The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Rice Owls clash Saturday in a week 11 C-USA college football matchup from L.T. Smith Stadium.
The Rice Owls will try to find some consistency, alternating wins and losses in each of their last 7 games after a 37-30 win over UTEP last time out. TJ McMahon has thrown for 2,037 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 59.6% passing while Cameron Montgomery’s rushed for 391 yards to lead the Owls on the ground and Ari Broussard is right behind with 251 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns this season. Bradley Rozner leads the Owls in receiving with 721 receiving yards along with 33 receptions and 8 touchdowns while Luke McCaffrey has a team-high 51 grabs for 656 yards and 6 TDs this season. On defense, Chris Conti has a team-high 53 total tackles with 21 solo tackles while Josh Pearcy has a team-high 5.5 sacks as well this season.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will try to build on a 59-7 win over Charlotte last time out for their third win in their last four games. Austin Reed has thrown for 3,171 yards, 28 touchdowns and 6 interceptions on 68% passing while Kye Robichaux has a team-high 458 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns and Davion Ervin-Poindexter and L.T. Sanders have combined for 669 rushing yards this season with Ervin-Poindexter logging 3 TDs. Malachi Conley has a team-high 64 catches for 863 yards and 7 touchdowns while Daewood Davis has 56 catches for 755 receiving yards and 6 scores. Michael Mathison also has 42 grabs for 436 receiving yards and Jaylen Hall has 427 receiving yards as well this season. On defense, JaQues Evans has a team-high 85 total tackles including 53 solo tackles while also logging a team-high 6.5 sacks. Kahlef Hailassie and Derrick Smith each have 3 sacks apiece as well this season. Upton Stout also has a team-high 3 intercelptions as well this season.
Rice is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games while the over is 5-0 in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record. Western Kentucky is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games against a team with a winning record and 10-2 ATS in their last 12 conference games while the under is 5-0 in their last 5 games overall.
I get the case to be made across the board here, but I’m still leaning towards Western Kentucky here mainly because they just have the offense that’s fully capable of making life hell for Rice and we’ve seen Rice be challenged defensively in spots as of late. I think the Hilltoppers come in here and rough up the Owls and get a big win here. Give me Western Kentucky laying the points.