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Luke McCaffrey will lead the Rice Owls (4-4) into their game versus the SMU Mustangs (6-2) at Rice Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET.
The Mustangs are double-digit favorites (currently -12) in their game versus the Owls, with the over/under at 59.5 points. (On the moneyline, the Mustangs are -464 and the Owls are +347.)
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Game Info for SMU vs. Rice
- Game Day: Saturday, November 4, 2023
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPNU
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Stadium: Rice Stadium
| Favorite | Spread | Favorite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds | Total | Over Total Odds | Under Total Odds | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | -12 | -110 | -110 | 59.5 | -110 | -110 | -464 | +347 |
SMU Pick Insights
- SMU’s ATS record is 4-3-0 this season.
- When it has played as at least 12-point favorites this season, SMU is 3-1 against the spread.
- SMU has gone over in two of seven games with a set total (28.6%).
SMU Stats & Insights
- SMU has been a difficult matchup for opposing teams, ranking top-25 in both total offense (16th-best with 463.0 yards per game) and total defense (12th-best with 280.8 yards allowed per game) this year.
- SMU has been firing on all cylinders this season, as they rank seventh-best in scoring offense (40.5 points per game) and fifth-best in scoring defense (14.0 points allowed per game).
- SMU has been a tough opponent for opposing teams in the passing game, with a top-25 ranking in both passing offense (15th-best with 295.0 passing yards per game) and passing defense (eighth-best with 166.5 passing yards allowed per game) this year.
- Offensively, SMU ranks 52nd in the FBS with 168.0 rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, the defensive unit ranks 28th in rushing yards allowed per contest (114.3).
- SMU owns the 49th-ranked offense this year in terms of third-down efficiency (42.3% conversion rate), and has been more effective defensively, ranking ninth-best with a 29.3% third-down conversion rate allowed.
- With seven forced turnovers (113th in the FBS) against seven turnovers committed (14th in the FBS), SMU’s even turnover margin ranks 64th in college football.
SMU’s Best Players
- Preston Stone has thrown for 2,138 yards (267.3 ypg) to lead SMU, completing 59.4% of his passes and collecting 19 touchdown passes compared to five interceptions this season. He’s also contributed in the ground game with 118 rushing yards on 40 carries with two rushing touchdowns.
- The team’s top rusher, Jaylan Knighton, has carried the ball 83 times for 456 yards (57.0 per game), scoring four times.
- LJ Johnson Jr. has carried the ball 43 times for 248 yards (31.0 per game) and one touchdown.
- Jordan Kerley’s 319 yards as a receiver pace the team. He’s been targeted 29 times and has registered 18 receptions and two touchdowns.
- RJ Maryland has put together a 315-yard season so far with five touchdowns, hauling in 23 passes on 33 targets.
- Jake Bailey has compiled 27 receptions for 311 yards, an average of 38.9 yards per game.
- Elijah Roberts has racked up 4.0 sacks to lead the team, while also recording 5.0 TFL and 16 tackles.
- Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU’s tackle leader, has 37 tackles, 3.0 TFL, one sack, and one interception this year.
- Kori Roberson has a team-leading one interception to go along with 16 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and one pass defended.
Rice Betting Insights
- Rice is 5-2-0 ATS this year.
- In games it has played as at least 12-point underdogs this year, Rice is 1-0 against the spread.
- Rice games have hit the over in four out of seven opportunities (57.1%).
Rice Pick Insights
- In terms of total offense, Rice ranks 64th in the FBS (394.6 total yards per game) and 89th on the other side of the ball (392.3 total yards allowed per contest).
- Rice ranks 33rd in the FBS with 33.3 points per game on offense, and it ranks 84th with 27.8 points allowed per game on the defensive side of the ball.
- Rice’s passing attack has been leading the way for the team, as it ranks 13th-best in the FBS with 303.5 passing yards per contest. In terms of defense, it is ceding 245.1 passing yards per game, which ranks 99th.
- Rice ranks eighth-worst in rushing yards per game (91.1), but it has been more effective on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 72nd in the FBS with 147.1 rushing yards allowed per contest.
- In terms of third-down efficiency, Rice ranks 31st in the FBS (44.0% third-down conversion percentage) and 53rd on defense (36.4% third-down rate allowed).
- Rice has registered nine forced turnovers (93rd in the FBS) and committed 11 turnovers (65th in the FBS) this season for a -2 turnover margin that ranks 85th in the FBS.
Rice’s Best Players
- JT Daniels leads Rice with 2,362 yards on 173-of-272 passing with 19 touchdowns compared to six interceptions this season.
- The team’s top rusher, Dean Connors, has carried the ball 58 times for 337 yards (42.1 per game), with four touchdowns this year. He’s proven to be a dual threat, hauling in 338 receiving yards (42.3 per game) on 28 catches with two receiving touchdowns.
- Juma Otoviano has racked up 209 yards on 56 carries with four touchdowns.
- McCaffrey has collected 41 receptions this season and his team-high yardage total sits at 692 (86.5 yards per game). He’s been targeted 71 times and has eight touchdowns.
- Rawson MacNeill has racked up 290 reciving yards (36.3 ypg) and two touchdowns this season.
- Coleman Coco has collected 2.5 sacks to pace the team, while also picking up 4.0 TFL and 28 tackles.
- Plae Wyatt is the team’s top-tackler this year. He’s collected 52 tackles, 3.0 TFL, and one sack.
- Gabe Taylor has picked off a team-leading two passes. He also has 38 tackles, 1.0 TFL, one sack, and two passes defended to his name.
