Well how bout it men.

This Saturday night, we will take on the Coogs in the final Bayou Bucket matchup for the foreseeable future.

I'll see everyone at HRS. Wonder how the 'new' student section will look in our first home game of the year.

Beat UH

I don't feel good about the game, but I'm confident that over 200 students will be there.

Fun fact #1: Since its birth, THE AMERICAN is 6-1 in this game (4-1 Houston 2013-2022, 1-1 RICE 2023-4)


Fun Fact #2: Rice’s win in 2023 was the only regular season AMERICAN Conference win against a “so-called” P5 team that year.

(09-02-2025 09:30 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  If the predictive nature of the SP+ ratings is found in the difference of ratings, Rice is 16 point underdog.

At CBS Sports, the spread is 12.5.

So, once again, a two play difference, more or less.

About what we faced - and overcame - last week.

I predicted a 6-point spread on another board.

I will predict a 3-point Rice win this week, to improve on our 2-point win* last week.

Prognostically speaking: Rice 23, You of Hou 20.

A welcome sight to see success running it up the middle after years of the intellectual brutality approach. I didn't expect Q Jackson to be as good as he is between the tackles, expected him to do more damage on the outside. Alexander looked great in that HB dive play as well. Would like to see the freshman Byers get some carries to spell Q more often. What was missing was more of the outside pitch play. Jenkins has to be a bigger factor, and to do that he needs better execution on the pitch plays. Saw a couple of 2 on 1 outside runs where he pitched it too early or kept it without making the tackler commit to the pitch guy. I really like the offense if the QB can make a few more plays.

Some love from ESPN:

https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...ng-alabama

Rice will bowl!

Rice 24, YooHoo 20

If we avoid turnovers as we did last week.

Defense looks good. 'nuff said about them.

I think the offense will do better, and Chase will do better, with a tough game under their belts.

We overcome the two play disadvantage, again.

(09-02-2025 01:17 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Fun fact #1: Since its birth, THE AMERICAN is 6-1 in this game (4-1 Houston 2013-2022, 1-1 RICE 2023-4)


Fun Fact #2: Rice’s win in 2023 was the only regular season AMERICAN Conference win against a “so-called” P5 team that year.

So, just to be clear, you’re using UH’s wins against UH? You’re saying that the conference caused them to obtain those wins? lol That’s new. I’ve never heard someone spin it that way before. Nevermind the what, 10 (or more?) in a row that UH won before the game in ‘23. Or the matchup last season. Whoever wins on Saturday, it won’t be because of conference affiliation. lol Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

(09-02-2025 11:05 PM)UHfan Wrote:  Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

Well said. But, to be clear, fun for Rice fans.

(09-02-2025 11:05 PM)UHfan Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 01:17 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Fun fact #1: Since its birth, THE AMERICAN is 6-1 in this game (4-1 Houston 2013-2022, 1-1 RICE 2023-4)


Fun Fact #2: Rice’s win in 2023 was the only regular season AMERICAN Conference win against a “so-called” P5 team that year.

So, just to be clear, you’re using UH’s wins against UH? You’re saying that the conference caused them to obtain those wins? lol That’s new. I’ve never heard someone spin it that way before. Nevermind the what, 10 (or more?) in a row that UH won before the game in ‘23. Or the matchup last season. Whoever wins on Saturday, it won’t be because of conference affiliation. lol Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

Fact check: UH only managed to win 7 consecutive meetings from 2011-2022.

Fun fact #3: the series was also even (7-8) from 1993 up through 2010. This era included in-conference wins against UH in both a Rice SWC Championship season and a CUSA West Division Champion season.

(09-02-2025 11:05 PM)UHfan Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 01:17 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Fun fact #1: Since its birth, THE AMERICAN is 6-1 in this game (4-1 Houston 2013-2022, 1-1 RICE 2023-4)


Fun Fact #2: Rice’s win in 2023 was the only regular season AMERICAN Conference win against a “so-called” P5 team that year.

So, just to be clear, you’re using UH’s wins against UH? You’re saying that the conference caused them to obtain those wins? lol That’s new. I’ve never heard someone spin it that way before. Nevermind the what, 10 (or more?) in a row that UH won before the game in ‘23. Or the matchup last season. Whoever wins on Saturday, it won’t be because of conference affiliation. lol Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

(09-03-2025 07:13 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 11:05 PM)UHfan Wrote:  Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

Well said. But, to be clear, fun for Rice fans.

I wouldn’t be surprised by any outcome in this game. I’ve seen some wild games when UH plays at Rice Stadium. lol

(09-03-2025 09:42 AM)UHfan Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 11:05 PM)UHfan Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 01:17 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Fun fact #1: Since its birth, THE AMERICAN is 6-1 in this game (4-1 Houston 2013-2022, 1-1 RICE 2023-4)


Fun Fact #2: Rice’s win in 2023 was the only regular season AMERICAN Conference win against a “so-called” P5 team that year.

So, just to be clear, you’re using UH’s wins against UH? You’re saying that the conference caused them to obtain those wins? lol That’s new. I’ve never heard someone spin it that way before. Nevermind the what, 10 (or more?) in a row that UH won before the game in ‘23. Or the matchup last season. Whoever wins on Saturday, it won’t be because of conference affiliation. lol Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

(09-03-2025 07:13 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 11:05 PM)UHfan Wrote:  Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

Well said. But, to be clear, fun for Rice fans.

I wouldn’t be surprised by any outcome in this game. I’ve seen some wild games when UH plays at Rice Stadium. lol

With all of the money, resources, and time that UH has put into football over the past three seasons, if they lose to this Rice team then that would be quite the embarrassment. Especially after canceling all of the future games against us to play actual HBCUs.

Certainly worse than the 2023 loss, when we had NFL-level talents in Daniels and McCaffrey.

35-17, UH.

Predicting a loss worked last weekend. Here's to it working again.

(09-03-2025 09:42 AM)UHfan Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 11:05 PM)UHfan Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 01:17 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Fun fact #1: Since its birth, THE AMERICAN is 6-1 in this game (4-1 Houston 2013-2022, 1-1 RICE 2023-4)


Fun Fact #2: Rice’s win in 2023 was the only regular season AMERICAN Conference win against a “so-called” P5 team that year.

So, just to be clear, you’re using UH’s wins against UH? You’re saying that the conference caused them to obtain those wins? lol That’s new. I’ve never heard someone spin it that way before. Nevermind the what, 10 (or more?) in a row that UH won before the game in ‘23. Or the matchup last season. Whoever wins on Saturday, it won’t be because of conference affiliation. lol Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

(09-03-2025 07:13 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 11:05 PM)UHfan Wrote:  Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

Well said. But, to be clear, fun for Rice fans.

I wouldn’t be surprised by any outcome in this game. I’ve seen some wild games when UH plays at Rice Stadium. lol

Fair enough. I don't have to have a win to be happy, but we do need to competitive, and competitive for the whole game.

(09-03-2025 11:23 AM)Ourland Wrote:  35-17, UH.

Predicting a loss worked last weekend. Here's to it working again.

Just go ahead and predict 0-12 for the season. Maybe it will make us National Champs.

(09-03-2025 01:15 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-03-2025 09:42 AM)UHfan Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 11:05 PM)UHfan Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 01:17 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Fun fact #1: Since its birth, THE AMERICAN is 6-1 in this game (4-1 Houston 2013-2022, 1-1 RICE 2023-4)


Fun Fact #2: Rice’s win in 2023 was the only regular season AMERICAN Conference win against a “so-called” P5 team that year.

So, just to be clear, you’re using UH’s wins against UH? You’re saying that the conference caused them to obtain those wins? lol That’s new. I’ve never heard someone spin it that way before. Nevermind the what, 10 (or more?) in a row that UH won before the game in ‘23. Or the matchup last season. Whoever wins on Saturday, it won’t be because of conference affiliation. lol Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

(09-03-2025 07:13 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 11:05 PM)UHfan Wrote:  Y’all have a new coach and scheme. We’ll see what happens. Here’s to a healthy and fun matchup.

Well said. But, to be clear, fun for Rice fans.

I wouldn’t be surprised by any outcome in this game. I’ve seen some wild games when UH plays at Rice Stadium. lol

Fair enough. I don't have to have a win to be happy, but we do need to competitive, and competitive for the whole game.

Me either. Winning would make me happy, but if we can’t win I’d settle for a UH win followed by a 2-8 Cougars finish.

Or heck, even a 10-0 Cougars finish and a rematch between 12-1 Rice and 13-0 UH in the CFP.

I ain’t picky!

I'm optimistic that we'll steadily improve this season, but I'm afraid that Saturday we get brought back down to earth.
We manage 2 FG's against a very athletic and motivated defense: 6 to 27.

I'm hopeful that there is more to the offense. If not, Houston will have 8 defenders within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage.

There is some light to moderate rain in the forecast (but nothing charged enough to stop play I think?). We probably wouldn’t mind a bit of a wet field.

The new helmets look great. I assume we’re wearing them this weekend.

Shoutout to the equipment staff!

Rice 20, Coog High 17