Houston at Rice - 2023 Matchup Preview

Saturday, September 9th 2023 (7:00 PM EDT)
Houston -7.5 (51.0) (0) Open: 0.0
Rice 43 - Houston: 41

Cougars (4 - 8) (6 - 6 - 0)
Coach Dana Holgorsen (28 - 22)
Avg Score : 29 - 23 (31 - 20 on Road)
Record Prediction: 3.8 - 8.2 (#122)
'23 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Our Line: Rice -6.5 (SP+ -0)
Projected Score: HOU: 23 - RICE: 29 (52)
HOU Win prob: 73% | Cover: 49%
HOU Travel: 4 miles

Owls (6 - 7) (8 - 5 - 0)
Coach Mike Bloomgren (18 - 40)
Avg Score : 19 - 33 (24 - 32 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 8.1 - 4.9 (#43)
'23 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
HOU Players
RICE Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Houston's 2023 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/2	Houston vs UTSA	+2.5	59.5	W 17 - 14	U	Y
Sat 9/9	Houston at Rice	-7.5	51.0	L 41 - 43	O	N
Sat 9/16	Houston vs TCU	+7.5	64.0	L 13 - 36	U	N
Sat 9/23	Houston vs Sam Houston	-11.5	37.0	W 38 - 7	O	Y
Sat 9/30	Houston at Texas Tech	+8.5	52.0	L 28 - 49	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Thu 10/12	Houston vs West Virginia	+3.0	49.5	W 41 - 39	O	Y
Sat 10/21	Houston vs Texas	+24.0	60.5	L 24 - 31	U	Y
Sat 10/28	Houston at Kansas State	+17.5	61.0	L 0 - 41	U	N
Sat 11/4	Houston at Baylor	+3.0	58.5	W 25 - 24	U	Y
Sat 11/11	Houston vs Cincinnati	-3.5	53.5	L 14 - 24	U	N
Sat 11/18	Houston vs Oklahoma State	+6.5	56.5	L 30 - 43	O	N
Sat 11/25	Houston at UCF	+15.5	61.5	L 13 - 27	U	Y

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Houston's Schedule

Rice's 2023 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/2	Rice at Texas	+35.5	59.0	L 10 - 37	U	Y
Sat 9/9	Rice vs Houston	+7.5	51.0	W 43 - 41	O	Y
Sat 9/16	Rice vs Texas Southern	-35.5	60.0	W 59 - 7	O	Y
Sat 9/23	Rice at South Florida	-2.5	56.5	L 29 - 42	O	N
Sat 9/30	Rice vs East Carolina	-3.5	47.0	W 24 - 17	U	Y
Sat 10/7	Rice vs UConn	-10.0	47.5	L 31 - 38	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Thu 10/19	Rice at Tulsa	+3.0	56.5	W 42 - 10	U	Y
Sat 10/28	Rice vs Tulane	+10.0	55.0	L 28 - 30	O	Y
Sat 11/4	Rice vs SMU	+12.0	59.5	L 31 - 36	O	Y
Sat 11/11	Rice at UTSA	+13.5	53.5	L 14 - 34	U	N
Sat 11/18	Rice at Charlotte	+0.5	46.5	W 28 - 7	U	Y
Sat 11/25	Rice vs Florida Atlantic	-5.0	46.5	W 24 - 21	U	N
Tue 12/26	Rice vs Texas State	+3.5	58.5	L 21 - 45	O	N

Important Stats (2022)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
HOU	.33	47%	29.1	46%	3.38	142	49%	314	4.76	.22	43%	22.8	42%	44%	3.86	69.9	1.5	1.2
RICE	.16	42%	19.1	41%	2.99	141	44%	233	3.56	.32	44%	32.9	45%	44%	4.38	53.7	2.5	1.5

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
HOU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
RICE		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2022

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
HOU Offense	13	29.1	31	47.5%	4.76	1.5	23	456	142	314	4.6	42%	57%	46%	49%	14%	.33
RICE Defense	13	32.9	32	44.1%	4.38	1.5	-	-	-	-	-	49%	50%	45%	44%	15%	.32

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
HOU Defense	13	22.8	19.5	43%	3.86	1.2	-	-	-	-	-	47%	53%	42%	44%	18%	.22
RICE Offense	13	19.1	23.9	41.9%	3.56	2.5	20	374	141	233	4	51%	47%	41%	44%	20%	.16

Additional Stats 2022

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Houston	13	29:52	23.5	45%	67%	7.8	69.9	1.5	1.2	6.8	2.2	3	30.2
Rice	13	32:49	20.1	42%	44%	6.1	53.7	2.5	1.5	4.1	1.5	1	28.1

Run Game Stats (2023)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
HOU Offense	13	42%	46%	30.8	142.1	4.6	17	.19	3.38	69%	9%	1.01
RICE Defense	13	49%	45%	-	-	-	-	.28	3.47	67%	9%	1.22

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
HOU Defense	13	47%	42%	-	-	-	-	.13	2.79	83%	12%	1.08
RICE Offense	13	51%	41%	35.4	141.4	4	17	.15	2.99	83%	11%	1.01

Pass Game Stats (2023)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
HOU Offense	13	57%	49%	25.9	38.5	314	8.2	12.1	40	10	.48	1.6	30%	40%	.64	5%	2
RICE Defense	13	50%	44%	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	.41	1.8	31%	33%	.43	6%	2.3

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
HOU Defense	13	53%	44%	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	.33	1.6	34%	35%	.38	6%	2.1
RICE Offense	13	47%	44%	17.9	31	232.8	7.5	13	23	20	.23	1.6	33%	32%	.28	9%	2

Houston's Power Ratings
Houston's Power Rating: -6.49 #97
Houston's Offense Rating: 13.48 #95
Houston's Defense Rating: 14.57 #113
2023 Talent Rating: 670.25 #49
Blue Chip Ratio: 8% #53
Houston's 2023 Expected Record: 3.80 - 8.20
Houston's 2023 Overall SP+ Rating: -8.3 #95
Houston's Offense SP+ Rating: 25.5 #73
Houston's Defense SP+ Rating: 32.5 #104

Average Talent
Average Big 12 Talent Rating is 669.44
Average Power Five Talent: 738.21
Average FBS Talent: 573.89

Power Ratings Matchup
Houston: -6.49 Rice: -1.09

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Houston: -8.3 Rice: -8.3

Rice's Power Ratings
Rice's Power Rating: -1.09 #57
Rice's Offense Rating: 21.53 #29
Rice's Defense Rating: 10.32 #76
2023 Talent Rating: 466.78 #100
Blue Chip Ratio: 0 #75
Rice's 2023 Expected Record: 8.10 - 4.90
Rice's 2023 Overall SP+ Rating: -8.3 #95
Rice's Offense SP+ Rating: 26.8 #63
Rice's Defense SP+ Rating: 33.2 #106

Average Talent
Average American Athletic Talent Rating is 471.63
Average Power Five Talent: 738.21
Average FBS Talent: 573.89

Houston Scoring
Offense: 29.1 PPG
Offense on Road: 31
Defense: 22.8 PPG
Defense on Road: 19.5

Houston's 2023 Record
Record: 4 - 8
Record vs Spread: 6 - 6 - 0
Over/Under Record: 5 - 7
Record on Road: 1 - 4
Record vs Spread on Road: 2 - 3 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 1 - 2 - 0
Record as Road Fav vs Spread: 0 - 1 - 0

Projected Score
Rice 29
Houston 23

Projected Total Points: 52

Rice Scoring
Offense: 19.1 PPG
Offense at Home: 23.9
Defense: 32.9 PPG
Defense at Home: 32

Rice's 2023 Record
Record: 6 - 7
Record vs Spread: 8 - 5 - 0
Over/Under Record: 7 - 6
Record at home: 4 - 3
Record vs Spread at home: 5 - 2 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 6 - 2 - 0
Record as Home Dog vs Spread: 3 - 0 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2025	09/06	Rice	9	Houston	35	Houston -13.5	Houston	38.5	Over
2024	09/14	Houston	33	Rice	7	Houston -3.5	Houston	43.5	Under
2023	09/09	Rice	43	Houston	41	Houston -7.5	Rice	51.0	Over
2022	09/24	Houston	34	Rice	27	Houston -17.5	Rice	52.5	Over
2021	09/11	Rice	7	Houston	44	Houston -7.5	Houston	50.0	Over
2018	09/01	Rice	27	Houston	45	Houston -25.5	Rice	55.5	Over
2017	09/16	Houston	38	Rice	3	Houston -23	Houston	53.5	Under
2013	09/21	Rice	26	Houston	31	Rice -4	Houston	0
2012	09/29	Rice	14	Houston	35
2011	10/27	Houston	73	Rice	34
2010	10/16	Rice	34	Houston	31
2009	11/28	Houston	73	Rice	14
2008	11/29	Rice	56	Houston	42
2007	10/13	Houston	56	Rice	48
2006	09/02	Rice	30	Houston	31
2005	11/26	Houston	35	Rice	18
2004	09/05	Rice	10	Houston	7
2003	08/30	Houston	48	Rice	14
2002	08/31	Rice	10	Houston	24
2001	09/01	Houston	14	Rice	21
2000	09/01	Rice	30	Houston	27

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Rice	6	3	5 Overs
Houston	15	5	2 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	13 - 8	4 - 4	2 - 2	2 - 2
Road Teams	8 - 13	4 - 4	2 - 2	2 - 2

(#97) HOU at (#57) RICE

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	HOU	RICE
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#97	#57
SP+SP+	#95	#95
Perf GradeGrade	#99	#91
OffenseOff	#72	#102
DefenseDef	#113	#73
Spec TeamsST	#111	#90
TalentTal	#49	#100
Blue ChipsBC%	#53	#75

Houston Injury Report

Rice Injury Report

Houston on Offense


CategoryCat	HOU Off	RICE Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#72	#73
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	#95	#76
SP+SP+	#73	#106
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Houston Run Game


CategoryCat	HOU Off	RICE Def
Run GameRun	#102	#94
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#62	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#62

Houston Pass Game


CategoryCat	HOU Off	RICE Def
Pass GamePass	#63	#44
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#46	#89
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

Rice on Offense


CategoryCat	RICE Off	HOU Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#102	#113
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	#29	#113
SP+SP+	#63	#104
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Rice Run Game


CategoryCat	RICE Off	HOU Def
Run GameRun	#84	#92
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#95	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#101

Rice Pass Game


CategoryCat	RICE Off	HOU Def
Pass GamePass	#109	#114
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#127	#122
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

Program Comparison
RICE 5 Year Profile: Improving Below Avg G5
'23 Profile: Up to Average G5

HOU 5 Year Profile: Declining Top G5
'23 Profile: Down to Average G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Rice Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Rematch from Week 2
Houston 7.5 (51.0)
Rice won vs Houston this year (43-41)

Previous Matchups
Houston beat Rice last year (35-9)
Houston beat Rice in 2024 (33-7)
Rice beat Houston in 2023 (43-41)

HOU's OC Dana Holgorsen (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Donovan Smith (Tr)	255	396	64%	2800	22	13	7.1
Ui Ale	4	8	50%	69	1	0	8.6

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Parker Jenkins	99	464	3	4.7	31
Donovan Smith (Tr)	138	429	6	3.1	35
Stacy Sneed	48	282	1	5.9	58
Tony Mathis (Tr)	41	170	0	4.1	23

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Sam Brown	61	815	3	13.4	53
Joseph Manjack	46	577	6	12.5	49
Matthew Golden	38	404	6	10.6	39
Stephon Johnson Jr.	23	269	3	11.7	49

View Houston's Full Roster

HOU's DC Doug Belk (been DC for 3 years)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
A.J. Haulcy	90	1	1	2
Malik Robinson	73	2	2	1
Jamal Morris	59	2	2	5
Isaiah Hamilton (Tr)	46	2	1	4

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Nelson Ceaser	36	10	7	3	0
Jamaree Caldwell	26	9	7	0	0
David Ugwoegbu (Tr)	41	6	3	2	3
Anthony Holmes Jr.	20	5	3	3	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
Jamal Morris	59	2	2	5
Malik Fleming (Tr)	39	2	0	5
Isaiah Hamilton (Tr)	46	2	1	4

RICE's OC Marques Tuiasosopo (been OC for 3 years)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
JT Daniels (Tr)	181	287	63%	2443	21	7	8.5
AJ Padgett	71	117	61%	721	8	6	6.2

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Dean Connors	121	771	7	6.4	57
Juma Otoviano	92	326	4	3.5	24
Luke McCaffrey	15	117	0	7.8	40
Ari Broussard	29	91	0	3.1	16

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Luke McCaffrey	71	992	13	14.0	51
Dean Connors	43	403	3	9.4	80
Boden Groen	39	383	3	9.8	31
Landon Ransom-Goelz	26	380	3	14.6	44

View Rice's Full Roster

RICE's DC Brian Smith (been DC for 3 years)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Myron Morrison	68	3	1	4	0
Plae Wyatt	65	3	1	2	5
Gabe Taylor	46	1	1	2	8
Chris Conti	45	3	1	1	0

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Chike Anigbogu	18	3	2	0	0
De'Braylon Carroll	38	8	2	5	0
Jonathan Jean	34	4	2	0	1
DJ Arkansas	31	2	2	2	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Tre'Shon Devones	38	2	0	0	9
Gabe Taylor	46	1	1	2	8
Tyson Flowers	23	2	1	0	5