We’ve got a crossover clash on the gridiron as a pair of teams from Conference USA take the field in search of a win in the Bluegrass State. The Rice Owls are on the road as they make the trip east to face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Saturday afternoon. Rice comes in off a 37-30 home victory over UTEP in their previous contest, covering the 3.5-point line, last Friday. Western Kentucky destroyed Charlotte 59-7 on the road as they cruised their way to cover the 14.5-point line last Saturday in their most recent game. In the all-time series between the teams, the Hilltoppers have won all three meetings, including a 42-21 victory on the road in the most recent matchup on November 13, 2021 to cover the 19-point spread.
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Rice has alternated wins and losses in their last six games as they managed to turn back UTEP last Friday in their previous contest. The Owls improved to 5-4 overall and stand 3-2 in Conference USA play with the victory. Against UTEP, Rice was in a back and forth contest the whole way as neither team led by more than seven with the contest tied five times along the way. After UTEP tied the game at 30 with 2:35 to play, Rice covered 75 yards on seven plays, capped by Bradley Rozner’s 23-yard touchdown catch with 25 seconds to go for the game-winning score. Rice rolled up a 502-313 edge in total offense, held a 21-15 advantage in first downs and overcame committing the game’s only two turnovers in the win. The Owls also were beaten in time of possession by a 31:21 to 28:39 margin yet prevailed in the contest.
The Owls are 67th in the nation in passing offense with 234.4 yards per contest while they are 62nd in rushing offense with 151.2 yards per game. Rice is 60th of the 131 teams in the FBS to play this season in scoring offense with 30 points per game while they are 117th in the country by allowing 33.2 points per contest. TJ McMahon has completed 152 of 255 passes for 2,037 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He adds 169 yards and three scores on the ground. Wiley Green is eight of 13 for 69 yards and an interception while Shawqi Itraish is one of two for four yards. Ari Broussard is the team’s second-leading rusher with 91 carries for 251 yards and nine scores on the season. Cameron Montgomery (59 carries, team-high 391 yards), Juma Otaviano (28 carries, 177 yards, TD), Dean Connors (22 carries, 104 yards) and Uriah West (33 carries, 91 yards, TD) are also in the mix. Luke McCaffrey leads the team with 51 catches for 656 yards and six scores on the year. Bradley Rozner (33 receptions, 721 yards, eig ht TD), Isaiah Esdale (26 grabs, 313 yards) and Jack Bradley (20 receptions, 171 yards, two TD) are good secondary targets. Christian VanSickle has booted all 30 extra point attempts and nine of nine field goal tries with a long of 43 this season.