UTSA Roadrunners (3-1) vs. Rice Owls (1-3)
October 3, 2026 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Rice Owls 11.5 / UTSA Roadrunners -11.5; Over/Under: 56.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The UTSA Roadrunners and Rice Owls meet Saturday in week 5 college football action at Rice Stadium. Here’s a Rice vs. UTSA Prediction. This article will include a Rice vs. UTSA Pick.
UTSA Roadrunners Betting Preview
The UTSA Roadrunners beat Colorado State, lost to Texas, and play USF next. UTSA has won 6 of its last 8 games. Owen McCown is completing 68.9 percent of his passes for 862 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 1 interception. DJ Allen Jr. and AJ Wilson have combined for 437 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns, while Mekhi Anderson has 16 receptions.
The UTSA Roadrunners’ ground game is averaging 175.8 yards per contest, and Will Henderson III leads the way with 308 yards and 2 touchdowns. Defensively, UTSA is allowing 20.3 points and 450.8 yards per game. Brandon Tucker leads the UTSA Roadrunners with 37 tackles, James Walley Jr. has 1 sack, and Ahamad Chapman has 1 interception.
Rice Owls Betting Preview
The Rice Owls lost to Fresno State and Western Michigan, and will play East Carolina next. The Rice Owls have lost 6 of their last 7 games. Jacurri Brown is completing 56.6 percent of his passes for 322 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Barry Jackson Jr. and Jordan Clark have combined for 165 receiving yards and 1 touchdown, while Max Mosey has 2 receptions.
The Rice Owls’ ground game is averaging 268.8 yards per contest, and Jacurri Brown leads the way with 399 yards and 2 touchdowns. Defensively, Rice is allowing 30.3 points and 379 yards per game. AJ Brown leads the Rice Owls with 26 tackles, Chibby Nwajuaku has 2 sacks, and Jerrick Harper has 1 interception.
Why the Rice Owls will win
- UTSA has lost each of its last three October games as a road favorite.
- Rice has won each of its last three October games as a home underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Rice has covered the spread in each of its last four home games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- UTSA has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four road games in October.
- UTSA has lost the first half in four of its last five road games.
Why the UTSA Roadrunners will win
- The favorite has won each of Rice’s last nine games.
- Rice has lost each of its last seven games as an underdog.
- The favorite has covered the spread in eight of Rice’s last nine games.
- Rice has failed to cover the spread in seven of its last eight games as an underdog against teams from Texas.
- UTSA has won the first quarter in eight of its last nine games against Rice.
- Rice has lost the first half in each of its last nine games as an underdog against teams from Texas.
Total Points Facts
- Each of UTSA’s last 11 games as a favorite in Texas have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of Rice’s last six games as a home underdog have gone OVER the total points line.
Rice Owls Player Prop Facts
- Heading into Week 5, Jacurri Brown ranks 1st in the American Conference for rushing attempts (71) this season.
UTSA Roadrunners Player Prop Facts
- Heading into Week 5, Owen McCown ranks 6th amongst qualified players for sack percentage (1.6%) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Rice ranks 136th among FBS teams for passing yards per game this season (84.8).
- Rice ranks T131st among FBS teams for Q3 points per game this season (1.8).
- UTSA ranks 135th among FBS teams for 1st downs against this season (97).
- UTSA ranks T133rd among FBS teams for yards allowed per game this season (450.8).
Rice vs UTSA Prediction
As I said last week, UTSA is a good football team that beat a talented Texas State squad on the road and didn’t get smoked by Texas. It followed that up by dropping 59 points on Colorado State’s head. Rice runs the ball at a great level, but the rest of this team is awful across the board. Zero passing attack, don’t score, and the defense gets gashed on a weekly basis. UTSA is going to have a field day in this spot. I’m going to lay the points, as this game has a chance to get ugly.
