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2009 Rice NCAA Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

Rice 62209 The losses of QB Chase Clement and wide receiver Jarett Dillard figure to set the Rice Owls back in 2009, but how far will they fall? Get my take in this college football predictions preview. Deposit $500 at BetUS and get a Free $500 Bonus with this special offer!

Offense – 2008 was a season to remember for Rice football. The Owls went 10-3, including 7-1 in league play, and capped off their campaign with a 38-14 blowout win over Western Michigan in the Texas Bowl. The offense was superb a season ago, averaging 41.3 points per game (8th nationally), 470.9 yards per game (10th nationally), and 327.2 passing yards per game (5th nationally), behind the record setting tandem of QB Chase Clement and wide receiver Jarett Dillard. The duo went down in the record books as the best QB to wideout touchdown combo in NCAA history. But without Chase Clement under center in 2009, the offense is going to look a lot different. It’s a three-man race right now for the QB spot and no one was able to pull away this spring. Senior John Thomas Shepherd, Alabama transfer Nick Fanuzzi, and former scout team QB Ryan Lewis will take their battle into the fall. Fanuzzi would appear to have the early edge based on his three touchdown performance in the spring game. Combine the uncertainty at QB with a line that will feature three new starters, and the Owls have their work cut out for themselves. The speedy Tyler Smith is recovered from a knee injury and should be the leading ball carrier this season. Toren Dixon brings a 26-game catch streak into the 2009 season and will look to improve on his 50-catch, 598-yard campaign as the team’s new no. 1.

Defense – A stellar offense was able to make up for a defensive unit which allowed 33.3 points per game (103rd nationally) and 452.2 total yards per game (111th nationally) last season. Now this side of the ball really figures to be exposed. Eight starters do return, but the only thing they proved to be good at was forcing turnovers, coming up with 31 in 2008. The coaching staff has high hopes for defensive end Cheta Ozougwu, seeing him has a potential all-conference pick. On the other side will be Scott Solomon, the teams leading returning sack guy (4.5). The Owls will count on Terrance Garmon and Tanner Shuck to make plays as the middle men in their 4-2-5 scheme. Three starters return in Rice’s back five, but I’m not sure if that’s a good thing when you consider that the this unit was largely responsible for allowing 269.5 yards per game through the air last season (110th nationally). At least we can count on free safety Andrew Sendejo to perform at a high level. He led the team with 94 tackles in 2008, despite missing nearly three games with an injury.

Prediction: 6th Conference USA West – Last place in the West seems inevitable with the key pieces lost offensively, especially with how inconsistent the defense has been in recent years. Bet college football at Bookmaker for a 20% cash sign up bonus!

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