Texas vs Rice 9/18/21 College Football Picks, Odds, Predictions

The Texas Longhorns meet the Rice Owls in week 3 college football action from DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.

The Rice Owls will try to rebound after ending up on the wrong end of a 44-7 loss at the hands of Houston last time out. Luke McCaffret has thrown for 161 yards, a touchdown and 3 interceptions on 48.3% passing while Wiley Green’s tossed for 152 yards, a touchdown and 3 picks of his own on 58% passing. Khalan Griffin has a team-high 121 rushing yards while August Pitre leads Rice’s receiving group with 97 receiving yards and a score this season. Defensively, Antonio Montero leads a team-high 21 total tackles and a sack this season.

The Texas Longhorns will try to rebound from a 40-21 beat-down loss to Arkansas last time out. Hudson Card’s thrown for 285 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 61.1% passing while Bijan Robinson leads the Longhorns in rushing with 172 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Casey Thomson’s thrown for a score and rushed for two more this season while Jordan Whittington has a team-high 12 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown this season for Texas. Defensively, DeMarvion Overshown leads the ‘Horns with 21 total tackles at the linebacker spot for Texas.

Rice is 9-4 ATS in their last 13 road games and 7-3 Ats in their last 10 games as a road underdog while the over is 8-2-1 in their last 11 games in September. Texas is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games against C-USA and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games while the over is 6-0 in their last 6 games against a team with a losing record.

I get the case that could be made for either side here, but that Arkansas game had all sorts of funk radiating off of that line. I like Rice, but the issue is that the Owls are no match here for a ticked off Texas team that knows that they should’ve put a better foot forward against the Razorbacks. I think this is going to be a bit of a drilling, so give me Texas and lay the points.