UTEP vs Rice 12/31/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Rice Owls and UTEP Miners meet Saturday in college basketball action at the Don Haskins Center. The Rice Owls look for their 11th win. The UTEP Miners look for their ninth win. 

The Rice Owls are averaging 83.6 points on 50.6 percent shooting and allowing 72.7 points on 44.8 percent shooting. Quincy Qlivari is averaging 18.9 points and 5.2 rebounds, while Travis Evee is averaging 14.8 points and 2.1 rebounds. Max Fiedler is grabbing 7.5 rebounds and Mekhi Mason is dishing 2.7 rebounds. The Rice Owls are shooting 35.5 percent from beyond the arc and 72.5 percent from the free throw line. The Rice Owls are allowing 34.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 35.9 rebounds per game.

The UTEP Miners are averaging 70.3 points on 46.4 percent shooting and allowing 65.8 points on 40.9 percent shooting. Tae Hardy is averaging 12.8 points and 3 rebounds, while Mario McKinney Jr. is averaging 10.4 points and 4.2 rebounds. Otis Frazier III is grabbing 3 rebounds and Shamar Givance is grabbing 3.3 rebounds. The UTEP Miners are shooting 26.9 percent from beyond the arc and 61 percent from the free throw line. The UTEP Miners are allowing 29.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.9 rebounds per game.

The Owls are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Miners are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The over is 4-0 in Owls last 4 overall. The over is 7-2 in Miners last 9 overall. The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. The underdog is 16-5 ATS in the last 21 meetings.

The Rice Owls are playing the better ball entering this contest, but they have to prove themselves on the road where they lose by an average of 13 points. The UTEP Miners play their best ball at home, where they win by an average of 12.8 points and allow 37.1 percent shooting. The Miners and their above average defense should be the difference here. I’ll lay the bucket.