Rice vs Florida Atlantic Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 8

Florida Atlantic averages 35.0 points per game behind Caden Veltkamp and his 1,745 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, while Rice leans almost entirely on Jacurri Brown and a run game producing 239.0 yards per game.

01The Matchup

This game pairs two offenses built in opposite ways. Florida Atlantic is 4-2 and averages 422.7 yards and 35.0 points per game, driven by a passing attack producing 307.7 yards per game.

Caden Veltkamp has completed 161 of 223 passes for 1,745 yards with 15 touchdowns against 3 interceptions, and Kelby Valsin has turned 47 catches into 601 yards and 6 touchdowns. Rice is 1-6 and averages 318.7 yards and 17.0 points per game, with almost everything on the ground: the Owls run for 239.0 yards per game at 4.9 yards per carry but throw for just 79.7, and quarterback Jacurri Brown is both the leading passer, with 478 yards, and the leading rusher, with 669 yards and 6 touchdowns on 118 carries.

02Key Factors

Third down is where the gap becomes a chasm. Florida Atlantic converts 53.1% of its third downs, the best mark in this set of games, while Rice converts 30.3%. The Owls complete 48.9% of their passes at 5.9 yards per attempt, against 69.7% and 7.6 for the home team, so Rice has no realistic way to chase a deficit through the air.

Rice has also given the ball away 10 times against 5 takeaways for a minus-5 margin, and Florida Atlantic has intercepted 6 passes. The one path for the visitors is real: Rice has 12 rushing touchdowns and a 124.0-yard-per-game edge on the ground, and Florida Atlantic runs for only 115.0 yards per game at 3.3 per carry, so if Brown shortens the game the Owls can hang around.

03The Pick

Rice can make this ugly for stretches with its ground game, but an offense scoring 17.0 points per game with 3 passing touchdowns all season cannot trade scores with Veltkamp for four quarters. Florida Atlantic scores 18.0 more points per game, sustains drives at a 53.1% clip on third down, and faces a defense that has forced just 5 turnovers in 7 games. At home, with the far better quarterback and a full touchdown of cushion in the scoring averages, the favorite is the side. Editorial pick: Florida Atlantic -7.5.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.