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The Tulsa Golden Hurricane take on the Rice Owls in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, Oct. 17. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Tulsa is favored by -4.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -184. Rice, meanwhile, enters as a +4.5 underdog and is +152 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 46.5 total points.
Here’s my Tulsa vs. Rice prediction and college football pick for Saturday, October 17.
Tulsa vs Rice Prediction
- Tulsa vs. Rice Pick: Tulsa -4
My Rice vs. Tulsa best bet is on the Golden Hurricane to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Tulsa vs Rice Odds
| Tulsa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -106 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | -184 |
| Rice Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -114 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | +152 |
- Tulsa vs Rice point spread: Tulsa -4.5 (-106), Rice +4.5 (-114)
- Tulsa vs Rice over/under: 46.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Tulsa vs Rice moneyline: Tulsa -184, Rice +152
Tulsa vs Rice College Football Preview
Tulsa Golden Hurricane Betting Preview: Already Out of It?
Tulsa is so much better than its 3-3 record suggests, as the Golden Hurricane have blown double-digit leads in back-to-back conference games against North Texas and Navy.
Now, they find themselves almost completely out of the American Conference race after just two games.
The defense hasn't been as dominant as we saw in the opener against Oklahoma State, and the offense wilted in the late stages last week against the Midshipmen.
Tulsa has been firmly in control of its last two games, but the team can't seem to put a complete game together.
This group has to be doing some major soul-searching this week. Tulsa has top-end talent in the American, but the execution in key situations leaves a lot to be desired.
Quarterback Baylor Hayes didn’t play too poorly last week, throwing for 268 yards and a touchdown. However, he has missed some throws and is completing just 59% with five passing touchdowns on the season.
The ground game should be better than what it has shown to this point, as there's talent in the running back room. Damari Alston and Trequan Jones have combined to rush for 559 yards and seven touchdowns.
Tulsa gives some dynamic rushing looks from a variety of different formations, but this team has to be better on early downs to give itself chances on third-and-medium. Luckily for Tulsa, the offense should be able to do that this week against Rice.
On the other side of the ball, the defense has talent along the defensive front, racking up 14 sacks this season. Tulsa has been good against the run this season, but the last couple of weeks have been concerning.
The Golden Hurricane gave up 386 rushing yards to Navy, which used quarterback run a whopping 41 times. This defense better be ready to see that style of attack this week against Rice.
Rice Owls Betting Preview: Another Option Offense
Rice has lost five games in a row, but there has been a little more fight out of this bunch than one might think.
The Owls have been in one-score games each of the last four weeks, largely in part due to the heroic effort given weekly by quarterback Jacurri Brown, who has dazzled with his rushing ability.
However, Brown was shut down against East Carolina with just 19 rushing yards and two completed passes before getting pulled in the fourth quarter.
The Owls will run the ball 85% of the time, and Brown leading the team in carries (107) and yards (514). The ground attack isn't overly explosive outside of Brown, averaging 3.2 yards per carry over the last two weeks in losses to UTSA and ECU.
Brown doesn’t throw a lot, and he's completing just 49% of his passes while averaging 72 yards per game with three total touchdown passes.
Rice has struggled situationally with poor execution on third down and in the red zone, so Tulsa's defense will have chances to get this offense off the field and put its offense in good situations.
The Rice defense has struggled against FBS competition and has specifically been shredded on the road.
The stop unit has struggled when it comes to giving up explosive plays, but the defense has bowed up in the red zone while turning its opponents away empty-handed five times over the last three games.
If this defense can get Tulsa off the field two or three times, the offense can go long stretches with possession and move it methodically. That has to be the goal for Rice in this game.
Tulsa vs Rice Pick, Betting Analysis
This line opened with Tulsa listed as a 3-point favorite, and the Golden Hurricane have taken money, pushing this line out to where it currently sits at -4. The total comes in 46.5. I like Tulsa to win this game and cover the number.
Head coach Tre Lamb talked about challenging his defense this week and even going back to coaching fundamentals. Tulsa has superior talent defensively, but this bunch has lost its mojo in recent weeks.
The team that showed up and thwarted Oklahoma State’s offensive attempts has been nowhere to be found, and Lamb talked about focusing on assignment football, tackling and blitzing the option.
This is Tulsa’s second straight week of facing the option, and the Golden Hurricane have Army on deck, so option principle defense is here to stay.
I expect this defense to tackle better and limit explosive plays, something that proved costly against Navy.
Rice’s offense ranks 125th nationally in offensive explosiveness and 110th in Havoc allowed, a surprising stat given the style of play the offense runs. I expect Tulsa’s defense to show up here.
Offensively, the Golden Hurricane have to execute better on early downs and run the football on first and second down.
The offensive line has a major size advantage over Rice’s defensive front, and establishing the run will effectively open up the passing game, where Tulsa receivers Oran Singleton Jr., Javon Ross and David Wells Jr. are so dangerous.
Look for explosive plays to be registered and for Tulsa to find itself with another lead — this time holding on and picking up the win and cover.
Pick: Tulsa -4
Tulsa vs Rice Betting Trends
