A couple of schools that prefer to focus on their running games, Coach Mike Bloomgren and the Rice Owls (-6.5) are gearing up to pay a visit to the Utep Miners at Sun Bowl. This conference matchup will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET and ESPN 3 has the TV rights.
Betting Preview: Rice Owls vs. UTEP Miners
UTEP enters this CUSA game as the underdog and is currently receiving 6.5 points. The Owls are also receiving -270 moneyline odds while the Miners are +210. If one program catches a lucky break early it would create a reasonable betting opportunity in-game. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 44 points.
The Owls are 5-5-1 against the spread (ATS) and are down 1.3 units so far. The team’s posted an Over-Under mark of 5-6.
The disappointing Miners have lost 5.2 units this season. They’re 3-7-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 6-5.
The Owls are 2-9 straight up (SU), including 2-5 SU against CUSA opponents. The Miners are 1-10 SU overall and 0-7 SU in conference play.
These two schools faced off last year with the final result being a 34-26 victory for UTEP.
UTEP enters this contest on a zero-game winning streak while Rice has lost zero in a row. The Owls just pulled off a 20-14 win over North Texas last week. Tom Stewart completed 17-of-27 passes for just 179 yards. Charlie Booker (78 yards on 22 rush attempts, one TD) led the running attack. Austin Trammell (seven receptions, 91 yards) and Brad Rozner (five catches, 70 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
One week ago, New Mexico State knocked off this UTEP crew by a score of 44-35. Kai Locksley completed 24-of-38 passes for 358 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Locksley (103 yards on 18 rush attempts, one TD) and Treyvon Hughes (60 yards on 17 carries, one TD) spearheaded the running game as Tre’Shon Wolf (five receptions, 50 yards) and Justin Garrett (four catches, 101 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
When glancing at offensive play-calling, each of these teams has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Rice’s run the ball on 56.8 percent of its offensive possessions while UTEP has an overall rush percentage of 58.0. The Owls have run for 116.5 yards/game (including 126.1 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have 11 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Miners are averaging 141.7 rushing yards per game (125.9 in conference) and have 18 total rush TDs.
The Owls offensive scheme has averaged 170.6 yards through the air overall (172 per game versus conference opposition) and has 12 passing TDs so far. The Miners have produced 189 pass yards per contest (183 against CUSA competition) and have eight total pass scores.
Rice has let opponents rush for an average of 141.9 yards and throw for 244.3 yards per game. The UTEP D has allowed 240 yards per game to opposing passers and 196.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Owls are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 8.17 to opposing QBs, while the Miners have given up a whopping 8.9 ANY/A.
Offensively, Stewart has put up 717 passing yards on the year. He’s connected on 66-of-114 attempts with four passing scores and one interception. Stewart has a 5.08 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 8.00 over the past two outings.
Kai Locksley has connected on 95-of-165 passes for 1,229 yards, five TDs and four INTs for UTEP. His ANY/A sits at 5.24 for the season and 6.24 over his last two outings.
Rice Owls at UTEP Miners Free Pick
SU Winner: Rice, ATS Winner: Rice, O/U: Under
Betting Notes
- The O/U for Rice’s last game was set at 55. The under cashed in the team’s 20-14 victory over North Texas.
- As a team, Rice has rushed for 3.5 yards per attempt over its last three outings and 3.3 over its last two.
- UTEP has averaged 4.4 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.2 over its last two.
- UTEP has lost six fumbles this season while Rice has let 11 get away.
- In its last three contests, Rice is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for UTEP’s last matchup was 55.5. The over cashed in the 44-35 loss to New Mexico State.
- In its last three matchups, UTEP is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Owls offense has tallied four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Miners have accounted for three such plays.
- The Rice defense has allowed nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while UTEP has given up 10 such plays.
- The Rice offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while UTEP has created 18 such runs.
- The Owls defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Miners have given up 17 such runs.
- The Rice defense has 14 sacks on the year while UTEP has 11.
