Table of Contents
The Texas State Bobcats and the Rice Owls will play in 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 (+3.5), against the Bobcats (with an over/under of 60 points).
Create your Pick’em Pool with the Internet’s #1 pool creation and hosting platform. Get 15 friends together and play for free!
Start here >
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 | -3.5 | -110 | -110 | 60 | -108 | -112 | -183 | +149 |
Texas State Pick Insights
- Texas State has gone 5-6-0 ATS this season.
- Texas State is 1-2 against the spread when favored by 3.5 points or more this season.
- The teams have hit the over in four of Texas State’s 11 games with a set total.
Texas State Stats & Insights
- Texas State owns the 108th-ranked defense this year (414.3 yards allowed per game), and has been more effective on the other side of the ball, ranking 14th-best with a tally of 463.5 yards per game.
- While Texas State ranks 16th-worst in the FBS in scoring defense with 33.8 points allowed per game, the team has been better with the ball, ranking 17th-best in the FBS in scoring (36 points per game).
- Texas State has the 29th-ranked passing offense this season (272.6 passing yards per game), and has been worse on defense, ranking 14th-worst with 256.4 passing yards allowed per game.
- Texas State owns the 81st-ranked defense this season in terms of rushing yards (157.9 rushing yards allowed per game), and has been better on the other side of the ball, ranking 23rd-best with 190.9 rushing yards per game.
- Texas State sports the 25th-best offense this season in terms of third-down efficiency (44.9% third-down percentage), but ranks fourth-worst defensively (48% third-down conversion rate).
- Texas State owns the 22nd-worst turnover margin in college football at -6, forcing 15 turnovers (89th in the FBS) while turning it over 21 times (106th in the FBS).
Texas State’s Best Players
- TJ Finley has 3,188 passing yards for Texas State, completing 68.6% of his passes and recording 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.
- Ismail Mahdi has carried the ball 199 times for a team-high 1,209 yards on the ground and has found the end zone 10 times as a runner.
- Donerio Davenport has piled up 461 yards on 91 attempts, scoring two times.
- Joey Hobert’s 847 yards as a receiver lead the team. He’s been targeted 93 times and has totaled 71 catches and eight touchdowns.
- Ashtyn Hawkins has put up an 819-yard season so far with three touchdowns, reeling in 52 passes on 79 targets.
- Kole Wilson has a total of 697 receiving yards so far this year, hauling in 61 passes and scoring eight touchdowns.
- Ben Bell leads the team with eight sacks, and also has 12 TFL and 44 tackles.
- Brian Holloway has 84 tackles, 10 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions, and leads the team in both tackles and interceptions.
Rice Betting Insights
- Rice has a 7-3-1 record against the spread this year.
- In games this year in which they were an underdog by 3.5 points or more, the Owls have a 5-1 record against the spread.
- The teams have hit the over in five of Rice’s 11 games with a set total.
Rice Pick Insights
- With 376.8 total yards per game on offense, Rice ranks 74th in the FBS in 2023. Defensively, it ranks 57th, surrendering 370 total yards per game.
- From an offensive angle, Rice is posting 30.3 points per contest (48th-ranked). It ranks 68th in the FBS on the other side of the ball (26.7 points allowed per game).
- With 264.2 passing yards per game on offense, Rice ranks 37th in the FBS. Defensively, it ranks 53rd, surrendering 217.2 passing yards per game.
- Rice’s running game has been sputtering, ranking 22nd-worst in the FBS with 112.6 rushing yards per game. It has been better on the defensive side of the ball, giving up 152.8 rushing yards per contest (71st-ranked).
- With a 38.8% third-down conversion rate on offense, Rice ranks 67th in the FBS. On defense, it ranks 46th, allowing a 36.6% third-down rate.
- Rice has a bottom-25 turnover margin this season, 14th-worst at -7.
Rice’s Best Players
- JT Daniels has put up 2,443 passing yards, or 203.6 per game, so far this season. He has completed 63.1% of his passes and has tossed 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
- Dean Connors’ team-high 707 rushing yards have come on 106 carries, with five touchdowns. He also leads the team with 395 receiving yards (32.9 per game) on 42 catches with three touchdowns.
- Juma Otoviano has run for 312 yards across 85 carries, scoring four touchdowns.
- Luke McCaffrey has registered 68 receptions this season and his team-high yardage total sits at 963 (80.3 yards per game). He’s been targeted 113 times and has 12 touchdowns.
- Boden Groen’s 37 receptions (on 47 targets) have netted him 376 yards (31.3 ypg) and three touchdowns.
- Coleman Coco has collected 3.5 sacks to lead the team, while also picking up five TFL and 36 tackles.
- Plae Wyatt is the team’s top-tackler this year. He’s amassed 60 tackles, three TFL, and one sack.
- Gabe Taylor has a team-leading two interceptions to go along with 40 tackles, one TFL, one sack, and two passes defended.
