– Last Updated on June 8, 2018 7:51 am
2017 Football Preview – C-USA – Owls
Looking for 2017 Rice Owls predictions? The Owls have been at the back of the pack consistently in C-USA. The Owls managed just 3 wins last season as their offense is one of the worst in the nation. On top of all that, their defense consistently got torched. The bad combo has this team heading in the wrong direction right now, but there is some hope in terms of this season.
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- 2017-18 College Football Preview – Rice Owls
- Head Coach: David Bailiff
- 2016 Record: 3-9
- Rice Owls Odds to win the 2017 FBS Championship: +100000
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Can Rice surprise some teams this season? Lets break down where this team is at and if there is any hope for them.
2017 Rice Owls Predictions: Team Strengths
Downhill Running: The Rice Owls show no secret when it comes to their offensive strategy.
They like to chew up clock and will consistently run right at opponents. The strategy hasn’t been the most efficient one at times, but this offense sticks to their mentality and they have a pair of backs that will certainly prove to be huge here in 2017.
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The Owls will look to Sam Stewart this season, who made just 4 starts last year. Stewart racked up 479 yards in that time and will be at 100% entering play this season.
Along with him, Emmanuel Esukpa will join him. The 230 pound back will be used in short yardage situations and be a solid compliment to Stewart.
Line Depth: When it comes to the run game of the Owls, they know the offensive line has to be at the top of their game.
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They return all 5 starters from last season which is huge for this team.
This group battled injuries all last season, but when healthy, they have the ability to really push opposing defensive lines back.
The run game averaged 4 yards per carry last year. With a healthy line, that number could even go up here in 2017.
2017 Rice Owls Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Who Will Be Handing the Ball off?: This has become a common problem for the Owls in recent years.
The QB situation is once again bleak. Jackson Tyner, J.T. Granato and Sam Glaesmann are all going for the starting job and even though a majority of the time they hand the ball off, they’ll be asked to make some big plays with their arms if this team wants any chance at succeeding.
Whiplash: The Owls had to endure a lot of suffering from whiplash last season as they watched teams run right by them.
They allowed 30 or more points in 9 games last season while allowing over 500 yards per game.
You can’t have that when you’re a run first team. Something will have to change for this Owls defense or they’ll get ran over once again.
Rice Owls Prediction: 3-9
The Owls defense is just too suspect right now.
They just don’t have the talent up front or in the secondary to slow teams down.
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This is going to be the same case as last season. Expect the Owls be right up there in terms of points against and yards against.
It should be another long year and another last place finish in C-USA for Rice.
2017 Rice Owls Football Schedule
- Sept. 2 – vs. Stanford (tentative*)
- Sept. 9 – at UTEP
- Sept. 16 – at Houston
- Sept. 23 – vs. FIU
- Sept. 30 – at Pitt
- Oct. 7 – vs. Army
- Oct. 21 – at UTSA
- Oct. 28 – vs. Louisiana Tech
- Nov. 4 – at UAB
- Nov. 11 – vs. Southern Mississippi
- Nov. 18 – at Old Dominion
- Nov. 25 – vs. North Texas
What do you think about our 2017 Rice Owls predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2017!
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