Houston Cougars vs Rice Owls Prediction, 9/9/2023 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Cougars vs Rice Owls

Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023

Location: Rice Stadium in Houston, TX

TV: NFL NET

Odds/Point Spread: Owls (+8)

Total/Over-Under: 52.5

The Rice Owls (0-1) will try to defeat the Houston Cougars (1-0) at Rice Stadium on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Rice opens this matchup as 8-point underdogs. The over/under is 52.5.

The Houston Cougars head into this matchup 1-0 for this year. In their last contest, the Cougars took the field against the UTSA Roadrunners and went home with a win by a final score of 17-14. Donovan Smith went 22/34 with 233 yards passing and 2 TDs. He had a quarterback rating of 141.7 and ended the game with no picks. Tony Mathis led the offense in rushing for the Cougars with 8 totes for 38 yds (4.8 yds per attempt). The Houston Cougars ran the ball 38 times and accrued 101 yds, which earned them an average of 2.7 yds per carry. Overall, they ran 72 plays which totaled 334 yds. Houston conceded 18 completions on 36 attempts for a total of 209 yds, and a completion rate of 50.0%. Against the run, the Cougars conceded 208 yards on 35 tries, which is an average of 5.9 yards per run allowed.

When talking about scoring points, the Houston Cougars have an average of 17.0 points per contest. As a unit they're holding an average of 101.0 yards on the ground ranking them 101st in D-1. The Cougars have racked up 334 total yards for the year. In terms of getting the ball in the endzone, Houston has compiled 2 touchdowns via the pass and no touchdowns on the ground. Houston has accrued 19 1st downs as a team, and they have been flagged for 3 penalties for 25 yds. They have given the ball to the opposition 0 different times.

The Cougars rank 42nd in the country when it comes to the opposition scoring, allowing 14.0 points per game. The opposition is running for 5.9 yards per rushing attempt and 208.0 rushing yards per game this year. For the year, they have conceded 208 running yards through 1 game. Regarding yards via the pass, the Cougars are allowing 209 yards which ranks them 64th in the nation. They have allowed 209.0 yards per game via the pass and giving up a completion percentage of 50.0%. Over the course of this season, they are conceding 417.0 yards per game ranking them 100th in college football. They have given up 1 touchdown by air and 1 touchdown pounding the rock.

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The Owls head into this game 0-1 for this season. When they last stepped on the field, the Owls took a defeat with a final score of 37-10 when they played the Texas Longhorns. JT Daniels (1 touchdown) finished the game with 149 yds on 14/26 passing while his quarterback rating was 99.3. He had 2 interceptions and his average yards per attempt was 5.7. Dean Connors ran the football 8 times for 23 yds, finishing the game with 2.9 yards per attempt for Rice. The Owls finished with a total of 176 yards while running 51 plays (3.5 yards per play). Rice ran the ball for 1.1 yards per tote, finishing with 27 yards on 25 carries. Rice gave up 39 attempts on the ground for 158 yds (4.1 yds per carry). The Owls secondary conceded a completion rate of 61.1%, relinquishing 300 yds on 22 out of 36 passing.

The Rice Owls maintain an average of 176.0 yards per outing, which has them ranked 129th in college football. The Rice offense has 25 yds of penalties on 5 infractions, which is 87th in D-1 in terms of making mistakes. They have tossed 2 picks while surrendering 1 fumble and they have tallied 8 1st downs. When looking at their scoring prowess, the Owls sit 121st in college football by scoring 10.0 PPG.

Rice has surrendered a total of 158 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on the ground for the campaign. They have allowed the opposition 3 touchdowns through the air and 300.0 yards per game, which puts them in 110th in the nation. They have no fumbles and no interceptions on the campaign. The Owls defense has taken part in 75 plays, which is good for 101st in the country. The Owls are giving up 37.0 points per game, which has them sitting 107th in D-1. This season, they have surrendered 37 total points.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Cougars -8

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