1:00pm ET (time change) / 10:00am PT
#195-196
UAB BLAZERS @ RICE OWLS
** Play on: OVER THE TOTAL
*Optimum OU line: 52 or less points
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Game One takes us to Conference USA territory, as the host OWLS take on the hot BLAZERS. Sharp OU bettors are already aware that RICE has been the best OVER team in the Conference this season, with a 5-1 O/U record. Their first five games went OVER by an average of +8.4 points per game. We also know that some sort of a SHOOTOUT almost always occurs when these two schools are playing each other. The last six meetings between UAB and RICE have seen 73 points (last year), 71 points, 51 points, 68 points, 67 points, and 71 points. That’s a nice gaudy average of 66.8 combined points per game. In addition to averaging more than 425 offense yards per game, UAB has also put up 28 or more points in four out of five games. They’re ranked #1 in the Conference in rushing with 237.6 yards per game. Historically, this is the BEST ‘Over’ situation for the visiting Blazers. They have gone 12-3 O/U in their last 15 games versus LOSING ( < .500) opponents. We’ll also be on a RICE ‘Over’ in THEIR best situations. The OWLS have gone 9-3 O/U in their last 12 home games dating back to last season… 27-10 O/U after accumulating > 275 yards in their last game… and 9-3 O/U in their last 12 games versus WINNING (> .500) opponents. So everything is in pace. And the clincher is that BOTH teams are horrific on defense when their opponent gets to the Red Zone. Both RICE and UAB are tied for DEAD LAST in all of College Football in defensive Red Zone TD percentage… at 100% each. That means that every time their respective opponents gets inside the Red Zone, they come away with a TD every time (instead of a field goal). Based on the pointspread and OU line, the predicted final score is: UAB 34.5 - Rice 18. Our database models forecast a final score of 38 to 22. That’s about 7 to 8 points higher than the current OU line… which triggers a 2* Play for our service.