Free NCAAF Pick: Owls vs. Fighting Irish Odds
Looking for Rice Owls vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Free NCAA picks & NCAA odds? NCAAF betting sees the Owls taking on the Fighting Irish on 9/12 at Notre Dame Stadium, in Notre Dame, IN. This free NCAA football pick is based on matchup analysis and documented handicapping data tracked by CappersPicks since 2004, with a focus on identifying the strongest betting angle for this Owls Fighting Irish matchup.
2026 NCAAF Handicapping – Rice Owls vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
(1-0) Rice Owls vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0)
Date: Sep 12, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Venue: Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, IN
NCAAF Moneyline Odds: Owls OFF | Fighting Irish OFF (Bet Now!)
Today’s NCAAF Spread Betting Odds: Owls +44.5 | Fighting Irish -44.5
NCAAF Football Gambling Total: O/U: 54.5
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Owls vs. Fighting Irish Gameday
Rice travels to South Bend for a major step up in competition against No. 3 Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium. Both teams enter at 1-0, with the Owls coming off a 31-3 victory over Houston Christian and the Fighting Irish beating Wisconsin 41-13 at Lambeau Field.
Rice’s opening win was built almost entirely on the ground. The Owls rushed for 465 yards and controlled the football for nearly 40 minutes, giving Scott Abell’s option offense an impressive start to its second season in Houston.
Notre Dame outscored Wisconsin 28-3 after halftime to turn a close game into a rout.
The Irish were only up 13-10 at halftime before taking control. CJ Carr finished with 239 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Aneyas Williams rushed for 90 yards and scored twice.
Saturday also marks Notre Dame’s first game at Notre Dame Stadium this season after opening with the Shamrock Series matchup in Green Bay. The Irish have won all five previous meetings with Rice, including a 48-17 victory in the most recent matchup in 2014.
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It’s Week 2, Rice Owls vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish, hopefully we get a great matchup.
Rice Owls vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Odds & Last 5
Notre Dame is one of the biggest favorites on the Week 2 board, laying 44.5 points at home. Rice is a massive moneyline underdog, while the total is available around 54.5 to 55.5 depending on the sportsbook.
That number asks Notre Dame to do plenty of the scoring.
Rice covered comfortably in its opener after holding Houston Christian to a first-quarter field goal and nothing else. The Owls dominated possession and the running game, but Saturday’s matchup brings a completely different level of defensive personnel.
Notre Dame also covered comfortably against Wisconsin after pulling away in the second half. The Irish scored four touchdowns after halftime and turned a three-point game into a 28-point victory.
The programs haven’t met since 2014. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 5-0 and has won the three previous meetings played in South Bend.
Fighting Irish Stats
Notre Dame’s opener wasn’t an offensive explosion from the beginning, but the Irish eventually found their rhythm. They finished with 350 total yards, throwing for 239 and rushing for 111 while scoring 28 unanswered points after Wisconsin pulled within 13-10.
CJ Carr remained in control despite some early pressure.
Carr completed 19 of 29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He spread the football among nine receivers, with Jordan Faison leading Notre Dame with 81 receiving yards.
Aneyas Williams supplied the production on the ground.
Williams rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns, accounting for most of Notre Dame’s 111 rushing yards. His second score helped the Irish turn the game into a rout during a dominant second half.
Notre Dame’s defense also contributed directly to the scoring. DJ McKinney returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, while the Irish held Wisconsin to only three second-half points and 1.4 yards per rush after halftime.
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Owls Stats
Rice couldn’t have been much more committed to the ground game against Houston Christian. The Owls rushed for 465 yards, their highest single-game total since 2004, while controlling possession for nearly 40 minutes in the 31-3 victory.
Tyvonn Byars led a deep collection of Rice runners.
Byars rushed for 104 yards, while starting quarterback Jacurri Brown added 98 on the ground. D’Andre Hardeman Jr. contributed 77 yards and a touchdown, and Quinton Jackson scored twice as the Owls repeatedly produced gains from their option attack.
Rice barely needed its passing game.
Brown threw for 18 yards on five attempts, while Gael Ochoa added 17 passing yards on five attempts. The limited production through the air wasn’t a problem because Rice consistently stayed ahead of the chains with its rushing attack.
The Owls were equally effective defensively, holding Houston Christian to 244 total yards and only three points. Rice intercepted one pass and kept the Huskies scoreless over the final three quarters, allowing the offense to continue leaning on its ground game without chasing points.
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Owls vs. Fighting Irish QB Matchup
CJ Carr is firmly established as Notre Dame’s starter after leading the Irish through their opener against Wisconsin. The junior didn’t need a huge volume of explosive plays, instead spreading the football around and helping Notre Dame steadily take control after halftime.
His efficiency becomes important against a Rice offense designed to shorten games.
Carr completed nearly two-thirds of his attempts against Wisconsin and threw both of his touchdown passes without an interception. With Notre Dame expected to have a substantial talent advantage, his job is to avoid giving Rice extra possessions while attacking when the Owls crowd the line of scrimmage.
Jacurri Brown presents a completely different challenge.
Brown is Rice’s starting quarterback and a major part of Abell’s option rushing attack. He attempted only five passes against Houston Christian, but his 98 rushing yards showed why Notre Dame has to account for him on virtually every option look.
Gael Ochoa also saw action in the opener, although Rice’s quarterback production is defined much more by the running game than its passing numbers. Carr gives Notre Dame the clear advantage through the air, while Brown’s legs are central to Rice’s plan for controlling possession.
Rice Owls vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish bottom line: Notre Dame owns the major talent advantage, while Rice brings an option rushing attack designed to control possession and shorten the game.
Rice Owls vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Betting Trends
- Rice has a 4-1 record on the Over/Under after a win in their last 5 games.
- Also, the Owls are 18-12 against the spread as underdogs in their last 30 games.
- Notre Dame is 19-1 straight up after a win in their last 20 games.
- The Fighting Irish are 21-2 straight up as favorites in their last 23 games.
- Additionally, Notre Dame is 3-0 on the Over/Under after a win in their last 3 games.
- The Fighting Irish are 14-5 against the spread after a win in their last 19 games.
Owls Fighting Irish Free Pick: Over 54.5
Here is my Owls Fighting Irish free pick: I’m playing Over 54.5 in South Bend. Notre Dame has enough offensive talent to do most of the work on this total.
The Irish scored 41 against Wisconsin despite a slow opening half. CJ Carr threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, while Aneyas Williams ran for 90 yards and two scores.
Rice will make Notre Dame defend the run all afternoon.
The Owls rushed for 465 yards in their opener, their highest total since 2004.
That came against Houston Christian, so I’m not expecting Rice to run wild. Still, Jacurri Brown and Scott Abell’s option offense can create enough scoring chances to contribute something here.
Notre Dame is the side I expect to push the scoreboard. The Irish scored 28 second-half points against Wisconsin after managing only 13 before halftime. That showed how quickly this offense can turn a modest start into a comfortable margin.
A couple of Rice scores would make this number manageable.
Notre Dame should create explosive plays once the Owls commit extra bodies against the run. If Carr stays efficient, the Irish can threaten 40-plus and leave Rice needing only modest production.
I’ll trust Notre Dame to supply most of the points and Rice to add enough. Give me Over 54.5.
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NCAAF Betting Tweet Of The Day
The Drive of the Game vs. Wisconsin
4Q | 7:57
1️⃣2️⃣ plays | 8️⃣8️⃣ yards | 6️⃣:0️⃣6️⃣#GoIrish☘️ | @MyCreditUnion1 pic.twitter.com/Z1IYgUEYwA
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 8, 2026
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