You couldn't have asked for a much better start to the Scott Abell era of Rice football than what the Owls delivered on Saturday night in Cajun country. The Owls' offense looked as advertised and the defense was even better, doing just enough to knock off a team projected to contend for a Sun Belt conference championship.

This win wasn't a fluke but should we be buying Rice bowl stock just yet? At least one host thinks its in the realm of possibilities. But first, a rundown of the game, what worked, what didn't and what's at stake in the coming game against the Houston Cougars.

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