Rice
Owls
Spread
+44.5
NCAAF Predictions
Rice Owls vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish Predictions
Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 3:30pm EST at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
@
Notre Dame
Fighting Irish
Spread
-44.5
50%
50%
Spread
Rice Owls +44.5
Notre Dame Fighting Irish -44.5
Moneyline
Rice Owls
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Total
Over 55.5 (-102)
Under 55.5 (-118)
Who wins this game?
Professional Picks
2 available
Professional Picks On This Game
Eli Rothstein
Spread pick
Percy Walker
Spread pick
Rice vs. Notre Dame Prediction: What Rice's Rushing Start Means at +44.5
Analysis updated September 12, 2026 at 5:27 AM CDT
Rice's rushing performance gives this matchup a clear question: can the Owls sustain drives against No. 3 Notre Dame? One game against Houston Christian can't answer it.
Can Rice sustain its ground game?
Rice gained 458 rushing yards in its 31-3 opening win over Houston Christian, its highest total since 2004, according to Rice University Athletics. Sustaining drives on the ground could help the Owls limit possessions against Notre Dame, which SPF favors by 44.5 points.
That opener doesn't establish how Rice will run against this defense. Without evidence of Notre Dame's ability to stop the run, Rice's production alone doesn't justify backing the Owls to cover.
Prediction and betting decision
Rice University Athletics lists Notre Dame at No. 3 with a 1-0 record entering Saturday's game at Notre Dame Stadium. The ranking and home field make the Irish the likely winner, but there's no supported estimate of their winning margin. Pass on the spread.
SPF lists the total at 55.5, with over -102 and under -118. The available offensive and defensive evidence doesn't support a scoring projection, so pass on the total as well. The moneyline price is unavailable: Pass.
Pick
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Confidence
low
Betting lean
Pass