NCAA Football Week 4: Texas Longhorns vs. Rice Owls

Offensive powerhouse Rice Owls look for the upset of a lifetime

Longhorns vs. Owls Overview:

A powerful offense is the difference maker in this match up that has usually been a blowout. With a great offensive scheme in place and a team built around it, the Rice Owls will face the powerful University of Texas Longhorns with an upset on their mind. For the first time in a long time this will be no pipe dream. With upsets common in college football, this NCAA week 4 match up could be another Michigan vs. Appalachian State.

Texas Longhorns Overview:

Colt McCoy may not be Vince Young, but Texas Longhorns fans have grown to love the young QB. Entering his third year under center, Colt McCoy is mature and in the best form of his career. The emergence of WR Quan Cosby as a legitimate receiving threat has been an answered prayer to the Burnt Orange faithful. The running back corps of the Texas Longhorns has also been replenished with fresh talent in Vondrell McGee and Foswhitt Whittaker. A pair of NFL prospects on the offensive line is also a great asset to the Texas Longhorns.

The Texas Longhorns defense is anchored up front by their best player in DE Brian Orakpo. A force in all aspects of defense Brian Orakpo makes the entire defense better. The loss of DT Frank Okam to the NFL has made the Texas Longhorns lighter on the defensive line but faster as well. The transition allows the Texas Longhorns to reach speed standards they have never touched and puts them at the same level of speed as the USC Trojans and Florida Gators.

Rice Owls Overview:

The Rice Owls offense has been gangbusters and has left the days of the Wishbone Offense behind. QB Chase Clement is the playmaker at the center of the Rice Owls offense. With both an excellent arm and great mobility Chase Clement makes plays through the air and on the ground. TE James Casey is his target of choice and the pair have shredded Conference USA defenses. WR Jarrett Dillard is another big time target of Chase Clement and helps in the destruction of secondaries.

Free safety Andrew Sendejo is the leader of the Rice Owls defense and is a crafty playmaker in both the box and deep coverage. No other Rice Owls defender will be as important to the upset effort as Andrew Sendejo. The Rice Owls have a veteran secondary loaded with upperclassmen. The Rice Owls front four is young and light but also packs a great deal of speed. The trend toward speed continues with the Rice Owls linebacking corps.

Texas Longhorns Keys to Victory:

Defensively, the Texas Longhorns will have to get pressure on Chase Clement in order to stop the Rice Owls potent offense. Brian Orakpo should be able to run wild against the Rice Owls offensive line but the rest of the Texas Longhorns cannot take it easy. Stopping TE James Casey will be a challenge for the small Texas Longhorn linebackers. A strong running game on offense will be a key advantage for the Texas Longhorns as their huge offensive linemen push around the smaller Rice Owls front seven.

Rice Owls Keys to Victory:

Protecting Chase Clement from Brian Orakpo will be the key objective for the Rice Owls. Given time Chase Clement can carve up any defense. TE James Casey will be a match up problem for the Texas Longhorns but will have to stay in and help block the talented UT front four. WR Jarrett Dillard must find one-on-one success against the inexperienced secondary of the Texas Longhorns. FS Andrew Sendejo must have the game of his life playing in the box and in the secondary.

UT Longhorns vs. Rice Owls Outlook:

The Rice Owls have an excellent offense that can take on any defense in the entirety of college football. Chase Clement, Jarrett Dillard, and James Casey all have All-American potential. The Rice Owls defense however is still a liability and this showed against the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Texas Longhorns are the bigger school and have the talent to outmuscle the Rice Owls. However, things have changed since only a few years ago and the Texas Longhorns will have a true game on their hands.