AAC matchup features Florida Atlantic against Rice

Florida Atlantic will host Rice in an AAC matchup on October 24 at 12 p.m. EDT. The Fighting Owls are currently 4-2, while the Owls have a 1-6 record. The game is projected to be a 10.5-point spread victory for Florida Atlantic.

Defensively, Florida Atlantic has some advantages over Rice. FAU ranks 9th in the FBS with a 53.1% third-down conversion rate, while Rice ranks 108th at 42.6%. FAU also allows fewer turnover margins, with a +2, compared to Rice's -6. Florida Atlantic is also better in the red zone, scoring on 82.6% of trips, while Rice ranks 29th at 75.9%.

On offense, Florida Atlantic is ranked 83rd in the FBS, averaging 59.8 penalty yards per game, while Rice is ranked 26th at 45.3 per-game. FAU leads in red zone efficiency, scoring on 82.6% of trips, compared to Rice’s 75.9%.

The passing game for Florida Atlantic is led by Caden Veltkamp, who has thrown for 1,743 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Ethan Ervin has contributed 361 rushing yards on 81 carries, with 2 touchdowns. Kelby Valsin has made significant contributions with 601 receiving yards on 47 catches, including 6 touchdowns. Jacurri Brown has thrown for 478 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Brown has also rushed for 668 yards on 118 carries, with 6 touchdowns. Jordan Clark has added 223 receiving yards on 18 catches.

Florida Atlantic recently fell 56-24 to Army on October 17. Veltkamp threw for 318 yards on 33-of-48 attempts, while Ethan Ervin added 46 rushing yards. Rice lost 38-17 to Tulsa on the same date. Brown had 47 passing yards and 154 rushing yards on 11 carries, with 2 rushing touchdowns. Tyvonn Byars contributed 53 rushing yards on 15 carries, and Jordan Clark had 52 receiving yards.