Charlotte vs Rice Odds
| Charlotte Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15.5 -110 | 61.5 -110o / -110u | +500 |
| Rice Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15.5 -110 | 61.5 -110o / -110u | -720 |
Charlotte travels to Rice in a Conference USA showdown between two programs heading in opposite directions.
Rice has been one of the pleasant surprises through the halfway point of the college football season. The Owls have already blown past their regular season win total of three after winning four of their first seven games.
Last week, Rice survived Louisiana Tech in overtime thanks to a defensive stand on a two-point conversion attempt — though that came against a third-string freshman quarterback.
Now, the Owls match up against a Charlotte program that has hit rock bottom. The 49ers are coming off an embarrassing 19-point loss to Florida International after entering as two-touchdown favorites and going down, 34-0, in the first half.
The loss resulted in the firing head coach Will Healy after a 1-7 start. How Charlotte will respond is an important factor in this matchup.
Charlotte 49ers
The 49ers faithful had high hopes entering this season with quarterback Chris Reynolds coming back for his sixth year to play alongside a loaded receiving core.
The Niners opened their first drive of the season with Reynolds connecting on a 52-yard touchdown pass against Florida Atlantic, but it's been downhill since.
Reynolds was injured in that matchup and missed the next two games. In his return, the 49ers upset Georgia State, 42-41, as 20-point underdogs. But the season has spiraled out of control after losing the last four games.
Reynolds and the passing attack have taken a step backward during the losing streak. The sixth-year quarterback is still averaging 8.1 yards per pass attempt and 260 yards per game, but he’s been bitten by the turnover bug with nine interceptions in his last five starts.
To Reynolds' defense, he hasn’t gotten much help from a rushing game that's averaging 3.3 yards per carry (111th nationally). Plus, the offense is constantly playing from behind as the defense ranks dead last in the country, allowing 44 points per game against FBS foes.
The 49ers are allowing 520 yards per game and 7.2 yards per play, both ranking 130th in the country. They’ve been one of the worst units in the country, allowing 5.3 yards per rush (123rd) and 10.5 yards per pass (131st).
Rice Owls
Rice has continued its unprecedented run through the first seven games of the season.
The Owls had covered in five straight games before last week's one-point victory over Louisiana Tech. The program notched two upset victories as double-digit underdogs this season against Louisiana and UAB.
Now, Rice matches up against a reeling Charlotte program that will have interim head coach Pete Rossomando at the helm.
Rice’s offense should have no issue moving the ball against a Charlotte defense that’s been nonexistent. The Owls utilize a well-balanced offense that averages 4.0 yards per carry.
Running back Cameron Montgomery is averaging 7.3 yards per carry and saw his workload increase last week against LA Tech.
Quarterback TJ McMahon has been serviceable this season, averaging 7.8 yards per pass attempt this season. However, he’s also had issues taking care of the football, racking up 10 interceptions in his seven starts this season.
The Rice defense will need to focus on slowing down Reynolds and his big receiving corps, but the Owls allow 7.5 yards per pass attempt against FBS foes, which ranks 85th in the nation.
Charlotte vs Rice Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Charlotte and Rice match up statistically:
Charlotte Offense vs Rice Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 58 | 106 | |
| Line Yards | 53 | 26 | |
| Pass Success | 63 | 69 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 97 | 52 | |
| Havoc | 84 | 64 | |
| Finishing Drives | 70 | 100 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Rice Offense vs Charlotte Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 73 | 118 | |
| Line Yards | 84 | 119 | |
| Pass Success | 59 | 131 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 114 | 122 | |
| Havoc | 98 | 131 | |
| Finishing Drives | 98 | 101 |  |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 114 | 108 |
| PFF Coverage | 130 | 82 |
| SP+ Special Teams | 88 | 28 |
| Seconds per Play | 25.9 (51) | 30.1 (127) |
| Rush Rate | 42.5% (124) | 54.7% (59) |
Data via CollegeFootballData.com (CFBD), FootballOutsiders, SP+, Pro Football Focus and SportSource Analytics.
Charlotte vs Rice Betting Pick
If you told me before the season that this matchup had a 17-point spread, I would've been certain that Charlotte was pegged as the favorite. But fast forward two months, and the on-field results have been night and day for these two programs.
Rice has continued to exceed expectations and has won four of its last six matchups. However, it has only one victory by double digits this season. Now, they’re favored by three possessions, which is a number that has ballooned out of control.
Though Charlotte is coming off its worst performance of the season, I'm not anticipating it to lay down the rest of the season.
This 49ers program is led by a sixth-year senior Reynolds, who's surrounded by a trio of stud receivers that includes 6-foot-3 Grant DuBose, who ranks ninth in the nation with seven touchdown receptions.
Rice has been in close games all season, and I don’t expect that to change in this matchup. Charlotte’s offense will put up enough points to keep this game within reach late in the fourth.
I’m taking the points with Charlotte and will even be dabbling on the moneyline for some longshot parlays.
Pick: Charlotte +17 ⋅ Play to +14.5 |
