Free College Football Picks Today: LendingTree Bowl 2022

The Rice University Owls (5-7, 1-5 Away) travel to face the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (6-6, 3-3 Home) at Hancock Whitney Stadium on Saturday. The Golden Eagles are six-point favorites, and the total is 45.5.

Rice is coming off a 21-17 loss to North Texas at Apogee Stadium on November 26, their third consecutive defeat. AJ Padgett was 13 of 22 for 229 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Juma Otoviano ran 14 times for 94 yards. He added one reception for 48 yards. Braylen Walker caught four passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Southern Miss beat Louisiana-Monroe 20-10 at JPS Field at James L. Malone Stadium on November 26. Trey Lowe threw for 183 yards and a touchdown. Frank Gore Jr. carried 24 times for 199 yards and a touchdown. Latreal Jones caught one reception for 59 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Owls won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 24-19 victory in October. Jake Constantine threw two touchdowns for Rice.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Owls are averaging 25.3 points per game for the season, 84th in FBS, and they are facing a Golden Eagles defense that has surrendered 23.5 PPG (46th). Meanwhile, Southern Miss has scored 24.3 points a game this season, 94th in the nation, and Rice is allowing 33.8 PPG (119th).

The Owls rank 71st in the country in passing yards per game (227.1) and 75th in rushing (142.9), while the Golden Eagles are 75th in passing yards allowed per game (227.6) and 47th against the run (139.7).

Southern Miss is 96th in the country in passing yards per game (209.3) and 101st in rushing (123.4), while the Owls are allowing 210.3 passing yards (46th) and 166.8 rushing yards per game (89th).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through 10 games, TJ McMahon has thrown for 18 touchdowns (14 INT) and 210.2 yards per game to lead Rice in passing. In five games away from home this season, he has five TDs (9 INT) and an average of 173.8 yards passing.

Cameron Montgomery leads the team in rushing with an average of 41.5 yards a game over 12 games. He has yet to find the end zone on the ground but has two touchdowns through the air. Bradley Rozner is the Owls’ leading receiver with 69.5 yards a game and nine TDs.

Zach Wilcke has nine passing touchdowns (9 INT) with 145.4 yards per game through eight games to lead Southern Miss. Frank Gore Jr. has been the team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 87.8 yards a game through 12 games. He has seven touchdowns. Jason Brownlee has been a key target in the Golden Eagles’ passing game. He has seven touchdowns and a 68.2 yard per game average through 12 appearances.