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

Backers of the Owls have seen them go 1-2 and 2-1 ATS so far this season, while the Thundering Herd are at 1-2 and 1-2 ATS. In totals betting, the Thundering Herd are 1-1, while the Owls are 2-1.



View Marshall vs Rice Odds and Stats.

Betting Line: If you're siding with the visitors in this one you'll find the Thundering Herd listed as 3.5-point favorites. Meanwhile, the over under line will be set shortly.

Power Rankings / Prediction: According to the Power Rankings here at OddsShark it's the No. 109-rated Owls and the No. 36-rated Thundering Herd in this matchup. Predictive formulas point to a 34-23 win for the Thundering Herd on Saturday.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Rice's No. 66-ranked offense, averaging 28.7 PPG, against a Thundering Herd defense that ranks No. 114 this week at 40 PPG. The Owls aerial game is averaging 208.3 yards per game, less than the Thundering Herd secondary allows through the air, 238.3 YPG per game.

In comparing defenses, the Thundering Herd own the league's No. 98-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 331 yards per game when on the road. Rice, on the other hand, rates No. 62 this week in generating rushing yards at home.

Last time out for Marshall, they were a 27-24 loser as they battled Ohio at home. Marshall covered in the match as a 5.5-point underdog, while 51 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. Rakeem Cato led the way last time out for the Thundering Herd, connecting for 432 passing yards, but failing to earn the victory in a 27-24 loss to the Thundering Herd at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

Rice was a 56-37 loser in its last match on the road against Louisiana Tech. They covered the 21-point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 93 sent OVER bettors to the payout window. Charles Ross ran through the Louisiana Tech defense for 116 yards in Rice's last game, but the Owls still lost a 56-37 decision at Joe Aillet Stadium.


Marshall Thundering Herd Trends:
When playing in September are 3-7
When playing on turf are 7-3
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When playing within the conference are 6-4

Rice Owls Trends:
When playing in September are 3-7
When playing on turf are 4-6
After being outgained are 5-5
When playing within the conference are 5-5

A few Thundering Herd at Owls trends to consider:
Marshall is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Marshall is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Marshall is 3-14 SU in its last 17 games on the road
Rice is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Rice's last 15 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Rice's last 6 games
Rice is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games


Next up:
Marshall at Purdue, Saturday, September 29
Rice home to Houston, Saturday, September 29