The Rice Owls (+28) aren’t traveling far to take on the North Texas Mean Green at Apogee Stadium. This conference matchup starts at 4:00 p.m. ET and ESPN+ is in line to televise the action.
Rice Owls vs. North Texas Mean Green Betting Preview
Rice is the noticeable underdog here and is currently getting 28 points from bookmakers. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 54 points, and if one side catches a lucky break early, it would probably create a reasonable in-game betting opportunity.
The game’s line opened at -29. The total has yet to change after being set initially at 54.
The disappointing Owls are 3-5 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 4.2 units so far. The team has posted an O/U record of 5-3. The Mean Green have gained 0.5 units this season. The team is 4-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 0-8.
The Owls have gone 1-7 straight up (SU), including 0-4 SU against CUSA opponents. The Mean Green are 6-2 SU overall and 2-2 SU in conference play.
These two schools met last year with the final outcome being a 30-14 victory for North Texas.
The Owls fell to FIU 36-17 in a blowout where the Owls completed 12-of-21 passes for 115 yards and three interceptions. Evan Marshman went 11-for-15 for 107 yards and one interception while Wiley Green completed one-of-six for eight yards and two interceptions. Austin Walter (36 yards on 16 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Marshman (68 yards on 11 carries, two TDs) led the ground attack. Trammell (five receptions, 57 yards) and Aaron Cephus (two catches, 24 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
A week ago, UAB knocked off this North Texas team by a score of 29-21. The Mean Green defense allowed the Blazers to run for 203 yards on 48 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Spencer Brown had a productive showing in the win, recording 100 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 25 attempts for UAB. For North Texas, Mason Fine completed 29-of-40 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns. DeAndre Torrey (35 yards on 13 rush attempts) spearheaded the running attack while Jaelon Darden (10 receptions, 143 yards, two TDs) and Rico Bussey, Jr. (six catches, 104 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Rice has run the ball on 56.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while North Texas has an overall rush percentage of 47.5 percent. The Owls have produced 154 rush yards per game (including 90 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have eight touchdowns on the ground this year. The Mean Green are averaging 145 rushing yards per game (124 in conference) and have 15 total rush TDs.
The Owls offense has logged 167 yards per game through the air overall (138 per game versus conference opposition) and has nine passing TDs so far. The Mean Green have put up 325 pass yards per game (304.5 in the CUSA) and have 19 total pass scores.
Rice has allowed opponents to run for an average of 179 yards and pass for 263 yards per game. The North Texas D has given up 235.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 110.3 yards per game on the ground. The Mean Green are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.19 to opponents, while the Owls have allowed a staggering 10.60 ANY/A.
Offensively, Marshman has amassed 107 passing yards this year. He’s completed 73 percent of his 15 attempts with zero scores through the air and one interception. Marshman’s got a 3.18 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 3.06 over the last two outings.
Look for a balanced attack offensively from Rice in this one. As a group, Austin Trammell, Austin Walter and Evan Marshman have collectively accounted for 258 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns over the last two outings.
For the home team, Mason Fine has connected on 179-of-271 passes for 2,254 yards, 18 TDs and one INT. Fine’s ANY/A sits at 8.73 for the year and 8.48 over his last two games.
As a group, Jalen Guyton, Jaelon Darden and DeAndre Torrey have combined for 489 total yards and six touchdowns the last couple of games.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
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SU Winner – North Texas, ATS Winner – Rice, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
Both teams have lost five fumbles this season.
The North Texas defensive unit has created 26 sacks on the year while Rice has just nine.
As a team, Rice has averaged 2.2 yards per carry over its last three outings and 2.7 over its last two.
North Texas has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 4.1 over its last two.
In its last three matchups, North Texas is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for Rice’s last game was set at 53.5. The under cashed in the team’s 36-17 loss to FIU.
Over its last three matches, Rice is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for North Texas’ previous matchup was set at 53.5. The under cashed in that 29-21 defeat to UAB.
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