Rice Owls vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish Predictions

Can Rice sustain drives?

Rice gained 465 of its 493 yards on the ground in a 31-3 win over Houston Christian, according to Notre Dame publication One Foot Down. Sustaining drives could help the Owls stay within SPF's +44.5, but that opener doesn't establish how well they'll run against Notre Dame.

One Foot Down's matchup preview identifies Jacurri Brown as the mobile quarterback in Rice's option offense and reports a significant injury to running back Quinton Jackson. Tyvonn Byars and D'Andre Hardeman Jr. face increased roles after rushing for 104 and 77 yards, respectively. Jackson's availability remains uncertain.

Availability and betting call

One Foot Down's final Notre Dame availability report lists safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive lineman Jason Onye out, along with offensive linemen Matty Augustine, Charles Jagusah and Chris Terek. Linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is expected back following knee surgery. Those absences warrant attention, but they don't establish a Rice betting edge.

Notre Dame's 41-13 opening win over Wisconsin supports picking the Irish to win. Covering -44.5 requires a margin of at least 45 points, and neither team's opener provides a reliable basis for projecting that gap. The spread call is Pass.

SPF lists the total at 55.5, with over -102 and under -118. Rice's rushing volume alone doesn't establish possession count or scoring pace, so the total is also a Pass. The moneyline price is unavailable; Pass.