Free Pick | NCAA | Wednesday | March 8

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Free Pick #688 Rice -6.5 over UTSA 8:30 PM CT

Rice won’t look too appetizing for most in tonight’s 6/11 Conference USA clash, playing as a modest favorite in Frisco despite riding a 2-9 run in the past 11 games. The Owls have been inconsistent down the stretch but this group wound up playing one of the toughest Conference USA schedules, having to play the clear top three teams twice each, and actually defeating North Texas on the road. UTSA was only 4-16 in league play but went 3-2 in the final five games for some late season momentum, including an 84-79 win at Rice in mid-February. Rice won by seven hosting UTSA in January but that was an overtime game. The recent pairing won by the Roadrunners featured surprising shooting success for the road team connecting at 41 percent from 3-point range while Rice uncharacteristically had 15 turnovers. UTSA was the worst team in Conference USA creating turnovers this season and was the second worst 3-point shooting team at below 33 percent as that looks like a result that will be difficult to repeat. UTSA also was the worst defensive efficiency team in Conference USA and this is a Rice offense that ranks in the top five in several key areas in the conference numbers. Rice was favored by 11.5 when these teams met a few weeks ago and was favored by seven in San Antonio in January as this number should probably be higher for the Owls in a neutral site with both teams making a similar length trip to get here.