tech-2.5L21–3863.0L21–38UN
Sat 9/11Houston at Rice-7.5W44–750.0W44–7OY
Sat 9/18Houston vs Grambling-41.0W45–051.5W45–0UY
Sat 9/25Houston vs Navy-20.0W28–2047.0W28–20ON
Fri 10/1Houston at Tulsa+3.0W45–1054.0W45–10OY
Thu 10/7Houston at Tulane-6.5W40–2260.0W40–22OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/23Houston vs East Carolina-13.5W31–2456.0W31–24UN
Sat 10/30Houston vs SMU+1.0W44–3761.5W44–37OY
Sat 11/6Houston at South Florida-13.5W54–4253.0W54–42ON
Sat 11/13Houston at Temple-26.0W37–852.5W37–8UY
Fri 11/19Houston vs Memphis-9.0W31–1359.5W31–13UY
Sat 11/27Houston at UConn-32.0W45–1754.5W45–17ON
Sat 12/4Houston at Cincinnati+10.5L20–3552.5L20–35ON
Tue 12/28Houston vs Auburn+2.0W17–1351.5W17–13UY
Auburn 2021 Schedule
Auburn's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Auburn vs Akron-37.5W60–1056.5W60–10OY
Sat 9/11Auburn vs Alabama State-49.5W62–060.0W62–0OY
Sat 9/18Auburn at Penn State+4.0L20–2853.0L20–28UN
Sat 9/25Auburn vs Georgia State-27.5W34–2457.5W34–24ON
Sat 10/2Auburn at LSU+2.5W24–1957.0W24–19UY
Sat 10/9Auburn vs Georgia+14.5L10–3445.5L10–34UN
Sat 10/16Auburn at Arkansas+4.5W38–2354.0W38–23OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/30Auburn vs Ole Miss-3.0W31–2067.5W31–20UY
Sat 11/6Auburn at Texas A&M+4.5L3–2049.5L3–20UN
Sat 11/13Auburn vs Mississippi State-6.0L34–4351.0L34–43ON
Sat 11/20Auburn at South Carolina-7.0L17–2145.5L17–21UN
Sat 11/27Auburn vs Alabama+21.0L22–2457.5L22–24UY
Tue 12/28Auburn vs Houston-2.0L13–1751.5L13–17UN
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Houston PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Houston
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Houston
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Houston
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Houston
+0.348
Auburn
+0.242
Houston Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Houston
+0.572
Auburn
+0.250
Houston Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Houston
0.214
Auburn
0.179
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Houston Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Houston
+7.967
Auburn
+7.206
Houston Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Houston
+0.845
Auburn
+0.779
Houston Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Houston
66.7
Auburn
72.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Houston Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Houston Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Houston
8.3
Auburn
5.7
Offense Rating
Houston
19.8
Auburn
18.1
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Houston
11.5
Auburn
12.4
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Houston Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Houston #28
1.83
Auburn #84
0.91
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Houston #67
0.67
Auburn #71
1.18
Houston +0.92
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 11 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Houston Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Houston #1
73.4
Auburn #1
50.7
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Houston #9
16.4
Auburn #57
35.3
Houston +22.6
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 75.9% of games historically
Based on 12 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Auburn
1 — 0 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
Houston
24.5 — 59.5 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Houston won by 4
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Houston with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Houston
Dana Holgorsen #1
9–14 (39%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Shannon Dawson Yr 1 #1
DC Doug Belk Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Auburn
Bryan Harsin #1
2–1 (67%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Mike Bobo Yr 1 #1
DC Derek Mason Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself