Rice at Houston College Football Picks & Predictions 9/16/2017

Saturday, September 16, 2017

TDECU Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Houston Cougars host the Rice Owls at TDECU Stadium on Saturday, September 16, 2017. The opening line for this game has Houston as 24.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 55. The Cougars have an over/under record of 0-1-0 and they are 1-0-0 against the spread. The Owls have an ATS record of 1-1-0 while their over/under record is 1-1-0.

Valuable Rice Owls Betting Trends

The Rice Owls are 1-1-0 against the over/under

The Rice Owls are 1-1-0 against the spread

Important Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 0-1-0 against the over/under

The Houston Cougars are 1-0-0 against the spread

Key Rice Owls Injuries

08/25/17 DB D Angelo Ellis Wrist out for season

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

09/10/17 WR/QB D'Erig King Knee "?" Saturday vs. Rice
09/08/17 OL Alex Fontana Foot out for season
08/16/17 DE Jerard Carter Foot out indefinitely
08/16/17 OL Kameron Eloph Back out indefinitely
08/16/17 RB Kevrin Justice Ankle out indefinitely
08/16/17 WR Marquez Stevenson ACL out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Rice Owls have run for 452 yards as a team, which ranks 34th in college football. They've run 87 times, averaging 5.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Owls have been penalized on offense 10 times for 76 yards so far this season, which has them 80th in the country in penalties. They are 102nd in the nation in points scored with 38. They have run 129 plays this season for 678 yards, which ranks them 116th in Division 1 in total offense. The Owls average 5.3 yards per play, which is 90th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 36 1st downs this year, placing them 89th overall as an offensive unit. Sam Glaesmann averages 5.6 yards per pass attempt and 4.9 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 17 passes on 36 attempts for a completion percentage of 47.2%. His quarterback rating this year is 97.5. He has thrown for 200 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Owls rush defense has allowed 60 attempts for 313 yards this year, putting them in 84th place in D-1 against the run. Rice has committed 6 penalties for 50 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 13th in college football. They are 113th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 76. They have surrendered a total of 885 yards on D, which is 96th in the country. The Owls are ranked 119th in yards per play allowed with 6.8. Opposing offenses have completed 39 passes on 70 attempts against the Rice Owls defense this season, placing them 77th and 83rd in Division 1. The Rice pass defense has also given up a total of 572 yards through the air, which is 99th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

Rice Owls kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 5 for 5 this year. Their punters have totaled 498 yards on 11 punts, averaging 45 yards per punt. That places them 28th in Division 1 in punting average. Rice is ranked 73rd in the nation in punt returns with 3. They've accumulated 38 punt return yards and average 12.7 yards per return, which is 28th in college football. They have returned 4 kicks for 70 yards on special teams, ranking 93rd in kick return yardage. The Owls average 18 yards per kick return and they are 99th in the country in all-purpose yards with 786.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Cougars are 123rd in the country in points scored with 19. They have run 69 plays this year for 383 yards, which ranks them 117th in Division 1 in total offense. The Houston Cougars average 5.6 yards per play, which is 76th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 18 1st downs this season, ranking them 124th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Houston has run for 158 yards as a unit, which ranks 114th in college football. They've run 37 times, averaging 4.3 yards per rush as a unit. Houston has been penalized on offense 10 times for 110 yards so far this year, which has them 75th in the country in penalties. Kyle Allen has passed for 225 yards this year. He's completed 25 throws while attempting 32 passes for a completion percentage of 78.1%. His quarterback rating this season is 135. He averages 4.8 adjusted yards per throw and 7 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Houston is 11th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 16. They have given up a total of 371 yards on D, which is 14th in D-1. The Cougars are 48th in yards per play allowed with 4.9. Opponent offenses have completed 22 throws on 37 attempts against the Houston defense this season, ranking them 23rd and 13th in the nation. The Houston Cougars pass defense has also surrendered a total of 219 yards in the air, which is 17th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 39 attempts for 152 yards this season, putting them in 27th place in the country against the run. The Cougars have had 4 penalties for 35 yards on defense this year. That places them 4th in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Houston has returned 2 kicks for 105 yards on special teams, which puts them 61st in kick return yardage. The Houston Cougars average 53 yards per kick return and they are 123rd in the nation in all-purpose yards with 494. The Cougars have tried 2 field goals this year and made 1, which is 85th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 50%. Houston kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 2 for 2 this season. Their punters have accumulated 260 yards on 6 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That ranks them 45th in the NCAA in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Owls/Cougars college football game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Cougars -24.5

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