Rice Football: Can Owls continue building under Mike Bloomgren in 2020?

How will Rice football fare in 2020?

There are many factors to consider in a season with a shortened offseason. One is continuity. The Owls lost a lot of their production offensively, but they do have veterans at key spots to fill in for the production they lost last season.

With nine players returning to an improved defense, the Owls should be set on that side of the ball. With the exception of LSU, the non-conference schedule looks manageable.

Will it lead to more wins?

Here is a prediction of their schedule:

• Game 1: at Houston (W) — This is a 50/50 game. Houston is rebuilding in Dana Holgersen’s second season with the Cougars. Their defense was bad last year. If Rice can hold up against the pass, they have a shot.
• Game 2: vs. Army (W) — The Black Knights have a lot of new pieces on offense and defense this season. Rice should get their win back this season.
• Game 3: vs. LSU (L) — Try not to give up 60.
• Game 4: vs. Lamar (W) — The Owls take care of business against an FCS opponent.
• Game 5: at Marshall (L) — They played the Thundering Herd tough last season. This game is on the road and the Owls might not have enough offense.
• Game 6: vs. UAB (L) — The Blazers look to play for the Conference USA championship for the third straight season.
• Game 7: vs. Middle Tennessee (W) — They beat the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro last season. They win this one because of the turnover from last season’s team.
• Game 8: at Southern Miss (L) — Another 50/50 game. The Owls surrendered only six first downs to the Eagles last season and still lost. They might not have enough offense again this year.
• Game 9: vs. UTSA (L) — Yet another toss-up game here. The Roadrunners return their quarterback and running back from last season. Rice might not have enough offense to take advantage of UTSA’s bad defense. They did not last year.
• Game 10: at Louisiana Tech (W) — They played a 10-win Bulldog team tough last season. No J’Marr Smith for Tech this season. This is Rice’s big win of the year in the conference.
• Game 11: at North Texas (W): They beat the Mean Green at home last season. Mason Fine, their “fine” quarterback, has graduated. The Owls pick up the road win.
• Game 12: vs. UTEP (W) — The only team that’s been worse than Rice in Conference USA.

Prediction: 7-5 (5-3 Conference USA)

This seems an ambitious prediction; that’s because it is. However, they do avoid the best teams in Conference USA east and get Houston and Army in rebuilding mode.

A lot has to go right for the Owls to win seven games this season. Mike Collins has to come in and be really good. He needs to be accurate and efficient.

The offensive line has to come together with three new faces. The pass defense has to take another step forward. The team defense cannot regress either. Some of their close games from last season have to go their way as well.

This comes together and the Owls might have to figure out a way to pay Mike Bloomgren to stay at Rice.