Rice Owls vs UTEP Miners Point Spread Picks

Rice was having a respectable season until it all came crashing down in a 56-23 loss to Charlotte, which was 1-7 straight-up coming into the game and still totaled 514 yards of offense, including 239 rushing. Rice quarterback TJ McMahon finished 18 of 33 for 218 yards and three touchdowns with an interception, but he was no match for Charlotte QB Chris Reynolds, who threw  five TDs passes with no picks. UTEP lost 24-13 to Middle Tennessee and the Miners went UNDER for the seventh time in nine games dating to last season. Gavin Hardison threw for 177 yards with a TD and interception, but the Miners otherwise had to settle for two field goals. UTEP will have an easier time against the weaker Rice defense and the Miners are 6-2 ATS their past eight after scoring fewer than 20 points their previous game and they are 6-1 UNDER after losing by double digits at home. Rice is 0-6 ATS in Thursday games. Take UTEP and the UNDER.

Rice has played better than its record indicates lately as it has lost two overtime games in its last three. The Owls do come off a 42-21 loss to Western Kentucky, which piled up 482 passing yards. Rice quarterback Jake Constantine countered with 380 yards except he threw four interceptions. Hopefully, for the Owls Constantine can cut down on the turnovers this week and he has thrown for 1,439 yards with a 61.9-percent completion rate this season. At one point this season UTEP was 5-1, but the Miners have lost three straight since, including 20-17 to North Texas on Saturday. The Miners allowed 183 yards rushing and QB Gavin Hardison went only 15 of 29 for 273 yards with a TD and interception. Rice has won and covered three of the last four meetings, including 30-16 the last meeting in 2019 and going back further, the Owls are 14-3 ATS the past 17 meetings. UTEP is 2-13-1 ATS its last 16 November games and 3-7 ATS its last 10 after a loss. Play Rice.