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Rice hosts Memphis in a key American Conference matchup on Friday night for Week 10 of the 2025 college football season. With a showdown against Tulane looming next week, the Tigers can’t afford to overlook the Owls with a tight race ahead to win the American and also earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Memphis pulled off one of the biggest wins in the ’25 American Conference race last Saturday, rallying from a 31-17 deficit in the fourth quarter to beat South Florida 34-31. That victory lifted coach Ryan Silverfield’s team back into the top 25 and scored a crucial win to get to the American Conference title game and potentially the playoff. The victory over the Bulls also came one week after a disappointing road loss to UAB. At 7-1, Silverfield’s team is positioned to rank as one of the top Group of 5 teams in the nation when the first College Football Playoff rankings are released on Tuesday night. Under first-year coach Scott Abell, Rice has largely exceeded most preseason expectations. The Owls upset UConn last Saturday to bring their record to 4-4. With Memphis, South Florida, and North Texas on the November slate, making a bowl won’t be easy. But considering Abell’s scheme transition on offense, along with roster turnover, just pushing for five or six wins is a huge step forward for this program. Memphis holds a 3-2 series edge over Rice. The Tigers won 27-20 last season. Memphis vs. Rice Odds and Info Location: Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas Kickoff: Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. ET TV: ESPN2 Spread: Memphis -14 Over/Under: 48.5 Announcers: Ted Emrich, Dustin Fox, and Marilyn Payne Memphis vs. Rice Keys to Victory 1. Will Rice Find Success on the Ground? It’s no secret what Rice plans to do on offense on Friday night. Abell shifted this team to an option attack, averaging 226 rushing yards a game and ranking second nationally in attempts (407). Five players have over 20 carries this season, including Quinton Jackson (655 yards), Daelen Alexander (379), and quarterback Chase Jenkins (332). Jenkins won’t put the ball in the air often (13.9 attempts a game), but he threw for a season-high 191 yards in last week’s win over UConn. Can Jenkins build on that performance to help the Owls become more dynamic on offense in the final month of the season? Memphis allows only 130.3 yards a game on the ground, but UAB and South Florida both eclipsed the 200-yard mark. The Tigers create quite a bit of havoc around the line of scrimmage (57 tackles for a loss), which is crucial on early downs to get Rice behind the sticks and out of rhythm on offense. PREDICTIONS: Picks for Every College Football Game in Week 10 2. The Memphis Offense After leaving the Oct. 18 game against UAB due to injury, Lewis returned for last week’s contest against South Florida and was instrumental in the win. The senior threw for 307 yards and two scores and added 35 yards on the ground. The Nevada transfer ranks eighth in the American Conference in total offense (264.9 yards a game) and helps to spearhead a ground game averaging 210 yards a contest. In addition to Lewis, Sutton Smith (515 yards) and Greg Desrosiers (422) will see plenty of opportunities on the ground on Friday night against a Rice defense giving up 151.5 rushing yards a game. The Owls rank No. 26 nationally in defensive success rate against the run, with the pass defense (No. 18) a step ahead on the stat sheet. Abell’s defense gives up 5.7 yards a snap and has struggled at times with big plays allowed (13 of 40-plus yards). With the ability to pile up yards on the ground, or through the air with Lewis and standout receiver Cortez Braham connecting, Memphis is one of the toughest offenses Rice has faced this year. Will the Tigers move the ball effectively early and often to get ahead on the scoreboard and force the Owls out of their comfort zone? BEST BETS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Our experts’ picks for Week 10 3. The Letdown Factor Memphis is favored by two touchdowns on Friday night, but can Silverfield’s team avoid an early look ahead to next week’s showdown against Tulane? With the matchup against the Green Wave likely to play a huge role in shaping the American Conference title, the Tigers have a lot riding on that contest. However, Rice won’t be an easy out. The Owls have the right style to frustrate the favorite with a ground game that controls time of possession (32:19 average per game), along with a defense that will bend but also find ways to get stops. Getting off to a good start and setting the pace of the game is critical for Memphis to avoid an upset. Final Score Prediction: Memphis 31, Rice 20 A road trip to play a tricky Rice squad a week before meeting Tulane is a tough spot for Memphis. The Tigers will find a way to pull away in the second half, but the Owls might be able to earn a cover with a late score.
