Two schools that prefer running the football, Owls (+16) are set to welcome the UAB Blazers (-16) to Rice. Kickoff for this conference game is set for 1:00 p.m. ET and ESPN+ is scheduled to televise the action. When these two teams met last year, UAB won soundly 52-21.
UAB Blazers vs. Rice Owls Betting Preview
In this Saturday Conference USA game, UAB is projected as the big favorite and is currently giving up 16 points. In order to take the favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently have to lay down $1,000 to net $100 back on the Blazers (-1000). The Owls are getting +625 moneyline odds. Should one squad catches a lucky break early, it will likely generate a reasonable betting scenario in-game.
The Blazers are 4-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 1.4 units so far. They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 1-3. The Owls have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 3.2 units. The team is 2-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 5-1.
The Blazers are 4-1 straight up (SU), including 2-0 SU against CUSA opponents. The Owls are 1-5 SU overall and 0-2 SU in conference play.
Rice enters this matchup on a zero-game winning streak while UAB has lost zero in a row. The Blazers are coming off a resounding 28-7 win over Louisiana Tech last week where A.J. Erdely completed just eight passes on 24 attempts for 136 yards, as well as one score and a pick. Spencer Brown (90 rushing yards on 20 attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Erdely (76 yards on 13 carries, one TD) led the ground attack. Xavier Ubosi (two receptions, 50 yards, one TD) and Collin Lisa (two catches, 46 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
One week ago, UTSA knocked off this Rice crew by a score of 20-3. The Owls defensive unit allowed the Roadrunners to eat up the clock by rushing for 135 yards on 38 attempts, including two rush TDs. B.J. Daniels put up a solid outing in the win for UTSA, recording 61 rushing yards and a score on 13 attempts. For Rice, Shawn Stankavage completed 15-of-27 passes for 158 yards and one interception. Emmanuel Esukpa (20 rushing yards on 15 attempts) and Austin Walter (31 yards on 14 carries) spearheaded the running game while Walter (eight receptions, 70 yards) and Aaron Cephus (four catches, 64 yards) led the receiving corps in the loss.
UAB has run the ball on 64.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Rice has an overall rush percentage of 56.5 percent. The Blazers have produced 237 rush yards per game (including 173 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have 15 scores on the ground this year. The Owls are logging 176 rush yards per game (92 in conference) and have six total rushing TDs.
Judging by the early season results, the Blazers ought to own the advantage in terms of efficiency in the ground game, as their backfield has produced 5.2 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 4.3 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Owls have tallied 4.4 yards per carry and given up 4.9 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Blazers offensive scheme has averaged 188 yards through the air overall (175 per game against conference opposition) and has five passing TDs so far. The Owls have put up 180 pass yards per contest (150.0 against CUSA foes) and have nine total pass scores.
UAB should have an advantage when it comes to limiting the pass. The team’s allowed opponents to rush for an average of 169 yards and throw for 134 yards per game. The Rice D has allowed 266.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 167.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Blazers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 3.13 to opposing QBs, while the Owls have allowed an ugly 10.55 ANY/A.
Offensively, Erdely has amassed 693 passing yards this year, and has completed 51 percent of his 105 attempts with four passing scores and five interceptions. Erdely’s got a 4.92 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 7.95 over the last two games.
We expect the UAB offense to mix it up in this one. As a group, Spencer Brown, Collin Lisa and A.J. Erdely have combined for 363 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
Shawn Stankavage has completed 75-of-130 passes for 829 yards, seven TDs and five INTs for Rice. His ANY/A stands at 5.04 for the season and 2.45 over his last two outings.
We’re looking for the Owls to control tempo by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Along with WR Aaron Cephus (288 receiving yards, three receiving TDs this season), Austin Walter (275 rush yards, three rush TDs, 238 receiving yards) and Emmanuel Esukpa (415 rush yards, two rush TDs) have been significant factors in the Rice offense.
RELATED: Week 7 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Prediction: UAB Blazers vs. Rice Owls
SU Winner – Blazers, ATS Winner – Blazers
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
UAB was favored by 7 points in its previous game and the O/U was set at 57. The under cashed and UAB covered in the 28-7 victory over Louisiana Tech.
UAB has averaged 4.58208955223881 yards per rush attempt over its past three outings and 4.4 over its last two.
Rice has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.9 over its last two.
The Rice offense has lost four fumbles this season while UAB has lost one.
In its last three contests, UAB is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Rice was favored by 2 points in its previous outing and the Over/Under was set at 49.5. The under cashed and Rice failed to cover in the 20-3 defeat to UTSA.
In its last three matches, Rice is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Blazers offense has produced four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Owls have put up one such play.
The UAB defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Rice has given up 10 such plays.
The UAB offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Rice has created 16 such runs.
The Blazers defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Owls have given up six such runs.
The UAB defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 19 times this season. Rice has recorded just eight sacks.
*****
