Rice Owls vs Texas State Bobcats Picks and Predictions for Friday, January 2, 2026
Rice faces Texas State in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Friday. Rice enters at 5–7 overall after losing 52–3 at South Florida in its regular-season finale. Texas State is 6–6 overall and closed the season with a 49–26 home win over South Alabama. Look for betting value in this bowl matchup using our free college football picks.
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Rice vs Texas State Game Information
- Date: Friday, January 2
- Time: 1:00 PM ET
- Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
- TV: ESPN
Rice Owls Outlook
Rice’s offense is led by quarterback Chase Jenkins, who has thrown for 1,025 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. The Owls rely heavily on the run game, where Quinton Jackson leads the team with 811 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Rice’s passing attack is modest, with Aaron Turner as the top receiver at 53 catches for 374 yards and three scores, often working underneath routes to help move the chains.
Defensively, linebacker Andrew Awe anchors the unit with 100 tackles, while Tony Anyanwu leads the pass rush with 5.0 sacks. Rice has struggled late in the season, losing three of its final four games and allowing 50 or more points twice during that stretch. The Owls will need to limit big plays and stay competitive early to avoid playing catch-up. 
Texas State Bobcats Outlook
Texas State has a balanced and productive offense. Quarterback Brad Jackson has 3,050 passing yards with 18 touchdowns, spreading the ball effectively to receivers. The run game is powered by Lincoln Pare, who has rushed for 1,022 yards and 11 touchdowns, giving the Bobcats consistent production on first and second down.
Wide out Beau Sparks leads the receiving corps with 80 catches for 1,113 yards and nine touchdowns, providing a reliable target. On defense, linebacker Treylin Payne tops the team with 102 tackles, while Kalil Alexander leads the pass rush with 4.0 sacks. Texas State won three of its last four games to become bowl eligible and has shown the ability to score quickly.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Joe Duffy | +1,910.00 |
| 2 |  Steve Seagrave | +1,460.00 |
| 3 |  Sean Higgs | +1,338.00 |
| 4 |  Bryan Power | +905.00 |
| 5 |  Ben Burns | +519.00 |
Rice Owls vs Texas State Bobcats Prediction
Texas State enters the Armed Forces Bowl with advantages in offensive production and recent form. Rice’s struggles against stronger competition late in the season make this a difficult matchup, especially against a Bobcats team that can score both on the ground and through the air. Texas State will control tempo and avoid turnovers, resulting in a win and cover. Final Score Prediction: Texas State Bobcats win and cover ATS, 42–20. The best sportsbooks are the best way to go when you are betting on Texas State. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for Rice with the Onyx Odds promo code. Getting the most out of your bets on Rice vs Texas State can be done by using the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
Best Picks
- Texas State Bobcats -14.5
- Over 57.5
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