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The Texas State Bobcats and the Rice Owls will meet for the First Responder Bowl on December 26, 2023, with kickoff at 5:30 PM ET, airing on ESPN.
The Owls are underdogs, but by less than a touchdown (+4.5), against the Bobcats (with an over/under of 60.5 points).
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Game Info for Texas State vs. Rice
- Game Day: Tuesday, December 26, 2023
- Game Time: 5:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: University Park, Texas
- Stadium: Gerald J. Ford Stadium
| Favorite | Spread | Favorite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds | Total | Over Total Odds | Under Total Odds | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas State | -4.5 | -110 | -110 | 60.5 | -111 | -109 | -187 | +157 |
Texas State Pick Insights
- Texas State’s ATS record is 5-6-0 this season.
- In games it has played as at least 4.5-point favorites this season, Texas State is 1-2 against the spread.
- Four of Texas State’s 11 games with a set total have hit the over (36.4%).
Texas State Stats & Insights
- Texas State owns the 107th-ranked defense this year (414.3 yards allowed per game), and has been better on the other side of the ball, ranking 14th-best with a tally of 463.5 yards per game.
- Texas State has struggled defensively, ranking 17th-worst in the FBS (33.8 points allowed per game) this season. However, the defensive unit ranks 17th-best offensively, totaling 36 points per game.
- With 256.4 passing yards allowed per game on defense, which ranks 15th-worst in the FBS, Texas State has been forced to rely on their 28th-ranked passing offense (272.6 passing yards per contest) to keep them in games.
- Texas State ranks 80th in run defense this season (157.9 rushing yards allowed per game), but has been thriving on the other side of the ball, ranking 22nd-best in the FBS with 190.9 rushing yards per game.
- Texas State has struggled on defense in terms of third-down efficiency, ranking fourth-worst in the FBS (48% third-down percentage) this season. With the ball, however, the Bobcats ranks 23rd-best, averaging a 44.9% third-down conversion rate.
- Texas State owns the 22nd-worst turnover margin in college football at -6, forcing 15 turnovers (84th in the FBS) while turning it over 21 times (112th in the FBS).
Texas State’s Best Players
- TJ Finley has 3,188 yards passing for Texas State, completing 68.6% of his passes and throwing 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.
- Ismail Mahdi has racked up 1,209 yards on 199 carries while finding the end zone 10 times as a runner.
- Donerio Davenport has collected 461 yards on 91 attempts, scoring two times.
- Joey Hobert’s team-leading 847 yards as a receiver have come on 71 catches (out of 93 targets) with eight touchdowns.
- Ashtyn Hawkins has put up an 819-yard season so far with three touchdowns, hauling in 52 passes on 79 targets.
- Kole Wilson has been the target of 88 passes and racked up 61 receptions for 697 yards, an average of 58.1 yards per contest. He’s found the end zone eight times through the air this season.
- Ben Bell has eight sacks to pace the team, and also has 12 TFL and 44 tackles.
- Brian Holloway has been all over the field, leading the team in both tackles and interceptions. He has 84 tackles, 10 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions so far.
Rice Betting Insights
- Rice’s ATS record is 7-3-1 this season.
- In games this season in which they were an underdog by 4.5 points or more, the Owls have a 4-1 record against the spread.
- Out of Rice’s 11 games with a set total, five have hit the over (45.5%).
Rice Pick Insights
- In terms of total yards, Rice ranks 73rd in the FBS (376.8 total yards per game) and 57th on defense (370 total yards allowed per contest).
- Rice ranks 49th in the FBS with 30.3 points per game on offense, and it ranks 69th with 26.7 points surrendered per game on the defensive side of the ball.
- Rice ranks 38th in the FBS with 264.2 passing yards per contest on offense, and it ranks 54th with 217.2 passing yards surrendered per game on defense.
- Rice ranks 21st-worst in rushing yards per game (112.6), but it has been more productive on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 69th in the FBS with 152.8 rushing yards surrendered per contest.
- Rice ranks 68th in the FBS with a 38.8% third-down conversion rate on offense, and 49th with a 36.6% third-down percentage allowed on defense.
- Rice owns a bottom-25 turnover margin this season, 14th-worst at -7.
Rice’s Best Players
- JT Daniels has thrown for 2,443 yards (203.6 yards per game) while completing 63.1% of his passes and tossing 21 touchdown passes with seven interceptions this season.
- Dean Connors has been handed the ball 106 times for a team-high 707 yards (58.9 per game) with five touchdowns. He also leads the team through the air, as his 42 receptions this season are good for 395 yards, and he’s scored three touchdowns in the passing game.
- Juma Otoviano has racked up 312 yards (on 85 attempts) with four touchdowns.
- Luke McCaffrey leads his team with 963 receiving yards on 68 receptions with 12 touchdowns.
- Boden Groen’s 47 targets have resulted in 37 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns.
- Coleman Coco has 3.5 sacks to pace the team, and also has five TFL and 36 tackles.
- Rice’s leading tackler, Plae Wyatt, has 60 tackles, three TFL, and one sack this year.
- Gabe Taylor leads the team with two interceptions, while also putting up 40 tackles, one TFL, one sack, and two passes defended.
