Spread: KAN -10
Total: 61.5
M/L: KAN -385, RIC +325
RICE
Rice had it tough last week against UCLA, losing by 25 in a game in which they allowed Jonathan Franklin to rush for 214 yards, which was only part of the 348 rushing yards they allowed. Franklin was only two yards shy of a career high, so Rice must improve their rush defense, quite needless to say.
Offensively, Taylor McHargue threw for 172 yards and two TDs on 17 of 28 passing, while also rushing for 95 yards and a TD. WR Sam McGuffie caught eight passes for 63 yards and a TD.
Cameron Nwosu was impressive for special teams, blocking three extra point attempts and setting an FSB record.
The game was close just before the half, with the Owls down by only five points, but then Damien Holmes of UCLA returned a fumble 43 yards for a TD with 17 seconds to go in the half, to give UCLA a 35-24 halftime lead. Rice failed to score in the second half, while surrendering 14 points in the fourth quarter, to put the exclamation mark on what turned out to be a lopsided loss.
KANSAS
Kansas won by 14 last week against South Dakota State. Tony Pierson rushed for two TDs and Dayne Crist threw to Mike Ragone for a short TD pass, as Kansas won its first game of the Charlie Weis era.
Crist played for Weis at Notre Dame until 2009, and threw 17 of 36 for 169 yards. Crist showed off his strong arm, throwing to a wide open Kale Pick for a 43 yard gain on the initial play of the game. His accuracy was more dubious, as he overthrew Ragone in the end zone on a third-and-8 from the 17 yard line, and it was punctuated by a missed 35 yard field goal attempt by Ron Doherty. Crist overthrew on three more attempts before Kansas headed into the half up by three.
RB Pierson ran for 124 yards and scored on runs of 3 and 47 yards and will again be featured in this game against Rice, as the Jayhawks are set as 10 point favorites by college football oddsmakers. Pierson will see so many looks because leading rusher James Sims is still serving a suspension from receiving a DUI.
Rice Betting Trends:
Owls are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following an SU loss of 20+; 2-5 ATS in their last 7 overall; 4-11-1 ATS vs teams with winning records, 8-22 ATS in their last 30 non conf games; 2-8 ATS in their last 10 after allowing 450+ total yards previous game, 3-13 AT in their last 16 games vs team with winning records.
Kansas Betting Trends:
Jayhawks are 12-2 ATS in their last 14 games at home vs a team with a losing road record, 16-5 ATS vs teams with losing records in last 21, 16-5 ATS in their last 21 after allowing 20 or less previous game, 13-5 ATS in their last 18 non conf games, 2-7 ATS in their last 9 vs. Conference USA.
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