UTEP vs. Rice Prediction: Conference USA Teams Hoping to Make a Late Push for a Bowl Meet on Thursday Night

UTEP and Rice are Conference USA teams that are looking for a bowl bid. They are both coming off disappointing losses. Rice lost 56-23 to Charlotte 49ers last week. UTEP lost 24-13 to Middle Tennessee last Saturday. The Miners are 4-5 and 2-3 in the Conference, while Rice is 2,2. It's a short week for the Minters and Owls. Their game is on Thursday night. There's no need to sulk. Both teams are trying to make a late push for bowl berths.

UTEP and Rice are Conference USA teams hoping to make a late push for a Bowl Meet on Thursday night.

UTEP's offense struggled in the loss to MTSU. The team's top receiver, Tyrin Smith, is the C-USA's leading receiver with 803 yards. Senior tight end Trent Thompson dropped a potential game-changing pass. There was not enough of the run game for the Miners. They had 292 yards total against the Blue Raiders. Their quarterback, Gavin Hardison, completed just 52.5 percent of his passes. He has eight interceptions and 21 sacks. They will play Rice. Rice's defense has given up an average of 500 yards the last two games.

Rice lost to Charlotte last week. The Owls ran 63 plays and gained 370 yards. Their quarterback TJ McMahon went 18-of-33 passing for 218 yards and added 45 yards on the ground. UTEP's defense is the second stingiest in Conference USA. They have allowed just 355.4 yards per game. They also have a good defense with a number of talented players. Rice and UTE play on Thursday night. It's a possible Bowl Matchup.   Cal Wallerstedt and Tyrice Knight are expected to start for Rice. Cal Wallersstedts made a game-high 14 tackles and Knight 11.

The Owls lost to the Niners last week. Before the loss, the Owils were perfect through three games at home.

UTEP and Rice are Conference USA's last two teams. UTEP needs to win to have any chance of going bowling in 2022. Charlotte beat UTE 41-35 last week. The Miners have three games left. They need to beat Rice to secure their bowl spot. Rice lost last game.