PREMIUM
AAA's HAWAII BOWL BLOWOUT (December 24th!)
(NCAAF) Fresno State vs. Rice,
Point Spread: -2.00 | -115.00 Rice (Home)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -2.00 | -115.00 Rice (Home)
Result: Win
This is an 8* BLOWOUT on Rice.
As the oddsmakers have confirmed, these teams are pretty evenly matched, but for a number of different reasons I think that Rice will find a way to get the job done at the end of the night. Both teams had challenging years, but each would overcome to reach the postseason and the reward has been a trip to Hawaii to close their seasons, one looking to build some momentum heading into the 2015 season with a victory. The Bulldogs were 3-6 in mid November, but rallied to finish the regular season at 6-6. Fresno State lost to Boise State in the MWC championship game, trying to recover from losing QB Derek Carr and receiver Davantae Adams was a struggle for the team all year. The Bulldogs averaged only 233.8 passing yards per game in 2014 after recording 400 through the air last season. Brian Burrell performed adequately, he finished with 2,576 yards and 22 passing TD's. The Bulldogs will try to test Rice's suspect secondary, but the Owls can counteract the weakness by employing one of their strengths as they led the Conference USA with 35 sacks. And that's significant, as Fresno State's offensive line allowed 36 sacks to opposing defenses this year. The Owls would lose their first three of the year, but would then rattle off six straight wins before a loss at Marshall on November 15th. Rice has three capbable backs of making plays on the ground, including QB Driphus Jackson who had 360 this year. Jackson though has a big opportunity as Fresno State is even worse than Rice against the pass, ranking 116th out of 125 FBS teams in pass efficiency defense. It's hard to find an edge in this one, but when it comes right down to it, I think the OWLS balanced offense and pass rush will prove to be the difference today.
AAA Sports
As the oddsmakers have confirmed, these teams are pretty evenly matched, but for a number of different reasons I think that Rice will find a way to get the job done at the end of the night. Both teams had challenging years, but each would overcome to reach the postseason and the reward has been a trip to Hawaii to close their seasons, one looking to build some momentum heading into the 2015 season with a victory. The Bulldogs were 3-6 in mid November, but rallied to finish the regular season at 6-6. Fresno State lost to Boise State in the MWC championship game, trying to recover from losing QB Derek Carr and receiver Davantae Adams was a struggle for the team all year. The Bulldogs averaged only 233.8 passing yards per game in 2014 after recording 400 through the air last season. Brian Burrell performed adequately, he finished with 2,576 yards and 22 passing TD's. The Bulldogs will try to test Rice's suspect secondary, but the Owls can counteract the weakness by employing one of their strengths as they led the Conference USA with 35 sacks. And that's significant, as Fresno State's offensive line allowed 36 sacks to opposing defenses this year. The Owls would lose their first three of the year, but would then rattle off six straight wins before a loss at Marshall on November 15th. Rice has three capbable backs of making plays on the ground, including QB Driphus Jackson who had 360 this year. Jackson though has a big opportunity as Fresno State is even worse than Rice against the pass, ranking 116th out of 125 FBS teams in pass efficiency defense. It's hard to find an edge in this one, but when it comes right down to it, I think the OWLS balanced offense and pass rush will prove to be the difference today.
AAA Sports
