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Rice Football 22: Cajuns Insider gives his take on Owls vs Louisiana

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Rice Football is set for a big game this weekend against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. Cory Diaz of The Daily Advertiser tells us what to expect.

Cory Diaz, the Louisiana football beat reporter for The Daily Advertiser, was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and Louisiana.

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Rice Football 2022 Game Preview: Louisiana

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Rice football takes on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns as non-conference play continues. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Fresh off their first win of the 2022 season, Rice football looks to establish a winning streak in their final home game of nonconference play. The 1-1 Owls host the 2-0 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns under the direction of first-year head coach Michael Desormeaux. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup.

Kickoff time | 6:30 PM CT
Venue | Rice Stadium – Houston, Tx
TV | ESPN+ (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs Louisiana on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week. Find us on the podcast page or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. (And consider leaving us a 5-star review while you’re at it.)

Sizing up the contenders

A win for Rice football on Saturday would give the Owls a winning record through three games for the first time under head coach Mike Bloomgren. It would also put the program on strong footing to reach a bowl game by ensuring no worse than a 2-2 split in nonconference play with a challenge against crosstown rival Houston looming.

On the other side of the ball, Louisiana was a perennial 10+ win team under former head coach Billy Napier, now at Florida. But expectations haven’t fallen much even though there’s been a change in leadership. This game could serve as one step closer to a fourth consecutive double-digit win season for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Series History

All Time | Louisiana leads, 3-2
Last Five | Louisiana leads, 3-2
Last Meeting | Home 1989, Louisiana won 18-3

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Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | McMahon – 26/44 (59.1 percent), 339 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT / Green – 8/13 (61.5 percent), 69 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Montgomery – 10 carries, 100 yards (10.0 yards per carry), 0 TD / Broussard – 32 carries, 96 yards (3.0 yards per carry), 3 TD
Receiving | Rozner – 4 receptions, 107 yards (26.8 yds/rec), 2 TD / McCaffrey – 9 receptions, 97 yards (10.8 yds/rec), 0 TD
Tackles | Lockhart – 9 / M. Williams, Morrison – 8 / Fresch – 7
Pass Breakups | Dunbar, Narcisse, Morrison – 1
Interceptions | Taylor, Chamberlain – 1

Louisiana Notables

Passing | Fields – 23/41 (56.1 percent), 314 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT / Wooldridge – 19/24 (79.2 percent), 237 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Rushing | Smith – 18 carries, 74 yards (4.1 yards per carry), 1 TD / Kibodi – 14 carries, 63 yards (4.5 ypc), 0 TD
Receiving | Stephens Jr. – 3 receptions, 103 yards (34.3 yards per reception), 1 TD / Jefferson – 5 receptions, 80 yards (16.0 yds/rec), 1 TD
Tackles | Ossai, Pedescleaux – 12 /  Six others tied with six
Pass Breakups | Bishop – 2 / Garror, Jones, Trahan – 1
Interceptions | Five tied with one

Louisiana X-Factor | Corrall the pass

Rice football had a big day through the air against McNeese State, helping to unlock the run game and making the Owls’ offensive attack look as lethal as it has looked in quite some time. Rice is going to run the football and remains committed to the ground game, but forcing the Owls to rely solely on their running game and eliminating big pass plays is a must.

Louisiana allowed 4.3 yards per attempt in a 24-7 win over Southeastern Louisiana and 6.2 yards per attempt against Eastern Michigan. Rice averaged 9.0 yards per attempt in their win over McNeese this past weekend. Everything else was working when the aerial attack was pacing the offensive attack. What happens if it’s not working to that degree? Can Rice still create explosive plays and score?

Rice X-Factor | Stay on schedule

Rice was faced with 16 third down attempts in each of their first two games. The Owls converted five of 16 against USC and then doubled their efficiency, converting 10 of 16 against McNeese State. It was no coincidence their point total exploded from 14 to 52 in that small two-game sample.

Scoring 50+ points a game isn’t sustainable, but for Rice, staying on schedule and controlling the football is part of the roadmap to get there. The Owls were able to generate explosive plays against McNeese State, but will be in for a tougher test against Louisiana. When those big plays are limited, they’ll need to find a way to move the chains.

Injury Report (Subscribers only)

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One Final Thing

Rice football has yet to play any team that’s truly in their weight class. USC is currently ranked in the Top 10 nationally and McNeese is now an 0-2 FCS squad. Louisiana looks to be the most evenly matched opponent of the first three games, but most measures have the Ragin’ Cajuns a good bit better than the Owls. For example, SP+ tabs Rice as the 120th best team in the country. Louisiana sits at 61.

Against USC, we learned that the offense can be productive when they’re avoiding mistakes and playing well up front. Against McNeese, we learned that Rice can dominate an inferior opponent, particularly in the trenches. What can we learn about the Owls this week?

More: Path to six — charting Rice football’s course to a bowl berth ($)

A loss wouldn’t disqualify this team from their objectives, but it would require five conference wins to reach .500 and a six-win season rather than four. Conversely, a win would be massive, most likely checking in near the top of the Owls’ best wins under Bloomgren to date.  Either way, it will be a good litmus test to determine where this program stands with conference play looming in just a few weeks.

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Rice Football 2022 Game Preview: McNeese State

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Rice football takes on the McNeese State Cowboys in their 2022 home opener. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Rice football and McNeese State meet in a Week 2 matchup of teams desperate to bounce back from disappointing opening weekend losses. Regardless of what shakes out at the quarterback position, the Owls will look to even their record and get their season back on track against the Cowboys. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup.

Kickoff time | 6:30 PM CT
Venue | Rice Stadium – Houston, Tx
TV | ESPN3 (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs McNeese State on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week. Find us on the podcast page or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. (And consider leaving us a 5-star review while you’re at it.)

Sizing up the contenders

Rice football left the first quarter with smiles this past weekend, all tied up 7-7 with USC. Then Wiley Green was knocked out of the game on the first of three pick-sixes, largely attributable to dropped passes by his wide receivers. If Rice wants to reach the postseason, they more than likely have to win this game.

McNeese was able to keep things a little closer in their first game, but the results were the same. The Cowboys fell 40-17 to the Montana State Bobcats on the road. They’ll be looking for some sort of momentum before they return home the following weekend to play Alcorn State in their first home contest of the year.

Series History

All Time | n/a
Last Five | n/a
Last Meeting | n/a

Get the Inside Scoop

Get access to practice reports, analysis and special features during the week when you subscribe to our Starting Lineup Tier on Patreon today. If you want updates on how Rice football plans to attack this week’s opponent, position battles, standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. Don’t miss out! Join now!

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Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | McMahon – 6/15 (40 percent), 65 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT / Green – 8/13 (61.5 percent), 69 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Montgomery – 6 carries, 99 yards (16.5 yards per carry), 0 TD / Broussard – 15 carries, 26 yards (1.7 yards per carry), 2 TD
Receiving | McCaffrey – 5 receptions, 51 yards (10.2 yds/rec), 0 TD / Esdale – 4 receptions, 38 yards (9.5 yds/rec), 0 TD
Tackles | Lockhart – 6 / M. Williams – 5 / Six others tied with four
Pass Breakups | n/a
Interceptions | n/a

McNeese Stat Notables

Passing | Kadum – 11/21 (52.4 percent), 126 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing | Durham – 3 carries, 82 yards (27.3 yards per carry), 1 TD / McMahon – 8 carries, 65 yards (8.1 ypc), 0 TD
Receiving | Matthews – 2 receptions, 76 yards (38.0 yards per reception), 1 TD / Pierce – 7 receptions, 44 yards (6.3 yds/rec), 0 TD
Tackles | Williams, Willis-Dalton – 8 / Grayson – 6
Pass Breakups | Green – 1
Interceptions | n/a

McNeese X-Factor | Get the Owls off schedule

If Rice football fans were reminded of anything in their season-opening loss to USC, it was of the vast gulf that exists between when this team is performing at the extent of its abilities to their depths. McNeese’s task is to force the Owls into a performance more closely resembling the latter by disrupting what Rice wants to do.

In practical terms, that means putting the Rice offense behind the sticks with sacks and tackles for a loss. On the other side of the ball, The Cowboys need to prove then can formulate extended drives — something they weren’t really able to do in their first outing against Montana State.

If McNeese is unable to alert the steady drum beat of the Rice offense in either capacity it’s going to be tough sailing for the visitors next weekend.

Rice X-Factor | Catch the football

Head coach Mike Bloomgren said as much in his postgame comments following the USC loss. That game has the potential to look much different if the Owls receivers simply hang on to the passes that hit their fingertips. Quarterback play can always stand to improve, but handing out richochets left and right is a recipe for disaster which the Owls now know all too well.

This offense has too many playmakers to be kept at bay for 60 minutes against an FCS squad. The talent gap should somewhat closely resemble the one that separated Rice and USC  last weekend. But if Rice turns the ball over and gives up drives and points, this could be anyone’s game.

Bottom line: Rice football needs to play clean.

Injury Report (Subscribers only)

Unfortunately, Rice football has a lot of injury questions entering Week 2, chief among them: quarterback.

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One Final Thing

There are no “supposed to’s” in college football, at least not on paper. But Rice football was “supposed to” lose to USC and Rice football is “supposed to” beat McNeese State this coming weekend. All else held equal, Rice is on track with expectations for its 2022 season, even if the jarring nature of the season opener has made the trajectory feel hazier than it might actually be in reality.

Rice can build a lot of goodwill and trust in themselves by taking care of business at home against McNeese. If they’re as talented as head coach Mike Bloomgren said he belives them to be, this game ought to end in victory.

If we get to Sunday and Rice football sits at 1-1, all will be well. So maybe perhaps the cliche of “having to go 1-0 this week” is particularly true for the next few days. Rice has to win to get the taste of that bad loss out of their mouths and prove they’ve still got the talent and discipline to achieve their goals this season.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep 123 – Rice Football vs USC Preview with Yogi Roth

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The 2022 Rice football season kicks off this weekend against USC. Yogi Roth of the Pac-12 Network is on the call and he joins the show this week.

Rice football opens its 2022 season against the USC Trojans on the road on Saturday on the Pac-12 Network. Yogi Roth is calling the game and stopped by the show this week to talk about the Trojans, Caleb Williams, Lincoln Riley and several of the prevailing storylines surrounding the program as the 2022 season begins.

You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 123.

Episode Notes

Announcements

Rice football fall camp has begun. Check out our season preview content for the Owls when you subscribe on Patreon and get access to camp reports and more.

The 2022 Conference USA Football Season Preview is available for purchase. Get the inside scoop on every C-USA team. You can get more information here.

2022 Conference USA Football Season Preview

Housekeeping

  • Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on your platform of choice. Every little bit helps.
  • Please support us on Patreon. Be the first to get the inside scoop on what’s going on with Rice football and stick around for even further analysis. That includes updates from spring practices and more. Your support matters and makes The Roost better.
    Become a Patron!

Rice Football vs USC Game Preview with Yogi Roth

  • What to expect from USC on Saturday?
  • How good is Caleb Williams?
  • Can the USC defense handle the physicality of the Rice front
  • How will the Trojans respond to adverse conditions?
  • What can Rice football do to make USC sweat?
  • How to get Pac-12 Network and watch the game

Where can you find us?

Download and subscribe to The Roost Podcast on any of your favorite podcast providers. The show is available on iTunes, GooglePlay, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and PodBean. Please consider leaving a review wherever you listen.

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Rice Football 2022 Game Preview: USC

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Rice football takes on the USC Trojans in their 2022 season opener. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

USC and new head coach Lincoln Riley hope to kick off their 2022 season with a home victory as Rice football looks to play spoiler. The Owls are as talented and deep as they’ve been under coach Mike Bloomgren thus far, but they’ll still be heavy underdogs as they travel to Los Angeles in Week 1. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup.

Kickoff time | 5:00 PM CT
Venue | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – Los Angeles, California
TV | Pac-12 Network (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs USC on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week. Find us on the podcast page or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. (And consider leaving us a 5-star review while you’re at it.)

Sizing up the contenders

Rice football enters the 2022 season in search of its first bowl berth since the 2014 season. The Owls will enter this game as heavy underdogs, but have shown the ability to go toe-to-toe with highly regarded opponents in the past, keeping things close with Arkansas into the fourth quarter of last season’s opener.

USC will introduce new head coach Lincoln Riley, former of the Oklahoma Sooners. It’s been almost five years since USC has been a Top 10 program like Trojans fans had become accustomed to. They’ll want to start the new era on the right foot with a home victory.

Series History

All Time | USC leads Rice, 2-0-1
Last Five | USC leads Rice, 2-0-1
Last Meeting | Away 1971, USC won 24-0

Get the Inside Scoop

Get access to practice reports, analysis and special features during the week when you subscribe to our Starting Lineup Tier on Patreon today. If you want updates on how Rice football plans to attack this week’s opponent, position battles, standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. Don’t miss out! Join now!

Become a Patron!

Rice Stat Notables (2022 Returning Leaders)

Passing | Green – 36/55 (65.5 percent), 414 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT
Rushing | Broussard – 114 carries, 569 yards (4.9 yards per carry), 3 TD / Montgomery – 44 carries, 256 yards (5.8 yards per carry), 2 TD
Receiving | Patterson – 38 receptions, 583 yards (15.3 yds/rec), 6 TD / Esdale (at WVU) – 29 receptions, 362 yards (12.5 yds/rec), 1 TD
Tackles | Pearcy – 57 / Taylor – 56 / Enechukwu – 49
Pass Breakups | Dunbar – 7 / Fresch – 6 / McCord – 5 
Interceptions | Taylor, Nyakwol, Lockhart – 2 each

USC Stat Notables (2022 Returning Leaders)

Passing | Williams (at Oklahoma) – 126/211 (64.5 percent), 1912 yards, 21 TD, 4 INT
Rushing | Dye (at Oregon) – 211 carries, 1271 yards (6.0 yards per carry), 16 TD / Barlow – 62 carries, 289 yards (4.7 ypc), 2 TD
Receiving | Addison (at Pitt) – 100 receptions, 1593 yards (15.9 yards per reception), 17 TD / Washington – 54 receptions, 602 yards (11.1 yds/rec), 1 TD
Tackles | Goforth – 60 / Tuipulotu – 48 / Bullock – 40
Pass Breakups | Bullock, Alford – 3 / Tuipulotu – 2
Interceptions | Alford – 3 / Bullock – 2, multiple others – 1

USC X-Factor | Play clean

USC was the 10th most penalized team in the country last season and averaged 73.8 yards per game in penalties. The Trojans 20 turnovers ranked roughly in the middle of the pack, nationally. Altogether, this wasn’t a very disciplined football team. Brining in a new head coach is supposed to change that and for USC to take care of their first game under their new headman, they need that change to come swiftly.

There’s no denying the star power and talent of the USC roster, but turnovers and penalties kill drives and render even the greatest gaps in athleticism useless when plays don’t count or the ball bounces the other way. If Riley and Co. want to get off on the right foot, they absolutely must play sound football and minimize mistakes.

Rice X-Factor | Start fast

Rice football doesn’t want this game to turn into a track meet. Controlling the clock will be something the Owls weigh heavily in their playcalling and game-planning decisions. But making their presence felt early on both sides of the ball will be much more important than ensuring the clock runs quickly.

On offense, the Owls need to hit on a big play (or two) offensively. Playing from behind against a team with as much horsepower on offense as USC could lead to a quick disaster.

On defense, Rice needs an early stop, a turnover or both. Momentum is contagious and the Owls have proven they can harness it and win big games on the road (see Marshall in 2020, UAB in 2021).

Injury Report (Subscribers only)

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One Final Thing

Leaving Week 1 healthy has to be near the top of the list when it comes to priorities for the Rice football team this week against USC. Last year they lost receivers Bradley Rozner and August Pitre before halftime, setting the team back much more significantly than a single nonconference defeat.

Beyond that, this should be an interesting litmus test for both sides of the ball. The USC offense has speed and is well stocked with playmakers. Seeing how the secondary and pass rush can endure this level of talent should be instructive when it comes to setting reasonable expectations for conference play.

Likewise, on offense, there needs to be some proof of continued progression. Veteran quarterback Wiley Green needs to show he can take care of the football and get the ball to the deepest cast of supporting skill players that he’s ever played with at one time. A few explosive plays through the air plus an effective running game would both be positive signs in this game.

If Rice can exhibit those evidences of growth and play a competitive game, the arrow should continue to point up on the Owls’ 2022 season.

How are you feeling?

For our Patreon subscribers, leave your thoughts in the comments section. How are you feeling about this game? The season? What do you need to see from Rice football this week?

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