Rice Owls vs UAB Blazers Point Spread Picks

The UAB Blazers are just 3-5, and their defense has let them down as they are allowing nearly 40 points per game. The UAB pass defense is allowing almost 10 yards per attempt. Rice is 4-5 and needs two more wins to become bowl eligible. UAB is also struggling with turnover statistics, as they have turned the ball over nine times in their last five games. Rice is a very good home team. Rice has a long history of winning at home, where they are 75-50-2 ATS when laying up to -3.5 points, or listed as a dog of any number. This is the first time Rice plays UAB when they have the better record. I like Rice on the moneyline.

UAB is suffering through another nightmarish season under coach Trent Dilfer, who is 6-16 in his two years at the school. The Blazers have lost eight of nine, including a 53-18 trouncing by Memphis on Saturday and not nearly covering the generous 16-point spread. The Tigers accumulated 526 yards of offense, including 227 on the ground. The Blazers are averaging only 16.8 points their past eight games. Rice is 3-1-1 ATS its past five games and pushed as a 7-point underdog losing 27-20 to Memphis on Nov. 8 before having the week off. Rice QB E.J. Warner threw for 246 yards and two TDs and no picks against the Tigers. UAB is 0-4-1 ATS its past five games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0 points. The Blazers have only four wins against FBS opponents since Dilfer took over and they are 3-6 ATS their past nine November games. Take Rice.

A pair of Conference USA rivals clash with a shot at winning seasons, so look for both defenses to be on their A-game. UAB hasn't played since October so expect the offense to be a bit rusty. They've are on a 3-1 run UNDER the total, and have gone UNDER four of five after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game. Rice's offense is averaging just 25.2 points per game coming off a 20-0 win at Marshall last week, while the defense has allowed an average of 11 points the last three contests. Rice has scored 20 total points the last two years versus UAB and this shapes up as a defensive duel. Play UAB/Rice UNDER the total.