Latest College Football Lines – Northwestern Pursues More Passing Proficiency

The accuracy of Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa will be showcased against Rice this Saturday in Houston.

Northwestern Wildcats @ Rice Owls
Saturday, September 18th – 7:05 PM ET
Rice Stadium, Houston
Latest College Football Lines: Northwestern -6.5, Rice +6.5
Total: 54.5

Rice remains Conference USA’s biggest question mark heading into week three of the 2010 college football season. No less an authority than Texas coach Mack Brown has said that Rice is an improved side from the one that went 2-10 in 2009. Saturday’s scrap with the visitors from the Big Ten may help us answer the question of just exactly what improved means. It could mean that coach David Bailiff’s team wins its final two non-conference games of the season and carries some momentum into conference play, winning enough games to go bowling. Or it could very well mean that Owls succumb to the Wildcats and Baylor Bears in their final two non-conference games of the season and head into Conference USA with no momentum.

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Latest College Football Lines: What Northwestern Has To Do To Win

Efficient Northwestern junior quarterback Dan Persa (38-of-44 completions, 231 yards, five touchdowns, 212.1 quarterback rating) will challenge a Rice defense that was shredded by North Texas’ senior quarterback Nathan Tune (285 yards and three touchdowns) last Saturday. Persa’s jawdropping passing efficiency – at the top of the Big Ten and even better than Heisman Trophy front-runner Denard Robinson of Michigan – is one of the storylines of the young college football season. Persa’s 38-of-44 completion numbers are the envy of his peers in both the Big Ten and around the country. If Persa isn’t knocked off his game by Rice’s defensive front or any of the blitzes that RU defensive coordinator Chuck Dreisbach has in his bag of tricks, Northwestern should continue to conquer the other titans of American academia.

Latest College Football Lines: What Rice Has To Do To Win

While holding serve versus Northwestern isn’t pivotal to their Conference USA prospects, a win would help the Owls to build on last Saturday’s dramatic 32-31 win at North Texas, earned in the crucible of a tight fourth quarter. Owl quarterbacks Taylor McHargue (9-of-21 completions, 146 yards, two touchdowns) and Nick Fannuzzi (15-of-26 completions, 212 yards, one touchdown) will have to be precise versus an opportunistic Wildcat secondary that has four interceptions in two games. Don’t be surprised if Bailiff turns to junior running back Tyler Smith (23 rushes, 132 yards) and sophomore running back Sam McGuffie (28 rushes, 65 yards) to grind out yards versus a Northwestern defense that has yet to be tested.

NCAA Handicapping: Outlook & Pick

Dan Persa is playing the quarterback position at an extremely high level right now. Rice has to be able to disrupt Persa, get into passing lanes, knock down balls, and disguise its mix of coverages. One thinks that the Owls lack the size or physicality needed to achieve those goals. Northwestern is a competent team and a solid program that generally overachieves. Why the spread is less than a full touchdown on this game is a great mystery. Northwestern should cover the number without too much difficulty in Houston.

Latest College Football Lines Expert Pick: Northwestern -6.5