Texas football opens as five-touchdown favorite over Rice in Week 1

Game week has arrived for Texas football as head coach Steve Sarkisian and his squad readies for the Rice Owls at home at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Sep. 2, with the kickoff time set for 2:30 p.m. CT. The long wait will soon be over for Texas fans when their squad takes the field at DKR for the opener this weekend.

Texas enters its final year in the Big 12 (before leaving for the SEC in 2024), looking to compete for a Big 12 title and potentially contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Texas posted a record of 8-5 (6-3 Big 12) last season.

Sark and the Longhorns have high expectations heading into the 2023 season. Texas ranks No. 11 in the preseason AP Poll and Coaches Poll. The Longhorns were also picked to win the Big 12 in the preseason media poll for the first time since the 2009 season.

Meanwhile, Rice has a difficult path ahead this fall in its first season competing in the American Athletic Conference. The Owls left the Conference-USA after 18 years to join the new-look AAC this year. Although, Rice is coming off its best season in nearly a decade last fall, recording at least five wins for the first time since 2015.

Rice was picked to finish 12th of 14 teams in the AAC media preseason poll.

Here’s a look at the opening odds for Texas as it gets ready to face Rice at home at DKR in Austin, TX, to open up the 2023 regular season on Sep. 2 at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Texas football vs. Rice: Opening odds for Week 1

Texas opens up as a 35-point favorite over Rice in this game (per Caesers Sportsbook). The over/under is set at 59.0 points.

According to the ESPN Football Power Index, Texas has a 97.1 percent chance of beating Rice.

Texas vs. Rice series history

Texas holds the edge in the all-time series against Rice, with a record of 74-21-1. The Longhorns hold a 15-game winning streak in the series against Rice, dating back to the 1995 season.

The last time Texas and Rice met on the gridiron was Sark’s third game as the Longhorns’ head coach in the 2021 campaign. Texas downed Rice 58-0 in that meeting in 2021.