The Rice Owls (-3.5) aren’t traveling far to take on the UTSA Roadrunners at the Alamodome. This CUSA game gets underway at 6:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to ESPN 3.
Betting Preview: UTSA Roadrunners vs. Rice Owls
In this Saturday Conference USA game, Rice is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 3.5 points. The Owls are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the Roadrunners are +155. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 44.5 points. If Rice gets down early on, it’ll probably create a nice in-game betting opportunity.
With the spread opening at 3 and the O/U originally placed at 45, bookmakers have swayed the odds slightly.
The Owls are 3-2-1 against the spread (ATS) and are down 3.0 units so far. The team has posted an O/U record of 3-3.
The Roadrunners are down 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 2-4 ATS and have an O/U record of 2-3-1.
The Owls are 0-6 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against conference opponents. The Roadrunners are 2-4 SU overall and 1-2 SU in conference play.
These two teams met a year ago with the final outcome being a 20-3 victory for UTSA.
The Owls came up short to UAB 35-20 in a game where the passing attack could’ve been more effective as Wiley Green completed only 15-of-34 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Aston Walter (102 rushing yards on 16 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the ground attack. Austin Trammell (five receptions, 113 yards) and Walter (four catches, 14 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
One week ago, UAB knocked off this UTSA team by a score of 33-14. The Roadrunners defense allowed the Blazers to run for 198 yards on 41 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. Austin Watkins shredded the defense, recording 167 yards on six catches for UAB. For UTSA, Lowell Narcisse completed eight-of-19 passes for 94 yards. Narcisse (89 yards on 17 rush attempts, one TD) and Sincere McCormick (34 yards on 16 carries, one TD) mounted the running game while Carlos Strickland II (two receptions, 41 yards) and Kirk Johnson Jr. (two catches, 19 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Each of these teams has a similar (57-43) run-pass ratio on the season. The Owls have rushed for 120.5 yards/game (including 162 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have seven scores on the ground this year. The Roadrunners are averaging 185.3 rushing yards per game (204.3 in conference) and have 10 total rush TDs.
The Owls offensive scheme has averaged 165.3 yards in the air overall (159.5 per game versus conference opposition) and has five passing scores so far. The Roadrunners have put up 130.8 pass yards per contest (89 in the CUSA) and have four total pass TDs.
Defensively, Rice has allowed 156.3 rush yards and 249.7 pass yards per game. The UTSA D has allowed 177.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 220.5 yards per game on the ground. The Roadrunners are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 7.38 to opposing QBs, while the Owls have allowed a staggering 9.46 ANY/A.
Offensively, Green has put up 420 passing yards this year. He’s completed 38-of-76 attempts with two passing scores and has yet to throw an interception. Green’s got a 5.15 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 4.92 over the last two outings.
For the home team, Lowell Narcisse has connected on 26-of-62 passes for 227 yards, zero TDs and two INTs. Narcisse’s ANY/A sits at a very poor 1.95 for the year and 4.20 across his last two outings.
Rice Owls at UTSA Roadrunners Bedding Prediction
SU Winner: Rice, ATS Winner: Rice, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The O/U for Rice’s last game was 43. The over cashed in the team’s 35-20 loss to UAB.
- Rice has produced 3.2 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.8 over its last two.
- UTSA has averaged 4.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.3 over its last two.
- UTSA has lost seven fumbles this season while Rice has lost six.
- In its last three contests, Rice is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for UTSA’s previous outing was 46.5. The over cashed in the team’s 33-14 loss to UAB.
- Over its last three matches, UTSA is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Owls offense has created three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Roadrunners have accounted for zero such plays.
- The Rice defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while UTSA has given up three such plays.
- The Rice offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while UTSA has created 11 such runs.
- The Owls defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Roadrunners have given up 17 such runs.
- The UTSA defense has recorded 10 sacks on the year while Rice has seven.
