By Greg Dempson
Pinnacle Odds: Rice +8 vs Army -8 Total 53
This is an early start Saturday game with the kick-off scheduled for 12 noon Eastern Time, (Game #309.) Rice enters this contest off a loss, (46–14,) at Western Kentucky while Army was impressive in their win vs. the Temple Owls as they won outright as 14 point road dogs, (28–13.)
In their blowout loss last week at Western Kentucky, Rice allowed 552 yards through the air, (97 on the ground,) but their passing defense won’t get tested vs. Army as the Black Knights completed only 49 passes on just 109 attempts while tossing 9 interceptions for the entire 2015 season.
Army’s game is ground and pound and Rice will have to cope with a Black Knights wishbone offense. The Owls do return nine starters on defense and based on previous meetings vs. Army defending the run will be the key to the game and Rice has been able to defeat Army the past two seasons winning both games straight up, (38–31) at home last season when laying 7 points and then (41–21,) in 2014 as 2.5 point road favorites. Army passed for 18 yards in last year’s game while rushing for 378 and in 2014 they ran for 250 yards while passing for 91 yards at home.
In Review
- We started off on the right foot in week 1 with an easy win as the Golden Hurricane was indeed “Golden” in their 45–10 rout over Fresno State, 1–0 for the 2016 season.
Quick Hits
- Rice is 36–17 ATS and +17.30-units after allowing 100 or less rushing yards last game.
- Army has not handled success well, after a straight up win they are 0–18 straight up in their following contest.
- Under head coach Bailiff Rice is 15–03 ATS and +11.70-units after allowing 100 or less rushing yards rushing in their last game.
- The Black Knights have lost their last four games straight up vs. Rice and 0–3 ATS as a home favorite last season.
- Rice is 6–0 ATS after their first loss of the season in the last six years.
- Head coach Bailiff is 31–20 ATS after playing their last game on the road.
All Systems Go
- In the first month of the season, play on all underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points that allowed a completion percentage of 58% or worse, with 9 or more defensive starters returning. This system is 36–11 = 76.6% ATS since 1992 as well as 9–1 ATS the past five seasons and 28–08 = 78% ATS the past decade.