Owls visit WKU Hilltoppers in Week 1 College Football Betting Clash

Rice visits WKU on Thursday, hoping to send the Hilltoppers to a loss while also covering the spread in college football betting action at L.T. Smith Stadium.

Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick

The visiting Rice Owls opened as 14.5-point underdogs in this one at Sportsbook and most sportsbooks tracked here at Odds Shark. No total had been posted as of writing time check the live lines pages in the coming days to see where the number opened.

Odds Shark computer prediction handicapping models run on this game pick a 52-15 victory for the Hilltoppers. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NCAAF matchups here.

Rice Owls vs WKU Hilltoppers Matchup

Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

WKU bring a 12-2 record (9-4-1 ATS) to the Week 1 betting matchup against the 5-7 Rice Owls, who are 6-6 ATS against the spread. Over under betting has seen WKU go 9-4-1 so far and the Owls go 7-5. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and WKU vs Rice injuries news.

The game pits the WKU Hilltoppers, currently No. 2 in our Odds Shark NCAA Football Power Rankings, against the Rice Owls, who rate No. 119 in the latest survey.

Statistical Matchup

Offensively, the game matches up the WKU Hilltoppers No. 3-ranked offense (44.29 PPG) against a Rice Owls defense that ranks No. 109 at 35.83 PPG. The WKU Hilltoppers passing attack has averaged 371.71 yards per game, more than the Rice Owls give up through the air (257.17 YPG on average).

In comparing defenses, the Rice Owls own the league's No. 82-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 199.14 yards per game when on the road. WKU, on the other hand, rates No. 69 this week in generating rushing yards at home.