UTSA Roadrunners (10-21) vs. Rice Owls (16-14)
March 8, 2023 9:30 pm EDT
The Line: Rice Owls -4.5 / UTSA Roadrunners +4.5 ; Over/Under: 155.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The UTSA Roadrunners and the Rice Owls meet Wednesday in Conference USA Tournament college basketball action from Ford Center. UTSA is currently 10-21 on the year. The Roadrunners finished the regular season with a win over Charlotte. As for Rice, they’re 17-14 overall after a loss to FIU on Saturday. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
UTSA Roadrunners
The Roadrunners managed a rough 7-17 record though their first 24 games this year. UTSA hit a sketchy run to finish off the year, going 3-4 with losses to Middle Tennessee, UTEP, UAB and Florida Atlantic mixed with wins over Rice, FIU and Charlotte.
Last Thursday versus Charlotte, the Roadrunners held a slim 38-37 edge at the break. UTSA hit a 40-36 advantage from there and won it 78-73. Japhet Medor led the team on 22 points and Jacob Germany doubled on 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Rice Owls
Over on the Rice side, they were 15-9 through their first 24 games this season. The Owls closed out the campaign on a rough 2-5 stretch with losses to UTSA, UAB, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte and FIU. The wins were over FIU and Western Kentucky otherwise.
On Saturday in the FIU game, Rice went into the second half with a 44-36 edge. The Owls were outscored 54-39 from there however and lost 90-83. Quincy Olivari led the way on 23 points and Travis Evee added 22 points with five assists.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll take a stab on UTSA in this one. Probably staying away, though. The Roadrunners are coming off a nice win over a pretty decent Charlotte team last Thursday. UTSA has now won consecutive games with a combined 173 points scored in that pair. These teams have met twice already, with the road team taking a win each time. First came an 88-81 Rice victory at UTSA Convocation Center on January 16, then an 84-79 UTSA win at Tudor Fieldhouse on February 16. The Roadrunners have scored 78 or more points in four of their last five games, so if they can keep that offensive fire burning I think they’ve got a good cover shot here.
