The Rice Owls and Memphis Tigers are set to clash in a pivotal AAC matchup on November 8, 2024. Rice, currently at 3-6, is striving to recover from a challenging season, while Memphis, at 7-2, seeks to secure its strong position in the conference standings. Rice’s season has faced turbulence, resulting in the dismissal of head coach Mike Bloomgren after a 2-6 start. Interim head coach Pete Alamar now leads the team, aiming to reinvigorate their play. Offensively, the Owls have averaged 21.63 points per game, with quarterback JT Daniels directing the passing attack. Defensively, Rice has allowed 25 points per game, highlighting areas needing improvement. Memphis, conversely, has demonstrated a powerful offense, averaging 34 points per game. Quarterback Seth Henigan has been instrumental, accumulating 3,880 passing yards and 32 touchdowns this season. The Tigers’ defense has been comparatively solid, conceding 20.88 points per game.

Historically, Memphis has dominated this matchup, winning the last five encounters against Rice. The Tigers’ high-powered offense will test the Owls’ defense, which has struggled to contain opponents. For Rice to stay competitive, they must sharpen their defensive schemes and maximize offensive opportunities. Betting trends favor Memphis, with the Tigers covering the spread in 4 of their last 5 road games. Rice, on the other hand, has struggled against the spread, covering in only 3 of their last 10 games. Overall, Memphis enters as the favorite, showcasing a dynamic offense and solid defense. Rice faces a tough test but has potential to surprise if they can strengthen defensively and execute effectively on offense.