Oregon at Rice

It is easy to look at this game and see a 4-0 team playing a team that lost to Gonzaga by 38 on the road, and then at home to N Texas by 2. Oregon has a good team, but this will be the first time travelling this season, and it is going to a place that is not comfortable to favored visitors. Rice has been in this situation alot. Last year Memphis came in here with their 33-4 team, and as a 15 point favored survived by 5. UCONN brought in an Omeka Okafor lead team a few years ago as an 11 point favorite and won by 9. The bottom line is only twice in 5 years has a favoroite come in here and won by double digits. Rice stands 10-3 as a home dog, with 5 outright wins. Oregon has not been a double digit road favorite but 3 times in the last decade! They are 0-3 in that role, with an outright loss. Rice is much better than they have shown, and with a big team coming in, they will show what they have. Almond is the best player in conference USA, and he has already topped 30 twice this season. We look at this game as a classic overlay, and we will back the Owls in this one.