The No. 12 Texas Longhorns (+30.5) are heading neutral to face the Rice Owls at NRG Stadium. The matchup will get going at 8:00 p.m. ET and CBS Sports Network is scheduled to televise the action.
Betting Preview: Rice Owls vs. Texas Longhorns
Texas is the heavy road favorite and is currently giving up 30.5 points to Rice. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 57 points, and if one squad can create a bunch of points early, it’ll likely generate a worthy live betting opportunity.
Betting odds have swayed slightly from where they first opened. The opening line was 29.5 and the game’s total was placed initially at 56.5.
The Longhorns have gained 0.0 units so far and are 1-1 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 2-0.
The Owls have lost 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 1-0-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 1-1.
The Longhorns have gone 1-1 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Owls are 0-2 SU.
The Longhorns fell to LSU 45-38 in a contest where Sam Ehlinger completed 31-of-47 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns. Ehlinger (60 yards on 19 rush attempts, one TD) also mounted the running attack and was complemented by Keaontay Ingram (29 yards on 10 carries). Devin Duvernay (12 receptions, 154 yards, two TDs) and Ingram (five catches, 32 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Rice just lost 41-21 to Wake Forest. The team’s defense let the Demon Deacons pass for 312 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 201 yards and two scores. Scotty Washington was on a different level for Wake Forest, recording 158 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches. As a group, the Owls collectively completed 22-of-35 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown. Tom Stewart went 19-for-30 for 185 yards and one touchdown while Wiley Green was three-of-five for 69 yards. Aston Walter (29 yards on eight rush attempts, one TD) handled the running attack while Austin Trammell (six receptions, 67 yards, one TD) and Brad Rozner (six catches, 103 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Texas has run the ball on 42.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Rice has a rush percentage of 57.8 percent. The Longhorns have produced 137 rush yards/game and have three touchdowns on the ground this year. The Owls are averaging 124 rushing yards per game and have three total rush TDs.
If the numbers so far this season are any indication, then it appears the Longhorns should hold an advantage when it comes to efficiency in the ground game. Their running backs has generated 4.1 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.2 to opponents. The Owls have ran for 3.7 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.7 to opponents.
The Longhorns offensive scheme has logged an astonishing 355 yards per game through the air overall and has eight passing TDs so far. The Owls have produced 158 pass yards per contest and have only one pass scores.
Texas has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 87.5 yards and pass for 405.5 yards per game. The Rice defense has given up 182.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 216.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Longhorns are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 7.81 to opposing QBs, while the Owls have allowed a staggering 12.71 ANY/A.
Ehlinger probably has the edge over Stewart in this matchup, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 8.71for the year (and 8.82 over the past two games). Stewart’s ANY/A is 5.67 for the year.
Texas Longhorns at Rice Owls Free Pick
SU Winner: Rice, ATS Winner: Rice, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- Texas has sacked opposing QBs five times this season. Rice has yet to record a sack.
- Each offense has lost one fumble this season.
- The Longhorns offense has created two pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Owls have put up one such play.
- The Texas defense has allowed two pass plays of 40+ yards, while Rice has given up one such play.
- The Texas offense has created zero rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Rice has created one such runs.
- The Longhorns defense has allowed one rushing play of 20 or more yards, while the Owls have given up two such runs.
