The Old Dominion Monarchs (-10) will meet their CUSA rival Rice Owls at Rice Stadium. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+ and this afternoon game is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Old Dominion Monarchs vs. Rice Owls Betting Preview
In this Saturday Conference USA game, Old Dominion is projected as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 10 points. In order to take the favorite, moneyline bettors would currently need to put down $400 to win $100 back on the Monarchs (-400). The Owls are getting +300 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 63.5 points. Should the favorites get behind early, it will likely result in a worthwhile betting opportunity in-game.
The game’s total has moved up after opening at 62.5. The original line of 10 hasn’t shifted.
The Monarchs are down 0.8 units so far and 5-6 against the spread (ATS). The team’s recorded an O/U mark of 9-2. The Owls have lost 5.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 6-6 ATS and have an O/U record of 7-5.
The Monarchs have gone 4-7 straight up (SU), including 2-5 SU against CUSA opponents. The Owls are 1-11 SU overall and 0-7 SU in conference play.
Rice enters this contest on a zero-game winning streak while Old Dominion has lost zero in a row. The Monarchs are looking to maintain momentum following a solid 77-14 victory over VMI last week. The Monarchs defense did its part in the win, limiting the Keydets to just 216 passing yards and 72 yards on the ground. On the offensive side, Blake LaRussa completed 15 passes on 20 attempts for just 128 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Geiger (91 yards on 17 rush attempts, three TDs) and Brandon Sinclair (57 yards on 15 carries) led the running attack while Isaiah Harper (three receptions, 13 yards) and Kesean Strong (three catches, 38 yards) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Rice just lost a brutal 42-10 game to LSU. Shawn Stankavage completed seven-of-13 passes for 101 yards. Aston Walter (72 rushing yards on 23 attempts) and Juma Otoviano (36 yards on 11 carries, one TD) mounted the running game while Austin Trammell (two receptions, 27 yards) and Jordan Myers (one catch, four yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Old Dominion has run the ball on 48.4 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 45.3 percent across possessions in conference play. Rice has an overall rush percentage of 55.7 percent, and has run the ball 52.0 percent of the time when facing CUSA opponents. The Monarchs have rushed for 136 yards per game (including 124 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have 24 scores on the ground this year. The Owls are averaging 133 rushing yards per game (89 in conference) and have 11 total rush TDs.
The Monarchs offensive scheme has tallied 296 yards per contest in the air overall (309 per game versus conference opposition) and has 20 passing TDs so far. The Owls have put up 181 pass yards per game (184.9 against CUSA foes) and have 13 total pass scores.
Old Dominion has let opponents run for an average of 211 yards and pass for 269 yards per game. The Rice defense has allowed 277.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 173.4 yards per game to opposing runners. The Monarchs are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 7.06 to opponents, while the Owls have given up a staggering 9.93 ANY/A.
Offensively, LaRussa has put up 2,402 passing yards this year. He’s connected on 195-of-296 attempts with 16 passing scores and seven interceptions. He’s got a 7.08 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.74 over the last two games.
The Monarchs have tried to maintain the pace by getting the ball in the hands of their running backs. In addition to receiver Travis Fulgham (840 receiving yards and seven touchdowns), Jeremy Cox (421 rush yards, five rush TDs) and Kesean Strong (484 rush yards, nine rush TDs, 182 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) have been big focal points in the Old Dominion offensive scheme.
Shawn Stankavage has completed 106-of-187 passes for 1,112 yards, nine TDs and seven INTs for Rice. His ANY/A sits at an ultra-pedestrian 4.57 for the year and 3.61 over his last two outings.
The Owls will also try to dictate the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. In addition to Aston Walter (52 receiving yards), Austin Walter (557 rush yards, four rush TDs, 400 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Aaron Cephus (565 receiving yards and five TDs) have seen a lot of action recently.
These two schools met a year ago with the final result being a 24-21 win for Old Dominion.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Old Dominion Monarchs vs. Rice Owls
SU Winner – Rice, ATS Winner – Rice, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Old Dominion defensive unit has 21 sacks on the year while Rice has just 14.
Both teams have lost seven fumbles this season.
The Monarchs offense has registered nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Owls have accounted for four such plays.
The Old Dominion defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Rice has given up 18 such plays.
The Old Dominion offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Rice has created 13 such runs.
The Monarchs defense has allowed 22 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Owls have given up 18 such runs.
The O/U for Rice’s previous game was set at 51. The over cashed in that 42-10 defeat to LSU.
In its last three matches, Rice is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three matchups, Old Dominion is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Old Dominion’s last game was set at 73.5. The over cashed in the team’s 77-14 win over VMI.
As a team, Old Dominion has produced 4.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.3 over its last two.
Rice has averaged 2.7 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 2.7 over its last two.
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