Rice at Pittsburgh College Football Picks & Predictions 9/30/2017

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Heinz Field

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Rice Owls head to Heinz Field to play the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday, September 30, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh as 21.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 50. The Owls are 1-3-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 1-3-0. The Panthers are 0-3-1 against the spread and their over/under mark is 1-3-0.

Valuable Rice Owls Betting Trends

The Rice Owls are 1-3-0 against the over/under

The Rice Owls are 1-3-0 against the spread

Important Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 1-3-0 against the over/under

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 0-3-1 against the spread

Key Rice Owls Injuries

09/24/17 DE Blain Padgett Shoulder "?" Saturday vs. Pittsburgh U
09/24/17 S Cole Thomas Shoulder "?" Saturday vs. Pittsburgh U
09/24/17 OL Kenneth Thompson Leg "?" Saturday vs. Pittsburgh U
09/24/17 QB Sam Glaesmann Shoulder "?" Saturday vs. Pittsburgh U
09/24/17 RB Samuel Stewart Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Pittsburgh U
09/24/17 CB V.J. Banks Leg "?" Saturday vs. Pittsburgh U
09/13/17 WR Aston Walter Shoulder out for season
08/25/17 DB D Angelo Ellis Wrist out for season

Key Pittsburgh Panthers Injuries

09/24/17 WR Dontavius Butler-Jenkins Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Rice
09/24/17 DB Phillipie Motley Lower Body "?" Saturday vs. Rice
09/22/17 FB Colton Lively Upper Body out for season
09/22/17 WR Michael Vardzel Upper Body out for season
09/06/17 LB Quintin Wirginis Lower Body out indefinitely
08/25/17 WR Tre Tipton Knee out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Rice Owls are 122nd in the country in points scored with 48. They have run 257 plays this year for 1,168 yards, which ranks them 122nd in Division 1 in total offense. The Owls average 4.5 yards per play, which is 121st in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 70 1st downs this season, ranking them 90th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Rice has run for 681 yards as a unit, which ranks 52nd in college football. They've run 163 times, averaging 4.2 yards per rush as a unit. The Owls have been penalized on offense 16 times for 121 yards so far this year, which has them 110th in the country in penalties. Jackson Tyner has passed for 241 yards this year. He's completed 24 throws while attempting 48 passes for a completion percentage of 50%. His quarterback rating this season is 88. He averages 4.1 adjusted yards per throw and 5 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Rice is 105th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 127. They have given up a total of 1,643 yards on D, which is 96th in D-1. The Owls are 104th in yards per play allowed with 6.2. Opponent offenses have completed 90 throws on 136 attempts against the Rice Owls defense this season, ranking them 110th and 96th in the nation. The Rice pass defense has also surrendered a total of 1,098 yards in the air, which is 112th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 129 attempts for 545 yards this season, putting them in 70th place in the country against the run. The Owls have had 13 penalties for 117 yards on defense this year. That places them 10th in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Rice is 84th in the country in punt returns with 5. They've totaled 43 punt return yards and average 8.6 yards per return, which is 48th in D-1. They have returned 11 kicks for 182 yards on special teams, which puts them 74th in kick return yardage. The Owls average 17 yards per kick return and they are 111th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 1,393. The Rice Owls have tried 3 field goals this year and made 2, which is 108th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 67%. Rice Owls kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 6 for 6 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,091 yards on 24 punts, averaging 46 yards per punt. That ranks them 18th in the NCAA in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Panthers have run for 503 yards as a team, which ranks 92nd in college football. They've run 152 times, averaging 3.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Pittsburgh Panthers have been penalized on offense 15 times for 131 yards so far this season, which has them 118th in the country in penalties. They are 107th in the nation in points scored with 80. They have run 286 plays this season for 1,316 yards, which ranks them 76th in Division 1 in total offense. Pittsburgh averages 4.6 yards per play, which is 117th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 76 1st downs this year, placing them 75th overall as an offensive unit. Max Browne averages 5.3 yards per pass attempt and 4.4 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 53 passes on 81 attempts for a completion percentage of 65.4%. His quarterback rating this year is 108.7. He has thrown for 426 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Pittsburgh Panthers rush defense has allowed 149 attempts for 834 yards this year, putting them in 110th place in D-1 against the run. Pittsburgh has committed 14 penalties for 108 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 6th in college football. They are 119th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 148. They have surrendered a total of 1,929 yards on D, which is 117th in the country. The Panthers are ranked 127th in yards per play allowed with 7.6. Opposing offenses have completed 63 passes on 104 attempts against the Pittsburgh defense this season, placing them 49th and 37th in Division 1. The Pittsburgh Panthers pass defense has also given up a total of 1,095 yards through the air, which is 111th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Pittsburgh Panthers have attempted 6 field goals this season and made 3, which is 78th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 50%. Pittsburgh kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 9 for 9 this year. Their punters have totaled 946 yards on 20 punts, averaging 47 yards per punt. That places them 5th in Division 1 in punting average. Pittsburgh is ranked 42nd in the nation in punt returns with 7. They've accumulated 146 punt return yards and average 20.9 yards per return, which is 6th in college football. They have returned 16 kicks for 313 yards on special teams, ranking 24th in kick return yardage. The Pittsburgh Panthers average 20 yards per kick return and they are 71st in the country in all-purpose yards with 1,775.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Owls +21.5

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