The Rice Owls (+44) are making a trip east to battle the No. 10 LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action on ESPNU.
Rice Owls vs. LSU Tigers Betting Preview
LSU has been tabbed as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 44 points to Rice. If the Tigers stumble early on it would result in a solid betting opportunity in-game. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 51 points.
The Owls are down 5.2 units so far in 2018 and 5-6 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under mark of 6-5. The surprising Tigers are up 8.4 units this season. They’re 5-5 ATS and have an even O/U record of 5-5.
The Owls are 1-10 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Tigers are 8-2 SU.
The Owls lost to Louisiana Tech 28-13 in a game where the passing attack left much to be desired as Shawn Stankavage completed just 18-of-32 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Aston Walter (72 rushing yards on 17 attempts) led the ground attack. Aaron Cephus (seven receptions, 81 yards) and Walter (five catches, 101 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
LSU is coming off of a 24-17 win over Arkansas. Joe Burrow completed 15-of-21 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown. Nick Brossette (90 yards on 23 rush attempts, one TD) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (56 yards on 17 carries, one TD) spearheaded the running game as Justin Jefferson (six receptions, 117 yards, one TD) and Edwards-Helaire (two catches, five yards) led the receiving attack in the win.
Rice has run the ball on 54.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while LSU has a rush percentage of 60.3 percent. The Owls have run for 136 yards/game and have 10 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Tigers are totaling 170 rush yards per game and have 21 total rushing TDs.
The Owls offense has averaged 189 yards in the air overall and has 13 passing scores so far. The Tigers have recorded 192 pass yards per outing and have seven total pass TDs.
Rice has allowed opponents to run for an average of 173 yards and pass for 269 yards per game. The LSU defense has allowed 209.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 134.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Tigers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 3.83 to opponents, while the Owls have given up an ugly 9.74 ANY/A.
Offensively, Green has amassed 525 passing yards this season, and has completed 52 percent of his 75 attempts with three scores through the air and four interceptions. Green has a 5.00 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 7.85 over the last two games.
On the other sideline, Joe Burrow has completed 135-of-244 passes for 1,739 yards, seven TDs and three INTs. Burrow’s ANY/A sits at 6.14 for the season and 4.75 over his past two outings.
RELATED: Week 12 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Rice Owls at LSU Tigers
SU Winner – LSU, ATS Winner – Rice, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Owls offense has registered four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Tigers have put up six such plays.
The Rice defense has allowed 17 pass plays of 40+ yards, while LSU has given up three such plays.
The Rice offense has created 15 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while LSU has created nine such runs.
The Owls defense has allowed 17 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Tigers have given up nine such runs.
The LSU defense has notched 22 sacks on the year while Rice has just 13.
Rice has produced 2.8 yards per carry across its past three games and 3.0 over its last two.
LSU has averaged 2.4 yards per carry over its last three outings and 2.4 over its last two.
LSU has won four of its last five games SU, with a -29-point defeat to Alabama on November 3rd accounting for its only loss over that stretch.
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