NCAA Football Betting – Rice Owls at Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Two offensive machines who don’t do very much on the defensive side will tangle on Saturday in Conference USA play, as the Rice Owls (3-2 SU & ATS) visit the state of Oklahoma to face off against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (4-0 SU, 3-0 ATS) in NCAA college football action that is set to kick off at 8 PM ET at Chapman Stadium (artificial turf) in Tulsa.
Saturday, October 4
BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: TULSA -14
Here are some of the NCAA football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* RICE has covered four of its last six games
* RICE has lost 12 of its last 18 games SU
* RICE has played eight of its last nine games OVER the total
* RICE has lost 18 of its last 25 road games SU
* RICE has played 13 of its last 15 road games OVER the total
* TULSA has won its last five games SU
* TULSA has covered its last four games
* TULSA has won its last six home games SU
Also….
* TULSA has won four of the last five meetings SU
* RICE is 4-2-1 ATS in the last seven meetings
* The last six meetings have gone OVER the total
* RICE has won and covered the last five meetings as the road team
Last week’s 77-20 blowout over North Texas was an indication of what the Owls are capable of, when they catch the right opponent. Rice has a capable quarterback, to be sure, in Chase Clement (66%, 14 TD’s, 3 INT’s).And the Owls are rolling up 425 yards per contest. Jarrett Dillard is justifying his status as one of the top receiving threats in the country, with 39 catches, ten for touchdowns. And James Casey, despite just one TD reception, is right behind Dillard with 519 yards.
Of course, the Owls are facing a club that is reaching new levels right now.
Tulsa’s offense has been functioning at a monster pace, converting on 69% of its third down opportunities. The Golden Hurricane is 1st in total offense (SIX HUNDRED yards a game!) and 1st in scoring offense (55 ppg). Tulsa is also averaging 5.5 yards per carry, and this could be too much for the Rice defense, which currently ranks 110th overall.
Clement, who supplies the lion’s share of Rice’s rushing element (283 yards), which is a sign of an inherent weakness in this attack, is second in the nation in passing yards. The top spot is occupied by Tulsa’s David Johnson, who is hitting 74% of his throws with 19 touchdowns. Johnson has been phenomenal in taking over for Paul Smith, who was legendary on the Tulsa campus.
Yes,Tulsa’s stop unit appears to be a little better. But Rice is not a complete pushover. The Owls defeated a Memphis team that went to the New Orleans Bowl last season, then were competitive with nationally-ranked Vandy, sitting with a 21-21 tie at the half. Clement and his connections are first-rate. And this is by far Tulsa’s biggest defensive test.
In a shootout for sure, let’s take the points with Rice, the 14-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA football betting odds.
