The UConn Huskies and the Rice Owls meet in week 9 college football action from Rice Stadium on Saturday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a UConn Huskies vs. Rice Owls prediction.
UConn Huskies Recap
The UConn Huskies come into this game looking to add on to their 38-23 win over Boston College last time out to sit at 5-2 this season. After this game, UConn will head home for a game against UAB.
Huskies Win 4 In A Row
Joe Fagnano has thrown for 1,918 yards and 15 touchdowns on 68.1% passing while Cam Edwards leads the Huskies in rushing with 694 yards and 7 touchdowns. Skyler Bell leads UConn’s receiving group with 58 catches for 687 yards and 7 touchdowns while John Neider has 254 receiving yards and Reymello Murphy has 228 receiving yards. Three more Huskies have 100+ receiving yards as well on the year. On defense, Bryun Parham has a team-high 61 total tackles and 8.5 sacks while Oumar Diomande has 55 total tackles and 3 sacks. Tyquan King also has 3 sacks as well on the year. As a unit, UConn’s defense has combined for 26 sacks and 5 interceptions so far this season.
Why the Connecticut Huskies will win
- Rice has lost each of its last five games against opponents from the FBS Independents.
- Connecticut has won 14 of its last 15 games as a favorite.
- Connecticut has covered the spread in seven of its last eight road games in October.
- Rice has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four games in Texas.
Rice Owls Recap
The Rice Owls come into this game looking to bounce back from a 61-13 loss at the hands of UTSA last time out to fall to 3-4 on the year prior to last week’s bye week. After this game, Rice will take on the Memphis Tigers at home.
Owls Drop 3 In A Row
Chase Jenkins has thrown for 553 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception on 67.4% passing while also rushing for 275 yards and 4 TDs. Quinton Jackson leads the Owls in rushing with 487 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns while Daelen Alexander also has 370 rushing yards and 3 TDs this season. Drayden Dickmann has a team-high 24 catches for 262 yards and 3 touchdowns while Aaron Turner also has 21 catches for 136 yards this season. On defense, Andrew Awe has a team-high 52 total tackles while Ty Morris has 45 total tackles and a pair of sacks. Tony Anyanwu also has 3 sacks and Michael Daley has 4 sacks as well this season. As a unit, Rice’s defense has combined for 16 sacks and 3 interceptions as well this season.
Why the Rice Owls will win
- Rice has won three of its last four games as a home underdog.
- Connecticut has lost 17 of its last 20 road games against opponents from the American Conference.
- The underdog has covered the spread in six of Rice’s last seven games at Rice Stadium.
- Connecticut has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six road games against opponents from the American Conference.
Total Points Facts
- Ten of Rice’s last 11 games against non-conference opponents at Rice Stadium have gone OVER the total points line.
- Six of Connecticut’s last seven games as a favorite have gone OVER the total points line.
UConn Huskies vs. Rice Owls Prediction
I’m on UConn here. I just don’t trust Rice in this spot to slow down what’s looking like a really solid UConn passing attack, and I think that the Owls are in some trouble in this game. The Owls got obliterated by UConn despite not being that far behind in total yardage, and I think more of the same could be on tap here. I’ll roll with UConn in this one.