<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3stZ7W_0w1h5eOy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3stZ7W_0w1h5eOy00" width="1210" height="806" ></figure><h2>Game notes</h2><ul><li><b>Time and date:</b> Saturday, October 12 at 7:00 p.m. ET</li><li><b>Network:</b> ESPN+</li><li><b>Location:</b> Rice Stadium — Houston, TX</li><li>UTSA (-4)</li><li><b>Over/under:</b> 47.5</li><li><b>All-time series:</b> UTSA leads, 8-3</li><li><b>Last meeting:</b> UTSA 34, Rice 14 — November 11, 2023</li><li><b>Current streak:</b> UTSA, 8 (2015-23)</li></ul><h2>Setting the scene</h2><p>Two birds in the Lone Star State converge at Historic Rice Stadium on Saturday night.</p><p>The series between the Rice Owls and UTSA Roadrunners has strongly favored the squad from San Antonio in recent years. UTSA triumphed in all eight matchups since 2015 after Rice won the first three meetings from 2012-14.</p><p>Saturday marks the fourth meeting between head coaches Mike Bloomgren and Jeff Traylor with Traylor getting the upper-hand in each of his previous three matchups vs. the Owls. However, UTSA is off to its roughest start in the 2020s at 2-3 through five games. But Rice, which is 1-4 and 0-2 in conference, also seeks a drastic turnaround.</p><p>But the bitter feeling must sustain for either the Owls or Roadrunners, as only one can win under the lights in Houston this weekend.</p><h2>Fun fact</h2><p>The starting quarterbacks for this matchup are Owen McCown (UTSA) and E.J. Warner (Rice). Their fathers, Josh McCown and Kurt Warner, shared the quarterback room on the 2005 Arizona Cardinals.</p><h2>UTSA Roadrunners outlook</h2><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3GVvn4_0w1h5eOy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3GVvn4_0w1h5eOy00" width="1920" height="1280" ><p>UTSA (2-3, 0-1 AAC) finds itself in unfamiliar territory. Not only are the Roadrunner below .500 through five games for the first time since 2019, but they are 0-1 in conference play. From 2021-23, UTSA manufactured a 22-2 record against league opponents, but the team is 0-1 after East Carolina outlasted it 30-20 in Greenville, NC two weeks ago.</p><p>The 2024 season certainly was bound to feature growing pains for a Roadrunner team which lost longtime starting quarterback Frank Harris, who was the engineer behind two conference championships and four-straight bowl appearances. Stepping into the figurative Shaq-sized shoes is Owen McCown, who spearheaded the team’s first-ever bowl win last December. McCown has been remarkably efficient in wins and when he’s clicking, the Roadrunners are tough to stop. Both UTSA victories featured three McCown passing touchdowns on a completion rate of 72 percent or greater. But UTSA’s losses, which all saw 20 points or fewer, involved one McCown touchdown and two interceptions, with two sub-50 percent completion showings.</p><p>The potential for him to thrive is present, and UTSA can accelerate his growth by improved pass protection. The Roadrunners are right outside the bottom 10 of the FBS in sacks allowed at 3.0 per game and protecting their starter is essential against a Rice defense which racks up sacks with ease.</p><p>UTSA entered 2024 with a crowded backfield of veterans, but after the run game surprisingly stalled in the first three weeks, the Roadrunners unlocked it via redshirt freshman Brandon High Jr. High is now the team’s leading rusher after posting a combined 166 yards on 16 carries against FCS Houston Christian and East Carolina, combining for two touchdowns over that span. He’s one skill position player to watch, and the others include the dynamic receiver pairing of Willie McCoy and Devin McCuin.</p><p>McCoy is the explosive home run threat, averaging over 20 yards per reception as the Roadrunners’ receiving yards leader. McCuin serves as the perfect foil as a reliable screen and short-yardage specialist, taking a team-high 30 receptions for 196 yards and three touchdowns.</p><p>Defense is more of the strength of this Roadrunner team which presents a slew of established veterans in its front. UTSA presents as much size as anybody in the AAC at defensive tackle, sending out the massive duo of Brandon Brown and Joe Evans to plug the run. Add a talented linebacking corps featuring Jamal Ligon, Martavius French, and Jimmori Robinson (team-high 3.0 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss) to the mix and opponents aren’t gaining much push with their running backs. UTSA only allows 106 rushing yards per game at an average of 2.8 yards, causing teams to resort to the air to attack the Roadrunners.</p><p>The problem is, teams are finding success with this approach. UTSA is 123rd in pass defense with a per game allotment of 272 yards. This defense is susceptible to allow explosive plays over the top as East Carolina produced three 40+ yard passes in the AAC opener, one week after Texas did the same in Austin. UTSA will look to cornerback Zah Frazier (two interceptions on the year) and free safety Ken Robinson (who returned from injury for the ECU game) to buck this trend. One other trend the defense must break is the propensity for penalties. UTSA averages 76 penalty yards per game, providing another obstacle the defense must overcome when trying to get off the field.</p><h2>Rice Owls outlook</h2><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4YGyct_0w1h5eOy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4YGyct_0w1h5eOy00" width="1920" height="1281" ><p>Rice (1-4, 0-2 AAC) is not witnessing the follow-up act it envisioned after its first 6-win season since 2014. The Owls came equipped into 2024 with boatloads of experience, primarily on the defensive side, but it hasn’t translated to wins. Rice suffered three 20+ shortcomings in its first three battles against FBS competition.</p><p>Then during a home game against Charlotte where Rice finally started fast, everything evaporated in the second half. The Owls squandered a 10-point halftime lead and fell to the 49ers, 21-20, after missing a field goal at the buzzer. Now they aim to recover and earn their first AAC win while bowl eligibility remains in play.</p><p>One of the issues plaguing Rice is offensive firepower. The Owls dropped 69 on their FCS opponent to skew some of their offensive stats, but they have yet to eclipse the 20-point threshold on FBS competition this year. Rice landed an experienced quarterback in E.J. Warner this offseason who was a regular 300-yard passer at Temple. Warner is showing increased comfort in Rice’s pro-style offense as time progresses, resetting his season-high in passing yards in two consecutive weeks — hitting 254 vs. Charlotte.</p><p>Adding verticality to the offense was essential. Now Rice just needs to limit the turnovers after throwing six interceptions. The Owls are a -4 in the turnover department this season, but that only scratches the surface of their offensive shortcomings. They’ve only scored on 11 of 17 red zone possessions with two failed fourth down conversions against Charlotte playing a part in the struggles.</p><p>However, there’s still plenty to like about Rice’s offense, especially in the run game. Dean Connors is a bona fide star with 369 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and he also doubles as the team’s receptions leader with 29 on the year. Connors is supported by Taji Atkins and Quinton Jackson in a backfield where the top three rushers are all averaging at least 6.6 yards per carry.</p><p>Similar to UTSA replacing Frank Harris, Rice is still working on replacing top-end talent on its offense too. With Luke McCaffrey off to the NFL, Matt Sykes is stepping up into the No. 1 receiver role with 24 catches and 293 yards on the year. But an emerging threat in that facet of the game is tight end Elijah Mojarro who caught four passes for 73 yards against Charlotte as an excellent tackle-evader.</p><p>Defensively, Rice is among the best in the country at getting to the quarterback. The Owls are tied for fifth nationally in sacks per game at 3.6 and tied for sixth in tackles for loss per game at 8.4. Outside linebacker Josh Pearcy and defensive tackle Michael Larbie are leading the charge in the backfield, generating 3.5 sacks each and nine tackles for loss collectively.</p><p>Given those stats, surprisingly enough, Rice’s specialty on defense is containing the air. Rice checks in at ninth in the nation in fewest passing yards allowed per game. Opponents haven’t been the most efficient against Rice, completing 56 percent of passes. However, the Owls struggle in allowing explosive plays. Charlotte essentially won the last game on three completions that spanned 153 yards as its offense produced next to nothing on its other series. Thus, star strong safety Gabe Taylor and cornerback Sean Fresch are the players to watch in the secondary which hope to limit those explosive plays and keep Rice’s pass defense among the FBS elite.</p><h2>Prediction</h2><p>The series has been dominated by UTSA recently, but the Frank Harris variable is finally removed from the equation. The Roadrunners still present a viable passing threat in Owen McCown but the quarterback run game isn’t as prevalent in a post-Harris offense. UTSA’s propensity to allow sacks combined with Rice’s pass rush is a dangerous combination which could favor the Owls, but UTSA makes up for this with the pressure it brings up front with its defensive tackles and Jimmori Robinson.</p><p>There won’t be a gluttony of points, and there should be a slew of turnovers generated from the constant duress these quarterbacks will face. This game will be close throughout, but the explosiveness of UTSA’s offense through wide receiver Willie McCoy will be the difference between the AAC rivals.</p><p><b><i>Prediction: UTSA 28, Rice 20</i></b></p></div></body>

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2024 Week 7 Preview: UTSA Roadrunners @ Rice Owls

UTSA (-4) Over/under: 47.5. Last meeting: UTSA 34, Rice 14 — November 11, 2023. Current streak: UTSA, 8 (2015-23) Two birds in the Lone Star State converge at Historic Rice Stadium on Saturday night. The series between the Rice Owls and UTSA Roadrunners has strongly favored the squad from...

2024 Week 7 Preview: UTSA Roadrunners @ Rice Owls

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