Can he keep up in what could be one of the more entertaining bowl games of the season? Here are the odds and our best bets for the Lending Tree Bowl. For more bowl coverage, head on over to our BetSided Bowl Bash tab! Sign up for Caesars Sportsbook below and get a no-sweat first bet up to $1, 000 when you sign up below! Texas StateTJ Finley: Kinne joined from Incarnate Word as the head coach and revitalized this Texas State offense, posting a top 20 EPA/Play mark. Finley also benefitted after transferring down from SEC Auburn, completing 69% of his passes with 24 touchdowns to only four interceptions, passing for 3, 296 yards. RiceAJ Padgett: J. T. Daniels retired from football due to concussions, so this will be the redshirt freshman Padgett's game. He played in the losing effort last year against Southern Mississippi, passing for 295 yards and three touchdowns, while also appearing in four games this season, starting three and winning two of them. On the year, Padgett has passed for 636 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.
Rice and Texas State will play in 2023 First Responder BowlWe’re bound for a Texas showdown we’ve never seen before at the FBS level. The Rice Owls and Texas State Bobcats will stay in their home state and square off in the First Responder Bowl on Dec. 26. Texas State (7-5, 4-4 Sun Belt) is bowl bound for the first time ever. The Bobcats are led by first-year head coach GJ Kinne who guided the Sun Belt program to their second winning season since joining the FBS.
I don't think the transfer portal will factor in too much to this game, which I make Texas State -3. Even if we adjust more towards the Bobcats on the news that Padgett will start in place of Daniels, I don't think it's a massive drop-off. With a ton of explosive plays in store, I'll side with variance and take the underdog to hang around and make this competitive. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Rice's offense line must hold up against Texas State's defense line that is second in the country in tackles for loss, but if it does this may turn into a high-scoring affair as the team is bottom 10 in explosive play rate allowed. Rice's defense has been above AAC average all season. The team is right around the national average in terms of yards per play (67th) and points per drive allowed (66), but the team will face an explosive Texas State offense that is 32nd in yards per play. There aren't many opt-outs in this game, but Texas State didn't have two offensive starters play in the regular season finale, left guard Dorion Stawn and wide receiver Joey Hobert.
Texas State vs. Rice Prediction, Odds, Trends and Key Players for First Responder BowlRice and Texas State meet in the First Responder Bowl on December 26th, the second straight appearance for the Owls, who face the upstart Bobcats, off a great season under first-year head coach GJ Kinne. Texas State had a great season under Kinne with a high-octane offense, while Rice will be onto its backup quarterback in AJ Padgett, who played in the bowl game last year and has shown to be capable in a handful of situations.
Texas State has run hot and cold during the season, on the wrong side of a 77-31 loss to Arkansas State before wrapping up the season with a 52-44 win at home against South Alabama. The team has a strong defensive line that is stout against the run, but its secondary is vulnerable to big passing plays, 122nd in EPA/Pass this season. Padgett has showcased he's capable under center and the Rice passing game has been elite for much of the season, 19th in EPA/Pass.
Texas State vs. Rice (Dec 26, 2023) Live Score Live coverage of the Texas State Bobcats vs. Rice Owls NCAAF game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Rice University Football vs Rice will make its 14th bowl appearance in school history when the Owls face Texas State in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl which will be played on Dec. 26 at ...
