Rice Owls Predictions & 2008 College Football Picks
August 26, 2008
David Bailiff is looking for improvement on a 3-9 record in his first full season as Rice head football coach in 2007. Eight returning starters on offense and seven on defense should be enough to get the Owls at least four wins this season for a slight improvement. But a bowl berth looks out of the question. Let’s see what the Info Plays team feels about this squad as they give their 2008 Rice Owls football predictions and season preview below.
Offense:
Chase Clemens and Jarett Dillard automatically give the Rice Owls a chance to win this season. Clement and Dillard have connected on 32 career touchdowns passes, only six behind the NCAA record shared by two other QB/WR tandems. Clement has plenty of other options at his disposal, too. Of all the Rice TD’s last season, only one was scored by a player who is not returning. The Owls will be younger, but more athletic on the offensive line, which is a good sign considering Rice ranked 103rd nationally at only 110.9 rushing yards/game last season.
Last year’s opening starter at tailback, C.J. Ugokwe, is back rom injury. Justin Hill is coming off spring shoulder surgery and hopes to be back in time to be Ugokwe’s backup. Scott Mitchell excelled at tackle last year despite weighing just 270 pounds. He’ll lead the offensive line. Helping take double coverages away from Dillard will be tight end James Casey. He’s an athlete who volunteered to play defensive end last year and recorded a sack against Southern Miss. Casey earned some Freshman All-American honors last season.
Defense:
Rice ranked 118th in total defense last year by giving up 510.8 yards/game. They also ranked 118th in scoring defense, surrendering a ridiculous 42.9 points/game. Last year’s woes could be this year’s blessings. Bencil Smith is back at full strength as a starting safety. Linebackers Brian Raines, Robert Calhoun and Terrance Gormon all missed time due to injuries last year, but all three return healthy this season.
Ends Cott Solomon and Cheta Ozougwu were forced to play as true freshman last season, but each could benefit from that experience this year. Both showed signs of being a force at times on the outside. The silver lining in Smith’s injury last year was the move of Andrew Sendejo fro rover to free safety, where he’s expected to make an immediate impact in the secondary.
Rice Football Predictions at Info Plays: 6th Conference USA West Division
The Rice Owls seem to take one step forward, and then two steps back. After the ‘06 season in chich the Owls made their first bowl game since 1961, head coach Todd Graham bolted for Tulsa. Offensive coordinator Major Applewhite left for the same job at Alabama. Rice fell back to what’s been reality in ‘07. Injuries piled on injuries, forcing lineups to be shuffled which added up to a 3-9 record. But Bailiff had 80 players out for spring ball, which is up from the 49 players that were there last spring, and hopes are high for the Owls to get back on a winning tear. No victoriess will be given, but home contests with SMU, Southern Miss and Marshall are very winnable within the conference.
Get another in-depth 2008 Rice Owls football preview the Rice Thresher Paper here.
Conference USA Wins Expected in ‘08: None Expected
Potential Scares/Losses: SMU, at Memphis, at Tulsa, SOUTHERN MISS, at Tulane, at UTEP, MARSHALL, HOUSTON