Thursday, September 1, 2016

L.T. Smith Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Rice Owls take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at L.T. Smith Stadium. The opening line for this game has Western Kentucky as 14 point favorites and the over/under was set at 60. Last season the Owls were 5-6-1 against the spread and their over/under record was 7-5-0. The Hilltoppers had an over/under record of 10-4-0 and they were 8-6-0 against the spread.

Rice scored 26.1 points per game on offense last season, which ranked 87th in Division 1. In the passing department, they averaged 17.7 passes on 31.1 attempts for a 56.8 percent completion percentage last season. They threw for a total of 224.3 yards per game through the air as well, which ranked them 65th in college football. The Owls ran for an average of 178.1 yards per game on 44.3 attempts for an average of 4 yards per carry. That ranked them 57th in the nation. They also ran 75.4 plays per contest and averaged 5.3 yards per play for an average of 402.3 yards per game, ranking their offense 62nd overall last season. The Owls averaged 22.8 first downs per game which ranked them 34th in the country. They accumulated 62.7 penalty yards per game via 7 penalties, which ranked 33rd in the nation.

Rice allowed 257.2 passing yards per game, ranking 102nd in D-1, and they allowed 35.8 points per contest on defense, which ranked 109th. They gave up 15.4 completions on 25.8 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 59.9. The Owls allowed 190.3 rushing yards per game on 37 carries for a 5.1 average per play, which ranked their rush defense 88th in the country. Rice allowed 447.4 total yards per game including 7.1 yards per play, which ranked their overall defense 103rd in terms of yards per game. They forced 0.8 turnovers per contest and got flagged for 4.9 penalties for 46.9 yards per game, ranking them 28th among D-1 teams.

Western Kentucky averaged 44.3 points per game last season on offense, which ranked them 3rd in the country. In the passing department, they completed 28.4 passes per game on 39.6 attempts for a 71.8 percent completion percentage. They threw for 372.2 yards through the air per game last year, ranking them 4th in Division 1. The Hilltoppers ran for an average of 154.6 yards per game on 33.1 attempts for an average of 4.7 yards per carry last season, which ranked them 90th on the ground. They also ran 72.6 plays per game and averaged 7.3 yards per play for a total of 526.9 yards per game, ranking them 9th in the country on offense. The Hilltoppers got an average of 24.9 first downs per game, which ranked 16th in the nation. They averaged 57.8 penalty yards per game via 5.9 penalties, ranking them 47th in college football.

Western Kentucky allowed an average of 239.2 passing yards yards per game, which ranked 86th in Division 1. Their defense overall allowed 25.9 points per contest, which had them ranked 53rd in the nation. They gave up 18.1 completions on 33.6 attempts for a completion percentage of 53.7 per game. The Hilltoppers allowed 164.4 rushing yards per contest on 37.5 carries for a 4.4 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 58th in the country. Western Kentucky allowed 403.6 total yards per game for an average of 5.7 yards per play, which ranked 69th in D-1. They forced 2.2 turnovers per contest and 5.3 penalties for 46.3 yards in each contest, ranking 26th in the nation.

Driphus Jackson finished his last game of last season with 122 yards through the air for Rice. He completed 14 passes out of 25 attempts for a 56% completion percentage. The Owls were led in rushing by Austin Walter, who finished with 78 yards on 12 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 7 yards per carry. Nate German was the team leader in receiving with a total of 40 yards and 2 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 20 yards per reception. As a team in that game Rice got a total of 28 first downs by way of 17 rushing, 7 passing, and 4 by penalty. They ran 87 total plays for 433 yards for the game. The Owls ran for 307 yards on 61 attempts.

Brandon Doughty finished his last game of last season with 461 yards through the air for Western Kentucky. He completed 32 passes out of 44 attempts for a 73% completion percentage. The Hilltoppers were led in rushing by Anthony Wales, who finished with 105 yards on 14 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 8 yards per carry. Nicholas Norris was the team leader in receiving with a total of 120 yards and 5 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 24 yards per reception. Western Kentucky got a total of 27 first downs by way of 9 rushing, 17 passing, and 1 by penalty. They ran 79 total plays for 612 yards for the game. The Hilltoppers ran for 151 yards on 33 attempts.

Rice Betting Trends

Rice were 7-5-0 against the over/under last season

Rice had an ATS record of 5-6-1 last season

Western Kentucky Betting Trends

Western Kentucky were 10-4-0 against the over/under last season

Western Kentucky had an ATS record of 8-6-0 last season

Injuries to Watch

Rice

No key injuries to report

Western Kentucky

No key injuries to report

Tony's Pick: Take Rice

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