The Old Dominion Monarchs (-10) and Rice Owls are ready to collide on the turf at Rice Stadium. This conference showdown is scheduled to get going at 1:00 p.m. ET and fans can view the action live on ESPN+.
Betting Preview: Old Dominion Monarchs vs. Rice Owls
In this Saturday Conference USA game, Old Dominion is tabbed as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 10 points. In order to take the favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently have to put up $400 to win $100 back on the Monarchs (-400). The Owls are getting +300 moneyline odds. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 63.5 points, and if one school gets out in front early, it’ll probably generate a solid live betting scenario.
The game’s total has been driven upward after originally being set at 62.5. The opening line of 10 has remained consistent.
The Monarchs have lost 0.8 units so far and are 5-6 against the spread (ATS). The team has recorded an O/U mark of 9-2.
The Owls are down 5.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 6-6 ATS and the over’s hit in seven of their games.
The Monarchs are 4-7 straight up (SU), including 2-5 SU against CUSA opponents. The Owls are 1-11 SU overall and 0-7 SU in conference play.
When these two squads met last year, Old Dominion won by a field goal 24-21.
Old Dominion enters this contest on a zero-game winless skid while Rice has won each of its last zero. The Monarchs are looking to maintain momentum after a solid 77-14 win over VMI last week where Blake LaRussa completed 15 passes on 20 attempts for just 128 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Geiger (91 yards on 17 rush attempts, three TDs) and Brandon Sinclair (57 yards on 15 carries) led the ground attack while Isaiah Harper (three receptions, 13 yards) and Kesean Strong (three catches, 38 yards) manned the receiving duties in the win.
One week ago, LSU knocked off this Rice team by a score of 42-10. Shawn Stankavage completed seven-of-13 passes for 101 yards. Aston Walter (72 yards on 23 rush attempts) and Juma Otoviano (36 yards on 11 carries, one TD) handled the running game while Austin Trammell (two receptions, 27 yards) and Jordan Myers (one catch, four yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Old Dominion has run the ball on 48.4 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 45.3 percent across possessions in conference play. Rice has an overall run percentage of 55.7 percent, and has rushed the ball 52.0 percent of the time when facing CUSA opponents. The Monarchs have produced 135.6 rush yards/game (including 123.7 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have 24 scores on the ground this year. The Owls are averaging 132.7 rushing yards per game (89.1 in conference) and have 11 total rush TDs.
The Monarchs offense has tallied 295.6 yards per game through the air overall (309.3 per game versus conference opposition) and has 20 passing scores so far. The Owls have recorded 181.3 pass yards per game (185 in the CUSA) and have 13 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Old Dominion has allowed 211.1 rush yards and 269.5 pass yards per game. The Rice D has allowed 277.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 173.4 yards per game to opposing runners. The Monarchs are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 7.06 to opponents, while the Owls have given up a whopping 9.93 ANY/A.
Offensively, LaRussa has put up 2,402 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 66 percent of his 296 attempts with 16 scores through the air and seven interceptions. He’s got a 7.08 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.74 over the last two outings.
The Monarchs have tried to maintain tempo by pounding the defense with their running backs. In addition to receiver Travis Fulgham (840 receiving yards and seven touchdowns), Jeremy Cox (421 rush yards, five rush TDs) and Kesean Strong (484 rush yards, nine rush TDs, 182 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) have brought significant production to the offensive scheme for Old Dominion.
For the home team, Shawn Stankavage has connected on 106-of-187 passes for 1,112 yards, nine TDs and seven INTs. Stankavage’s ANY/A stands at a mediocre 4.57 for the year and 3.61 over his last two outings.
The Owls also like to keep their running backs featured. In addition to Aston Walter (52 receiving yards), Austin Walter (557 rush yards, four rush TDs, 400 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Aaron Cephus (565 receiving yards and five TDs) have gotten plenty of action lately.
Old Dominion Monarchs at Rice Owls Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: Old Dominion, ATS Winner: Old Dominion, O/U: Under
Betting Notes
- The Monarchs offense has created nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Owls have put up four such plays.
- The Old Dominion defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Rice has given up 18 such plays.
- The Old Dominion offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Rice has created 13 such runs.
- The Monarchs defense has allowed 22 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Owls have given up 18 such runs.
- The Old Dominion defense has 21 sacks on the year while Rice has just 14.
- Old Dominion has produced 4.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.3 over its last two.
- Rice has averaged 2.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 2.7 over its last two.
- Over its last three matches, Rice is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Old Dominion’s last game was 73.5. The over cashed in the team’s 77-14 victory over VMI.
- In its last three contests, Old Dominion is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Rice’s previous game was set at 51. The over cashed in the 42-10 loss to LSU.
