Rice Owls vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Prediction, 11/12/2022 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Rice Owls vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Date: Saturday, November 12, 2022

Location: Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, KY

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Hilltoppers (-13.5)

Total/Over-Under: 63

Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium is the site where the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (6-4) will try to beat the Rice Owls (5-4) on Saturday. Rice opens this matchup as 13.5-point underdogs. The total is set at 63.

The Rice Owls step onto the field holding a record of 5-4 this season. The last time they stepped onto the field, the Owls went up against the UTEP Miners and earned the victory with a final of 37-30. TJ Mcmahon connected on 21/31 with 334 yards passing and 2 TDs. He had a QB rating of 173.1 and ended the contest with 1 interception. Juma Otoviano led the offense in rushing for the Owls with 6 attempts for 65 yds (10.8 yards per carry). The Rice Owls ended up running the ball 32 times and had 168 yds, which earned them an average of 5.3 yards per attempt. At the end of the game, they ran 63 plays which gave them a total of 502 yards. Rice allowed 15 pass completions on 28 attempts for 159 yards, and a completion percentage of 53.6%. Against the run, the Owls conceded 154 yards on 36 tries, which is 4.3 yds per run allowed.

When talking about putting the ball in the endzone, the Rice Owls are averaging 30.0 PPG. Offensively they're holding an average of 151.2 yards rushing ranking them 63rd in college football. The Owls have earned 3,471 total yards this season. In terms of getting the ball in the endzone, Rice has earned 18 touchdowns through the air and 15 rushing touchdowns. Rice has compiled 183 1st downs as a unit, and they have committed 54 infractions for 505 yards. They have surrendered the ball 19 times.

In terms of passing yardage, the Owls are conceding 1,811 yds which has them sitting in 31st in the nation. They have surrendered 201.2 yards per outing via the pass as well as conceding a completion percentage of 61.0%. Over the course of this season, they have relinquished 363.3 yards/game ranking them 52nd in the country. They have granted 19 touchdowns by air in addition to 14 touchdowns on the ground. The opposition is running for 4.6 yards per rush and 162.1 rushing yards per game on the season. For the season, they have given up 1,459 rushing yards through 9 outings. The Owls sit in 116th in the nation regarding the opposition scoring, allowing 33.2 points per game.

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The Hilltoppers head into this game 6-4 for this season. When they last stepped on the field, the Hilltoppers walked away with a victory by a final of 59-7 when they played the Charlotte 49ers. Austin Reed (6 touchdowns) walked away from the game with 409 yards on 23/38 through the air while his quarterback rating was 203. He didn't toss any interceptions and his average yards per attempt was 10.8. Davion Ervin-Poindexter carried the ball 3 times for 49 yds, walking away from the contest with 16.3 yds per carry for Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers ended up finishing with 592 yards and they ran 58 plays (10.2 yds per play). Western Kentucky ran the ball for 7.7 yds per carry, totaling 131 yards on 17 attempts. Western Kentucky conceded 47 rushing attempts for 161 yards (3.4 yds per carry). The Hilltoppers passing defense gave up a completion rate of 55.9%, relinquishing 223 yds on 19 for 34 passing.

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers maintain an average of 483.4 yards/outing, ranking them 15th in D-1. The Western Kentucky offense has 643 penalty yds on 70 violations, which is 15th in D-1 in terms of making mistakes. For the year to this point, the Hilltoppers have thrown for 3,322 yards through the air as well as an average of 332.2 passing yards per contest, which ranks 3rd in the country. When looking at how much they score, the Hilltoppers currently rank 18th in D-1 with 37.2 points per contest.

The Hilltoppers are allowing 22.3 PPG, which has them ranked 40th in D-1. Western Kentucky has allowed a total of 1,431 rushing yards (143.1 yards/game) in addition to 11 touchdowns via the rush this year. This season, they have given up 223 points. They have surrendered 15 touchdowns via the pass in addition to 236.1 yards/outing, which has them ranked 76th in college football. The Hilltoppers defense has participated in 738 plays, which is 130th in college football.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Hilltoppers -13.5

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