The NCAAF betting menu features a clash between Houston and Rice on Saturday, with the host Cougars trying to win both for fans supporting them and bettors backing them.

The Cougars are 2-0 so far on the season, and 2-0 ATS vs. the number. The Owls, meanwhile, are 1-1 and 2-0 ATS. Over under bettors have seen Houston go 1-1 and the Owls go 1-1 on the totals.



View Rice vs Houston Odds and Stats.

Betting Line: Several shops tracked by OddsShark (including Sportsbook) set the point spread at 4 in favor of the home side. NCAA football bettors had to wait for the Sportsbook over under value, which was not available at press time (check the live lines pages here for the latest totals updates).

Power Rankings / Prediction: This game matches up the No. 48 (Cougars) and the No. 55 (Owls) teams in the league, according to our current NCAAF Power Rankings at OddsShark. A 58-23 result in favor of the Cougars is predicted by handicapping models.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Houston's No. 24-ranked offense (42 PPG) against a Owls defense that ranks No. 96 at 33 PPG. The Cougars passing attack has averaged 280 yards per game, more than the Owls give up through the air (227 YPG on average).

Defensively, the Owls feature the league's No. 56-rated road run defense, allowing 202 yards per game. Houston, meanwhile, ranks No. 5 in rushing offense at home.

Rice was a 23-14 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against Kansas. They covered the 6-point spread as favorites, while the total score (37) made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors. Charles Ross tore up the turf for 157 rushing yards in the latest Owls game, a 23-14 win over the Jayhawks at Rice Stadium.

Houston was a 22-13 Sportsbook in its last match on the road against Temple. They covered the 3-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 35 sent UNDER bettors to the payout window. Ryan Jackson went over the 100-yard mark (109) in his team's latest effort as Houston defeated Temple by a score of 22-13 on Saturday.


Rice Owls Trends:
When playing in September are 3-7
When playing on grass are 2-8
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When an underdog on the road are 2-8

Houston Cougars Trends:
When playing in September are 7-3
When playing on grass are 7-3
After outgaining opponent are 7-3
When favored at home are 8-2

A few Owls at Cougars trends to consider:
Rice is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Rice's last 7 games when playing Houston
Rice is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Houston
Houston is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Rice
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 7 games when playing Rice
Houston is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games


Next up:
Rice home to Florida Atlantic, Saturday, September 28
Houston at UTSA, Saturday, September 28