Week 10: Rice at UTEP

These teams combined for 104 points in last year's game (won 56-48 by Rice) and it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume they'll match or surpass that total. Rice remains one of the nation's most explosive offensive units, averaging 40 points and 445 yards per game. The Owls ranks ninth nationally in passing (308 yards per game) and 10th in scoring.

UTEP isn't far behind. The Miners are averaging 31 points and 375 yards per game behind sophomore quarterback Trevor Vittatoe's direction. He has thrown for 16 touchdowns and been intercepted only four times. The Miners had their three-game winning streak snapped Oct. 18 at nationally ranked Tulsa, but Vittatoe was proficient in the loss. He tossed touchdown passes to four different receivers.

Behind quarterback Chase Clement and two of the league's top receivers, Jarett Dillard and James Casey, the Owls continue on their march toward a second postseason game in three seasons. Clement has passed for 24 touchdowns and been picked off only six times while completing nearly 66 percent of his passes. Dillard has caught a league-best 14 touchdown passes and Casey leads C-USA with 67 receptions, an average of 8.4 per game.

With Houston's loss Tuesday at Marshall, Rice moves into second place in the West Division with a victory and becomes bowl eligible with its sixth win. If UTEP wins, it moves into second place and evens its record at .500. There should be motivation on both sidelines.

Notes

Rice is struggling defensively. The Owls are 112th nationally in scoring defense allowing 36.5 points per game, 114th in total defense allowing 467.5 yards per game and 116th in pass defense allowing 295 yards per game.

Here more more reasons why a high-scoring game is predicted. UTEP is struggling defensively, too, and at a rate worse than Rice. The Miners are allowing 38 points per game (113th nationally) and 475 yards per game (115th nationally).

Rice receiver Jarett Dillard moved into second place on the league's career receiving yardage list. He had four receptions for 41 yards in last weekend's win over Tulane to boost his total to 3,683 yards.

Rice quarterback Chase Clement has 79 career touchdown passes. With his next TD toss, he'll become the fifth quarterback in C-USA history with at least 80 touchdown passes.

Key Player (Owls) — Chase Clement, QB

In a pass-happy Conference USA, Clement sometimes gets overshadowed by Tulsa's David Johnson and Houston's Case Keenum. But Clement's number compare favorably. He has 24 touchdown passes, has been intercepted only six times and is averaging nearly 300 yards per game.

Key Player (Miners) — Trevor Vittatoe, QB

The Miners are 3-1 in their past four games because of Vittatoe. The sophomore quarterback has thrown a staggering 14 touchdowns and been intercepted only once during the streak, which includes a 58-13 win over defending league champ Central Florida and an overtime victory at Southern Miss.

Rice by 3