Two teams that like running the football, Head Coach Mike Bloomgren and the Rice Owls (+24) are taking the field against their in-conference foe FIU Golden Panthers at Riccardo Silva Stadium. The matchup is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and ESPN+ will televise the action.
Betting Preview: Rice Owls at FIU Golden Panthers
FIU has been tabbed as heavily favored in this matchup and is currently giving up 24 points to Rice. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 53 points. On the surface it appears that this showdown should offer some in-game betting scenarios.
The underwhelming Owls are 2-5 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 4.2 units so far. The team has posted an O/U record of 5-2.
The Golden Panthers have gained 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-1 ATS and own an O/U record of 2-4.
The Owls are 1-6 straight up (SU), including 0-3 SU against CUSA opponents. The Golden Panthers are 4-2 SU overall and 2-0 SU in conference play.
FIU comes into this matchup on a six-game losing streak while Rice has won its last two in a row. The Owls are hoping to get back on track after a 42-0 shutout to UAB last week. the Owls completed 13-of-28 passes for 136 yards. Evan Marshman went six-for-16 for 57 yards while Shawn Stankavage completed seven-of-12 for 79 yards. Austin Walter (31 rushing yards on 19 attempts) led the ground attack in the loss. Trammell (four receptions, 40 yards) and Walter (three catches, five yards) handled the receiving duties.
The FIU Golden Panthers are coming off of a 24-21 win over Middle Tennessee. The team’s defense allowed the Blue Raiders to run for 187 yards on 40 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Asher O’Hara had a productive outing in the loss for Middle Tennessee, recording 85 rushing yards and a score on 21 attempts. For FIU, James Morgan completed 27-of-36 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Napoleon Maxwell (45 yards on 13 rush attempts) spearheaded the ground game in the win while Bryce Singleton (eight receptions, 81 yards) and CJ Worton (five catches, 113 yards, one TD) led the receiving attack.
Each of these teams has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Rice’s run the ball on 56.6 percent of its offensive possessions while FIU has a rush percentage of 58.2. The Owls have produced 157.9 rush yards/game (including 78.0 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have six scores via handoffs this year. The Golden Panthers are putting up 165.8 rushing yards per game (129.5 in conference) and have 12 total rush TDs.
If 2018 results are any indication, then the Golden Panthers ought to hold an edge along both the offensive and defensive fronts. Their offensive line has given up just six sacks while their D-line has logged 10 sacks. The Owls O-line has allowed 12 sacks and their defense has sacked opposing signal-callerss just nine times.
The Owls offensive scheme has averaged 173.9 yards in the air overall (145.3 per game versus conference opposition) and has nine passing TDs so far. The Golden Panthers have recorded 256.3 pass yards per outing (306 against CUSA foes) and have 14 total pass scores.
Defensively, Rice has allowed opponents to run for an average of 173.0 yards and pass for 267.3 yards per game. The FIU defense has given up 211.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 185.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Golden Panthers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.88 to opponents, while the Owls have given up an ugly 10.80 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Stankavage has put up 853 yards this year, and has connected on 57 percent of his 147 attempts with nine passing scores and six interceptions. He has a 4.68 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 3.86 over the last two games.
James Morgan has completed 83-of-130 passes for 1,027 yards, 10 TDs and four INTs for FIU. His ANY/A stands at 7.43 for the year and 15.04 over his last two games.
When these two teams faced each other last year, FIU won by a pair of field goals 13-7.
Rice Owls vs. FIU Golden Panthers Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: FIU, ATS Winner: Rice, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The FIU defense has sacked opposing QBs 10 times this year. Rice has registered nine sacks.
- FIU has lost three fumbles this season while the Rice offense has lost five.
- The Owls offense has produced one pass play of 40+ yards, while the Golden Panthers have accounted for seven such plays.
- The Rice defense has allowed 11 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while FIU has given up four such plays.
- The Rice offense has created 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while FIU has created six such runs.
- The Owls defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Golden Panthers have given up nine such runs.
- The Over/Under for FIU’s last game was 60.5. The under cashed in the 24-21 win over Middle Tennessee.
- Over its last three matches, FIU is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- In its last three matches, Rice is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- FIU has won five of its last six games SU, with a -14-point defeat to Miami (FL) on September 22nd accounting for the only loss over that stretch.
- The Over/Under for Rice’s last game going into it was 54.5. The under cashed in the team’s 42-0 defeat to UAB.
- Rice has produced 3.1 yards per carry over its last three contests and 1.3 over its last two.
- FIU has averaged 3.5 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 4.6 over its last two.
