Louisiana is favored by 11.5. If we really are as improved and as deep as everyone is suggesting, we should be able to beat any team outside the top 60 at home. If we win, there's a definite path to 6 wins. If we lose, I think we're bad, and we'll finish 5-7 or 4-8.

If La is a win -- there is a definite path to 5 or 6 wins.

If we dont -- Ill hold pat at 2-3

Who's hurt? Who's playing?

Louisiana by 12 seems to be the consensus, but you can find it as low as 11½ and as high as 13½.

(09-12-2022 02:55 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Who's hurt? Who's playing?

TJ McMahon was a guest on last nights Mike Bloomgren Show (from Acme Oyster House) and it sounds like there’s no question he’ll have the start again this week. Wiley’s not ready.

Cross post quoting from the McNeese game thread:

(09-13-2022 11:13 AM)Kayjay Wrote:  …
Rice was penalized 7 times, which is about average for this team last year (averaged 7.4 penalties, ranked #110 in the nation out of 130 in 2021). The best team nationally averaged 3.7 last year. In game 1 the Owls were flagged 4 times. Discipline, Discipline, Discipline...

I say if Rice can again keep it to 4 penalties or fewer, as we did in week one, then we beat those Raging Louisiana Lafayettes.
My prediction: Rice 36, LoL 34.

I'm sick of Mike Bloomgren, and I'm sick of Joe Karlgaard. I'd love to go 'negative,' but I won't.

I'm going to stick my neck out, and believe the head coach and radio broadcast team when they say that 'this is a good football team.' If we are who they say we are, then we should be able to beat an above average Sun Belt team at home, so the Owls win this one 34-27.

If we lose this game, we are the same sorry Rice team that we've been under Bloomgren since he took over. We'll start the season 1-4, and limp to a 5-7 finish. The fans will give Bloomgren pure hell, and he will not get a new contract.

Rice should cover this game, not b/c Rice is that good but Louisiana is not the same team of prior years. ULL getting some love from the big 'blowout' W from a EMU team that went to a bowl game last year.

Beneath the headline score, ULL were beneficiaries of 5 turnovers from Eastern Michigan after EMU went out to a 14-0 lead. ULL beat SE LA by 2 TD's on another +2 turnover margin while FAU just blew-out SE La by almost 5 TD's on Saturday. So ULL is up 7-0 on turnovers after two games. Gotta believe some regression to the mean is in order.

Owls keep the miscues down and a Vegas cover should be in play...we shall see if that translates to a real W.

(09-13-2022 12:19 PM)owl40 Wrote:  Rice should cover this game, not b/c Rice is that good but Louisiana is not the same team of prior years. ULL getting some love from the big 'blowout' W from a EMU team that went to a bowl game last year.

Beneath the headline score, ULL were beneficiaries of 5 turnovers from Eastern Michigan after EMU went out to a 14-0 lead. ULL beat SE LA by 2 TD's on another +2 turnover margin while FAU just blew-out SE La by almost 5 TD's on Saturday. So ULL is up 7-0 on turnovers after two games. Gotta believe some regression to the mean is in order.

Owls keep the miscues down and a Vegas cover should be in play...we shall see if that translates to a real W.

Good post. Louisiana has led a charmed life. It leads me to believe that we have a good shot at winning. If we lose, I will be very disappointed.

Louisiana currently has the longest active win streak in the nation (carrying over from last year) at 15

If we play to our potential, I think we'll win (i.e. eliminating TO's and dumb penalties).[/u]

(09-13-2022 01:29 PM)Pimpa Wrote:  Louisiana currently has the longest active win streak in the nation (carrying over from last year) at 15

And they are the two time defending SBC champions.

The Cajuns lost a lot from last year's team....but they had a lot of depth. The line is about right, I think.

Typically to get game info I just type 'Rice' and the name of the opponent ----

'rice mcneese' got me right to the game info.

'rice louisiana' breaks that method really badly.

(09-13-2022 12:04 PM)Ourland Wrote:  I'm sick of Mike Bloomgren, and I'm sick of Joe Karlgaard. I'd love to go 'negative,' but I won't.

I'm going to stick my neck out, and believe the head coach and radio broadcast team when they say that 'this is a good football team.' If we are who they say we are, then we should be able to beat an above average Sun Belt team at home, so the Owls win this one 34-27.

If we lose this game, we are the same sorry Rice team that we've been under Bloomgren since he took over. We'll start the season 1-4, and limp to a 5-7 finish. The fans will give Bloomgren pure hell, and he will not get a new contract.

If I have my affiliations correct the Sun Belt beat A&M, Notre Dame and Nebraska last week. Above average in that conference probably beats Rice.

(09-14-2022 04:18 PM)mebehutchi Wrote:  

(09-13-2022 12:04 PM)Ourland Wrote:  I'm sick of Mike Bloomgren, and I'm sick of Joe Karlgaard. I'd love to go 'negative,' but I won't.

I'm going to stick my neck out, and believe the head coach and radio broadcast team when they say that 'this is a good football team.' If we are who they say we are, then we should be able to beat an above average Sun Belt team at home, so the Owls win this one 34-27.

If we lose this game, we are the same sorry Rice team that we've been under Bloomgren since he took over. We'll start the season 1-4, and limp to a 5-7 finish. The fans will give Bloomgren pure hell, and he will not get a new contract.

If I have my affiliations correct the Sun Belt beat A&M, Notre Dame and Nebraska last week. Above average in that conference probably beats Rice.

Last time we played one of those three Sun Belt Giant Killers was a season and a half ago, and we won 20-0.

Also fun fact: This week’s opponent is rotating quarterbacks. They have planned to give they backup multiple series every game.

They also got flagged last week 12 times for 115 yards. But, like Rice, just 4 penalties in the first game.

We definitely have a chance to win if we make minimal mistakes. Rice by 3.

(09-13-2022 01:29 PM)Pimpa Wrote:  Louisiana currently has the longest active win streak in the nation (carrying over from last year) at 15

Oh yeah?

Well, in 1983 WE had the nation’s longest streak at 15 and THAT streak didn’t survive the USL @ Rice result.

History repeats!

This time around it won’t be worthy of taking down the goal posts, I’m just sayin.

I'm curious to see how their fans show. From what I remember in the 80's, they love supporting their team, and back then they were a terrible FCS program. I anticipate a good crowd. Maybe 16k real butts in seats?

(09-15-2022 01:47 AM)Ourland Wrote:  I'm curious to see how their fans show. From what I remember in the 80's, they love supporting their team, and back then they were a terrible FCS program. I anticipate a good crowd. Maybe 16k real butts in seats?

I remember that Louisiana travels well. I’m guessing they bring a big, colorful and rowdy crowd. And I hope we do the same. This game is really important. Sorta the early season pivot for us. Lose and things are really difficult. Win and our road to a bowl widens up considerably.

Rice wins a game that is tight from start to finish. 23-21.