Houston at Rice College Football Picks and Predictions 9/1/2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Rice Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

Rice Stadium is the venue for the game between the Houston Cougars and the Rice Owls on Saturday, September 1, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 21 point favorites. The Owls were 4-8-0 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 5-6-1. The Cougars were 6-6-0 ATS and their over/under record was 3-9-0.

Valuable Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars were 3-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Houston Cougars were 6-6-0 against the spread last year

Important Rice Owls Betting Trends

The Rice Owls were 5-6-1 against the over/under last season

The Rice Owls were 4-8-0 against the spread last year

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Rice Owls Injuries

08/08/18 RB Emmanuel Esukpa Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Houston
08/08/18 RB Nashon Ellerbe Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Houston

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Houston Cougars ran for 2,002 yards as a team last year, which ranked 72nd in the nation. They ran 446 times, averaging 4.5 yards per rush as a unit. The Cougars were penalized on offense 72 times for 646 yards last year, which had them 77th in the country in penalties. They were 73rd in Division 1 in points scored with 340. They ran 857 plays last year for 5,138 yards, which ranked them 52nd in the nation in total offense. The Cougars averaged 6 yards per play, which was 43rd in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 252 1st downs last season, ranking them 74th overall as an offensive unit. D'Eriq King completed 90 throws while attempting 139 passes for a completion percentage of 64.7% last year. He passed for 1,260 yards. He averaged 9.4 adjusted yards per throw and 9.1 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 154.6.

Defensive Statistics

The Cougars rush defense gave up 472 attempts for 1,775 yards last season, putting them in 37th place in the country against the run. They had 79 penalties for 637 yards on defense last year. That placed them 57th in Division 1. Houston was 35th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 286. They gave up a total of 5,066 yards on D, which was 78th in the nation. The Cougars were 48th in yards per play allowed with 5.4. Opponent offenses completed 295 throws on 473 attempts against the Houston Cougars defense last season, ranking them 125th and 121st in the country. The Houston pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,292 yards in the air, which was 109th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Houston Cougars tried 16 field goals last year and made 12, which was 84th in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 80%. Houston Cougars kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 43 for 43 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,423 yards on 58 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That ranked them 68th in the NCAA in punting average. Houston was 83rd in the country in punt returns with 16 last season. They totaled 70 punt return yards and averaged 4.4 yards per return, which was 113th in D-1. They returned 32 kicks for 721 yards on special teams, which put them 71st in kick return yardage. The Cougars averaged 23 yards per kick return and they were 64th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,929.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Owls were 126th in Division 1 in points scored with 196 last year. They ran 732 plays last season for 3,982 yards, which ranked them 119th in the nation in total offense. The Rice Owls averaged 5.4 yards per play, which was 91st in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 206 1st downs last year, placing them 118th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Rice ran for 2,244 yards as a team, which ranked 52nd in the country. They ran 486 times, averaging 4.6 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Owls were penalized on offense 53 times for 460 yards last season, which had them 121st in the nation in penalties. Jackson Tyner threw for 598 yards last season. He completed 46 passes on 97 attempts for a completion percentage of 47.4%. His quarterback rating last year was 95.7. He averaged 6.2 yards per pass attempt and 4.3 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

Rice was 111th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 430 last season. They surrendered a total of 5,110 yards on D, which was 79th in Division 1. The Owls were ranked 113th in yards per play allowed with 6.4. Opposing offenses completed 232 passes on 334 attempts against the Rice defense last season, placing them 66th and 22nd in the country. The Rice Owls pass defense also gave up a total of 2,800 yards through the air, which was 62nd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 462 attempts for 2,311 yards last year, putting them in 88th place in D-1 against the run. The Owls committed 49 penalties for 406 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 2nd in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

Rice was ranked 90th in the nation in punt returns with 14 last year. They accumulated 100 punt return yards and averaged 7.1 yards per return, which was 72nd in college football. They returned 37 kicks for 659 yards on special teams, ranking 92nd in kick return yardage. The Rice Owls averaged 18 yards per kick return and they were 120th in the country in all-purpose yards with 4,740. The Owls attempted 5 field goals last season and made 4, which was 127th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 60%. Rice kickers made 96% of their extra points, going 24 for 25 last year. Their punters totaled 2,520 yards on 58 punts, averaging 44 yards per punt. That placed them 17th in Division 1 in punting average.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Owls +21

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn