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One of the best wide receivers in college football will be on display when Luke McCaffrey and the Rice Owls (4-4) host the SMU Mustangs (6-2) on Saturday, November 4, 2023.
The Mustangs are expected to win by at least two scores (currently -11.5) against the Owls. The over/under for this game is 59.5 points.
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Game Info for SMU vs. Rice
- Game Day: Saturday, November 4, 2023
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPNU
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Stadium: Rice Stadium
| Favorite | Spread | Favorite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds | Total | Over Total Odds | Under Total Odds | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | -11.5 | -110 | -110 | 59.5 | -110 | -110 | -466 | +348 |
SMU Pick Insights
- SMU has posted a 4-3-0 record against the spread this season.
- When it has played as at least 11.5-point favorites this season, SMU is 4-1 against the spread.
- Out of SMU’s seven games with a set total, two have hit the over (28.6%).
SMU Stats & Insights
- SMU has been a handful for opposing teams, ranking top-25 in both total offense (16th-best with 463 yards per game) and total defense (12th-best with 280.8 yards allowed per game) this year.
- SMU has been firing on all cylinders this season, as they rank seventh-best in scoring offense (40.5 points per game) and fifth-best in scoring defense (14 points allowed per game).
- SMU has been surging on both offense and defense in the passing game, ranking 15th-best in passing offense (295 passing yards per game) and eighth-best in passing defense (166.5 passing yards allowed per game).
- SMU is putting up 168 rushing yards per game on offense this year (52nd in the FBS), and is surrendering 114.3 rushing yards per game (28th) on the defensive side of the ball.
- On the defensive side of the ball, SMU has been a top-25 unit in terms of third-down efficiency, ranking ninth-best by giving up a 29.3% third-down conversion rate. The team’s offense ranks 49th (42.3% third-down conversion rate).
- With seven forced turnovers (113th in the FBS) against seven turnovers committed (14th in the FBS), SMU’s even turnover margin ranks 66th in college football.
SMU’s Best Players
- Preston Stone has 2,138 passing yards for SMU, completing 59.4% of his passes and recording 19 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He’s also helped out on the ground with 118 rushing yards (14.8 ypg) on 40 carries with two rushing touchdowns.
- Jaylan Knighton has racked up 456 yards on 83 carries while finding the end zone four times.
- This season, LJ Johnson Jr. has carried the ball 43 times for 248 yards (31 per game) and one touchdown.
- Jordan Kerley has hauled in 18 catches for 319 yards (39.9 yards per game) to lead the team so far this season. He’s found the end zone two times as a receiver.
- RJ Maryland has caught 23 passes for 315 yards (39.4 yards per game) and five touchdowns this year.
- Jake Bailey’s 27 grabs have yielded 311 yards.
- Elijah Roberts leads the team with four sacks, and also has five TFL and 16 tackles.
- SMU’s leading tackler, Kobe Wilson, has 37 tackles and two TFL this year.
- Cale Sanders has picked off a team-leading one pass. He also has 13 tackles and one pass defended to his name.
Rice Betting Insights
- Rice is 5-2-0 against the spread this year.
- Rice is a perfect 1-0 against the spread when an underdog by 11.5 points or more this year.
- Four of Rice’s seven games with a set total have hit the over (57.1%).
Rice Pick Insights
- Rice is accumulating 394.6 total yards per contest on offense this season (64th-ranked). Meanwhile, it is allowing 392.3 total yards per contest (89th-ranked).
- From an offensive perspective, Rice is posting 33.3 points per contest (33rd-ranked). It ranks 84th in the FBS on defense (27.8 points surrendered per game).
- Rice’s pass offense has been consistently moving the chains, putting up 303.5 passing yards per contest (13th-best) this season. On defense, it ranks 99th by surrendering 245.1 passing yards per game.
- Rice’s running game has been struggling, ranking eighth-worst in the FBS with 91.1 rushing yards per game. It has been more effective on defense, surrendering 147.1 rushing yards per contest (73rd-ranked).
- In terms of third-down efficiency, Rice ranks 31st in the FBS (44% third-down conversion percentage) and 52nd defensively (36.4% third-down rate allowed).
- At -2, Rice sports the 85th-ranked turnover margin in the FBS, with nine forced turnovers (93rd in the FBS) and 11 turnovers committed (66th in the FBS).
Rice’s Best Players
- JT Daniels has racked up 2,362 yards on 63.6% passing while tossing 19 touchdown passes with six interceptions this season.
- The team’s top rusher, Dean Connors, has carried the ball 58 times for 337 yards (42.1 per game), with four touchdowns this year. He’s proven to be a dual threat, racking up 338 receiving yards (42.3 per game) on 28 catches with two receiving touchdowns.
- Juma Otoviano has run for 209 yards across 56 carries, scoring four touchdowns.
- McCaffrey paces his team with 692 receiving yards on 41 receptions with eight touchdowns.
- Rawson MacNeill’s 39 targets have resulted in 22 grabs for 290 yards and two touchdowns.
- Coleman Coco paces the team with 2.5 sacks, and also has four TFL and 28 tackles.
- Plae Wyatt is the team’s tackle leader this year. He’s collected 52 tackles, three TFL, and one sack.
- Gabe Taylor has a team-leading two interceptions to go along with 38 tackles, one TFL, one sack, and two passes defended.
