The First Responder Bowl in Dallas Texas will feature the Texas State Bobcats and Rice Owls. The Bobcats come into the game with a 7-5 record on the season. In their season finale, they were able to top South Alabama 52-44.
Bobcats vs Owls Picks
- Pick: Texas State -5.5.
For Rice, they won their final two games of the season to become bowl eligible. The Owls beat Florida Atlantic in their season finale at home. It’s time for our Texas State vs. Rice Betting Picks:
Texas State Bobcats vs Rice Owls Odds
Before we give our Texas State Bobcats vs. Rice Owls betting picks, here are the NCAAF Odds for this game:
- Spread: Texas State Bobcats -5.5, Rice Owls +5.5
- Total: 59.5
- Moneyline: Texas State Bobcats -210, Rice Owls +175
Texas State Bobcats vs Rice Owls Information
Take a look at some information on these two NCAAF Teams:
Texas State Bobcats vs Rice Owls
Date & Time: Tuesday December 26th, 2023; 4:30pm CST
Location of the game: Gerald J. Ford Stadium; Dallas, TX
How to Watch: ESPN
Texas State Bobcats vs Rice Owls Analysis
Bobcats offensive unit is back on track
The Texas State Bobcats come into the bowl game as one of the top-scoring offensive teams in all of College Football. Texas State scored 36 points per game in the regular season. Their offense was a mixture of passing and rushing, with both in the Top 40 of College Football Stats.
The offensive weapons for the Bobcats start with quarterback TJ Finley. The signal-caller finished the season with nearly 3,300 passing yards, along with 24 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. His top target this season has been Joey Hobert. Hobert is questionable in this game, and missed the last game of the season.
The Bobcats on the ground will feature Ismail Mahdi. The running back rushed 23 times in the win over South Alabama. On the season, Mahdi carried the football 199 times for 1,209 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Defensively is where the problems came in for Texas State. The Bobcats allowed 33.8 points per game, including 77 in a loss at Arkansas State in November.
AJ Padgett is Under the Center to Rescue the Season
For the Rice Owls, 28-7 wins over Charlotte and 24-21 over Florida Atlantic got them to a bowl game. The Owls before that had dropped three straight games. Rice is passing for nearly 265 yards per game. The run offense is one of the worst in all of College Football, with just 112 yards per game.
Quarterback JT Daniels finished the season with 287 passes thrown. Concussions led him to make the choice to finish his career. In for him has been AJ Padgett. In the win over Florida Atlantic, he completed 24 of 37 passes for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Owls top receiving option this season has been Luke McCaffrey. He caught 12 passes in the win over Florida Atlantic for 141 yards and a touchdown. On the season, McCaffrey needs just 37 more to get to 1,000.
Texas State Bobcats vs Rice Owls Betting Picks
When it is time to make your NCAAF betting picks for this game, consider the Texas State Bobcats. We have seen them be very good and also very poor. For Rice, they may be a little more consistent in their play, they are not as good as the Bobcats. When you go to bet on this game, we are taking the higher-ceiling team. That is the Texas State Bobcats. Bet the Bobcats -5.5 over the Owls in this game in Dallas. We hope you liked our Texas State vs. Rice Betting Picks!
Texas State Bobcats vs Rice Owls Prediction
We are excited to see these two teams play. Also, playing against each other will be a good battle for both sides. In the end, the Bobcats are going to win this game with some touchdowns and a field goal. Texas State wins the game 31-21 over the Rice Owls. Bet the Bobcats -5.5 over the Owls in College Football on Tuesday! Best of luck and enjoy this game and all the College Football bowl games. Merry Christmas!
- Pick: Texas State -5.5.
Discover the latest stats and trends of this matchup here.
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks. Make sure to visit the best offshore betting sites to maximize your betting experience.