A bird battle in Houston

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UTSA is on the road this weekend for the final road game of the regular season against the Rice Owls. UTSA can claim their spot in and hosting duties of the conference championship game with a win at Rice. If the Roadrunners are victorious in Houston it will give them a 5-1 road record for the second season in a row.

It would also give UTSA a 2-1 record against Houston universities this season after the Roadrunners lost to the Houston Cougars and beat Texas Southern in non-conference. A win over Rice would also allow UTSA to continue a winning streak against Rice that goes back to 2015. More on that later. First some information on Rice.

Rice began in 1912 as the William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art. It is named for William Marsh Rice, a wealthy Houstonian who chartered the school in 1891. It took nearly 20 years for his dream to be fulfilled. Very quickly most people around Houston and the south dropped the first and last part of the name of the school and just called it Rice Institute.

In 1960 William Marsh Rice Institute became known as William Marsh Rice University (Still officially the full name of the university). 1960 was about the time the fortunes of the Rice football team took a turn for the not-so-good.

The same year that Rice opened as a school they fielded a football team. The 1912 team finished 3-2 and was known as the Grays. Owls became the team name in 1914. In 1915, the Owls were founding members of the Southwest Conference with Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Southwestern. Of those, Southwestern lasted a year, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State departed in the 20s.

Rice was a member of the SWC from its beginning until its end. The final Southwest Conference football game was Rice against Houston in 1995. After the end of the Southwest Conference, Rice was not one of the schools chosen by the Big 12 and so began a journey of conference exploration by the Owls. From 1996-2004 they were part of the Western Athletic Conference. In 2005 they became members of the Conference USA. Next July the Owls will join UTSA in the American Athletic Conference

The Owls have an all-time record of 486-642-32 since their first game in 1912. Since the start of the 2011 season when UTSA began its footballing adventure the Owls have a record of 54-86.

A fun fact about Rice is that it has the second smallest enrollment in the FBS level (Only Tulsa has a smaller enrollment).

UTSA and Rice have met nine times since 2012. The Owls won the first three games from 2012-2014. UTSA won five in a row between 2015-2019 and won in a shutout last year for their sixth straight win in the series. The Roadrunners and Owls did not face each other in 2020 after the game was canceled due to a COVID outbreak on the Owls.

This year's Owls have reached five wins for the first time since the 2015 season. Rice has two games, starting Saturday, to get their sixth win and reach bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2014 season when they finished 8-5.

Rice started the season 2-1, losing to USC in the first game before winning two in a row against McNeese State and Louisiana. Since that win against Louisiana Rice has gone 3-4. Three of the Owls five losses have been by two scores or more.

Through the first 10 games Rice is averaging 28 points per game and giving up 34.4 points per game. UTSA is averaging 38 points per game and giving up 28 points per game.

UTSA's offense averages 489.6 yards per game and Rice's defense is giving up 376.9 yards per game. The Roadrunners have thrown for 315.4 yards per game and run for 174.2 yards per game. The Owls defense allows 218.8 yards passing per game and 158.1 yards per game rushing.

Rice's offense averages 379.5 yards per game. UTSA's defense has allowed 416.9 yards per game to opponents. The Owls pass for 227.1 yards per game and run for 152.4 yards per game. The Roadrunner's opponents are averaging 263.1 yards per game passing and 153.8 yards per game rushing.

With the possibility of rain on Saturday turnovers could be a key component to the game. UTSA has a plus-one turnover margin. The Roadrunners have recovered five fumbles and eight interceptions. On offense UTSA has lost six fumbles and six interceptions. Rice has a minus-12 turnover differential. The Owls defense has seven interceptions and six fumble recoveries. On offense Rice has thrown 17 interceptions and lost eight fumbles.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Frank Harris continues to set himself comfortably into the top spot in several career stat lists for the Roadrunners and even pick up some national recognition. This week Harris was named a finalist to the Davey O'Brien award. His 3,039 yards passing are eighth most in the country this season. Harris has also thrown 22 touchdowns, tied for 18th in the country.

Rice hasn't had that kind of good fortune at quarterback this season. TJ McMahon has handled most of the workload, compiling a stat line of 2,102 yards and 18 touchdowns on 160 completions out of 266 attempts. Shawqi Itraish came in for McMahon in the last game. In three games this season Itraish has completed 12 of 20 passes for 100 yards.

UTSA's running back committee has become a combo of Brendan Brady and Kevorian Barnes. Brady has 146 carries for 623 yards and nine touchdowns. Barnes has 63 carries for 419 yards and five touchdowns.

The Owls also have a pair of running backs of note. Ari Broussard leads the team with 91 carries and nine touchdowns as well as 251 yards. Cameron Montgomery has 70 carries for 452 yards.

UTSA's receiving corps continues to put up strong numbers. Joshua Cephus leads the team with 73 receptions for 823 yards and scored five touchdowns. Zakhari Franklin leads in touchdowns scored with nine to go with 65 catches for 791 yards. Oscar Cardenas leads the tight ends with 17 catches for 260 yards.

Rice is led in receiving by Luke McCaffery and Bradley Rozner. McCaffery has caught 51 passes for 656 yards and six touchdowns. Rozner has caught 35 passes for 733 yards and eight touchdowns.

UTSA and Rice will battle it out at noon Saturday on the historic field at Rice Stadium. It could be cold and rainy, conditions that doomed the Roadrunners in last year's road finale in Denton. That was a learning experience for the Roadrunners that could be used this weekend.

Rice, like North Texas last year, is trying to reach six wins and bowl eligibility. Fortunately for UTSA, Rice has two games remaining to get that sixth win, this week and next week at North Texas. Unlike last year, UTSA still hasn't officially wrapped up its spot in the conference championship game although that is accomplished with a win over the Owls.

UTSA had their most complete game of the season last week against Louisiana Tech. It might be tough to follow that up against Rice. The Roadrunners do seem to be picking up steam as the season moves toward its conclusion. I see UTSA being able to keep the run going and clinch not only their spot in the conference championship but hosting duties for the second year in a row. I also predict Rice gets their sixth win next week in Denton.

My Pick: UTSA 38 Rice 17

FORUMS: UTSA Boulevard | Roadrunner Way