Texas State vs. Rice Dunkel NCAA Football Picks, Predictions and Odds - Armed Forces Bowl

The Texas State Bobcats are heavy, 16.5-point favorites as they hit the field against the Rice Owls in the Armed Forces Bowl on January 2, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The Bobcats won against the South Alabama Jaguars in their most recent game, 49-26.

Against the South Florida Bulls in their last game, the Owls lost 52-3.

Texas State vs. Rice Predictions

Ahead of the upcoming contest between the Texas State Bobcats and Rice Owls, computer-calculated against-the-spread, over/under, and score predictions are below, sourced from Dunkel Index.

• Pick ATS: Bobcats (- 16.5)
• Pick OU: Under (55.5)
  
• Prediction: Bobcats 35 - Owls 17

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Texas State vs. Rice Moneylines

Take a peek below at the most recent moneylines for the Bobcats-Owls matchup.

• Texas State Moneyline: -714
• Rice Moneyline: +511

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Texas State Betting Insights

• Texas State has a 4-4 record in games it was listed as the moneyline favorite (winning 50% of those games).
• Texas State has played as a moneyline favorite of -714 or shorter in only two games this season, and it won both.
• Bobcats games this season have gone over this contest's total of 55.5 points eight times.
• The Bobcats have an average point total of 60.7 in their games this year, 5.2 more points than this matchup's over/under.
• The Bobcats are the 25th-highest scoring team in college football this year. The Owls have scored the 119th-most points.

Rice Betting Insights

• Rice has been an underdog in eight games this season and won two (25%) of those contests.
• Rice has not won as an underdog of +511 or more on the moneyline this season in two such games.
• Rice has played three games this season that have had more than 55.5 combined points scored.
• Rice has had an average of 49.2 points scored in their games so far this season, 6.3 points fewer than this game's over/under.

Watch Texas State vs. Rice on Fubo.

Key Stats for Texas State vs. Rice

• The Bobcats rank 92nd in total defense this year (398.7 yards allowed per game), but they've been shining on the other side of the ball, ranking fifth-best in the FBS with 475.8 total yards per game.
• Texas State has struggled on defense, ranking 25th-worst in the FBS (30.6 points allowed per game) this season. However, the defensive unit ranks 12th-best on offense, totaling 36.1 points per game.
• The Owls rank 14th-worst in total yards per game (311.3), but they've been more productive defensively, ranking 96th in the FBS with 401.1 total yards allowed per contest.
• This season has been ugly for Rice on both offense and defense, as it is compiling just 19.8 points per game (18th-worst) and surrendering 32.3 points per game (17th-worst).