*SOUTHERN MISS 45 - Rice 17—CUSA sources have been alerting us to the red flags surrounding Rice’s program since the Owls opened their season with a loss vs. lower-echelon Nicholls State, and nothing has happened since to change their minds. The offense, in particular, continues to misfire for new HC David Bailiff, with jr. QB Chase Clement struggling to rediscover his sophomore form that placed him on the Davey O’Brien Award “watch list" at the beginning of the campaign. He’s tossed 7 picks and only 3 TDs in the first 4 games, hampered further by a reshuffled OL that has provided spotty protection (allowing 14 sacks the past 3 games) and a depleted WR corps that’s been minus targets Joel Armstrong and Corbin Smiter. Combined with an inability to run the football (only 1.8 ypg) in Bailiff’s imbalanced version of the spread, the results have been predictable. Of course, USM has its own concerns, with QB Jeremy Young unlikely to make the post due to a high ankle sprain suffered in last Thursday’s loss at Boise State. But Eagle HC Jeff Bower has confidence in sr. southpaw backup Stephen Reaves, a Michigan State transfer who saw action in 8 games last season, as well as taking most of the 2nd half snaps at Boise. And with hard-charging RB Damion Fletcher providing a real infantry diversion, Reaves should be able to cope with a bullet-ridden Rice “D” that’s allowed 53 ppg and nearly 600 ypg its last 3 outings. Lay it, pal. CABLE TV—ESPN2