KC Star Rice preview

[The PonyGrad]

FACTS & STATS: Site: Rice Stadium (70,000) -- Houston, Texas. Television:None. Home Record: SMU 2-1, Rice 0-2. Away Record: SMU 0-1, Rice 0-1. Neutral Record: SMU 0-0, Rice 0-1. Conference Record: SMU 1-0, Rice 0-0. Series Record: SMU leads, 46-40-1.

GAME NOTES: The Rice Owls will try to cap off their three-game homestand on a high note, as they host the SMU Mustangs in Conference USA play this weekend.

The Owls have dropped their first two games of this current homestand and both by the same score of 30-13. After losing to Northwestern on September 18th, Rice was dealt a setback by Baylor last weekend. The team now sits at 1-3, with its lone win coming over North Texas, 32-31.

As for the Mustangs, they just completed a three-game homestand with a 41-24 loss to fourth-ranked TCU last Friday. The defeat snapped a short two-game win streak and dropped SMU to a level 2-2. This will be just the team's second road game and first since opening the season with a loss at Texas Tech on September 5th.

SMU leads Rice in the all-time series, 46-40-1, and that includes a 31-28 victory in last year's meeting.

The Mustangs hung tough with highly-ranked TCU this past week, but a late INT return for a TD sealed the 41-24 victory for the Horned Frogs. Trailing 35-24 midway through the fourth, QB Kyle Padron tried to rally the Ponies before his only pick was returned for a score. Padron finished the night with 169 yards and two scores through the air, and he has now passed for 10 TDs against four INTs for the season. Darius Johnson (20 catches, three TDS) and Aldrick Robinson (273 receiving yards, four TDs) are Padron's main targets and they combined for 10 catches, 133 receiving yards and a score versus TCU. Zach Line also enjoyed a terrific game last week, as he toted 17 times for 139 yards and a TD. It was a rather impressive performance considering the opponent and Line has now rushed for 415 yards, averaging 7.8 yards per carry.

SMU's defense has held its own this season and didn't do too bad of a job against TCU last week. The unit surrendered 375 total yards, including 190 on the ground, to TCU's potent attack, while forcing a pair of turnovers. The Ponies are better against the run then they showed last week, surrendering just 109.0 ypg for the season, but they have generated just five turnovers and that is an area in need of improvement. Ja'Gared Davis is off to a fast start for the Ponies and he has provided a nice pass rush with team highs of nine TFLs and four sacks to his credit.

The Owls simply couldn't get much offense going last weekend, as they managed just 296 total yards, including only 92 rushing, in a loss to Baylor. The offense has struggled for the most part this season, so last weekend's effort was no surprise, as Rice is averaging just 310.8 total ypg. Turnovers have also been an issues for the Owls, who have committed 10 thus far. Last weekend, QB Nick Fanuzzi threw a pair of INTs and finished the game with 204 yards and no TDs. The Owls have just three passing TDs on the year and Fanuzzi has only one despite having taken the most snaps. TB Sam McGuffie is proving to be this unit's most effective player, as he has rushed for 159 yards, while leading the team with 19 catches and 165 receiving yards.

Defensively, Rice was pushed around by Baylor, which ran for 188 yards and threw for 268 more. Baylor completed an efficient 20-of-28 pass attempts with three TDs versus the Owls, who are giving up 260.8 ypg through the season. Opponents are also completing passes over 63 percent of the time against Rice, a far too high rate. A lack of pressure is partly to blame, as Rice has come up with just six sacks in four games. Corey Frazier has been the most consistent defender for Rice and he had 12 stops and fumble recovery last weekend. He now has a team-best 34 tackles for the year.

SMU is a little better on both sides of the ball and that is the reason why the Ponies should come away with the victory this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: SMU 34, Rice 24



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