Texas Longhorns vs. Rice Owls Picks & Preview | NCAAFB Week 1

The Rice Owls are in action on Saturday at 3:30 PM ET at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium against the Texas Longhorns.

The Longhorns are expected to win by at least two TDs (currently -35) versus the Owls. The over/under for this matchup is 59 points.

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Game Info for Texas vs. Rice

• Game Day: Saturday, September 2, 2023
• Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
• TV Channel: FOX
• Location: Austin, Texas
• Stadium: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium

Texas Pick Insights

• Texas compiled an 8-5-0 ATS record last year.
• Texas won its only game last season when playing as at least 35-point favorites.
• Texas and its opponent combined to hit the over in six of 13 contests last season.

Texas Stats & Insights

• Texas averaged just 0.3 more points per game (34.5) than Rice allowed (34.2) last season.
• When Texas put up over 34.2 points last season, it went 6-0 against the spread and 6-0 overall.
• Texas racked up 429.4 yards per game last year, 39 more yards than the 390.4 Rice gave up per outing.
• Texas was 6-2 against the spread and 6-2 overall when the team picked up over 390.4 yards last season.
• Last season Texas averaged 188 rushing yards per game, just 6.2 more yards than Rice allowed per contest (181.8).
• Texas had a 5-2 ATS record and a 6-1 overall record when the team rushed for over 181.8 yards last year.
• Last year Texas had 12 turnovers, five fewer than Rice had takeaways (17).

Texas’ Best Players

• Last year Quinn Ewers recorded 2,177 passing yards (167.5 per game), a 58.1% completion percentage, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
• Bijan Robinson churned out 1,578 rushing yards (121.4 per game) and 18 touchdowns last season. In the receiving game, he made 19 catches for 314 yards and two scores.
• Roschon Johnson churned out 554 yards on 93 carries (42.6 yards per game), with five rushing touchdowns last year.
• Xavier Worthy collected 60 receptions for 760 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He was targeted 111 times, and averaged 58.5 yards per game.
• Jordan Whittington produced last season, catching 50 passes for 652 yards and one touchdown. He collected 50.2 receiving yards per game.
• Ja’Tavion Sanders reeled in 54 passes on 73 targets for 613 yards and five touchdowns, compiling 47.2 receiving yards per game.
• Last season Barryn Sorrell racked up 5.5 sacks, seven TFL and 40 tackles.
• Jaylan Ford’s stat line last year included 110 tackles, nine TFL, two sacks, and four interceptions.

Rice Betting Insights

• Rice won seven games against the spread last year, failing to cover six times.
• In Rice games last year, combined scoring went over the point total nine times.

Rice Pick Insights

• Last year Rice scored 3.6 more points per game (25.2) than Texas gave up (21.6).
• When Rice put up more than 21.6 points last year, it was 5-2 against the spread and 5-2 overall.
• Rice racked up only 5.7 more yards per game (374.2) than Texas gave up (368.5) per matchup last season.
• In games that Rice totaled over 368.5 yards last year, the team was 5-2 against the spread and 4-3 overall.
• Rice rushed for 141.3 yards per game last year, 15.5 more than the 125.8 Texas allowed per contest.
• Rice had a 4-4 ATS record and a 4-4 overall record when the team rushed for over 125.8 yards last year.
• Last season Rice turned the ball over 32 times, 18 more than Texas’ takeaways (14).

Rice’s Best Players

• TJ McMahon threw for 2,102 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He also chipped in on the ground, collecting three touchdowns while racking up 154 yards.
• Cameron Montgomery racked up 43.2 yards per game last season.
• Last season Juma Otoviano rushed for 403 yards. He also scored two total touchdowns.
• Bradley Rozner averaged 67.4 yards on 3.4 receptions per game and compiled 10 receiving touchdowns in 2022.
• Luke McCaffrey grabbed six touchdowns and had 723 receiving yards (55.6 ypg) in 2022.
• Isaiah Esdale averaged 41.8 receiving yards per game on 5.5 targets per game a season ago.
• Last year Josh Pearcy put pressure on opposing quarterbacks with 5.5 sacks, and added eight TFL and 46 tackles.
• Chris Conti was a force on the field last season with 70 tackles, three TFL, and one sack.
• Last year Gabe Taylor intercepted two passes to go along with 54 tackles, one TFL, and two passes defended.