Texas Bowl: Western Michigan-Rice Betting Odds, Picks, and Predictions

The Rice Owls have the home field advantage when they play the Western Michigan Broncos for the first time ever in the 2008 Texas Bowl.

This will be the second straight bowl appearance for the Broncos, but just the fourth in the team’s school history. Unfortunately, all three of the Broncos’ previous bowl games ended in a loss, including last year in the International Bowl, as WMU lost to Cincinnati in a well-fought battle by a score of 27-24.

The Owls are playing in their ninth bowl in school history, but just their second since 1961. Rice won its first four bowl games, but the team has not won since, losing its last four postseason games, including the 2006 New Orleans Bowl, where Rice was crushed by Troy by a score of 41-17.

5dimes.com oddsmakers currently have the Rice Owls posted as three-point betting odds favorites against the Western Michigan Broncos in this year's Texas Bowl, with the game's over/under sitting at 73 total points.

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Here are some betting trends to consider for the Texas Bowl.

Broncos are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0.
Broncos are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games following an ATS loss.
Broncos are 2-5-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Owls are 5-1 ATS in their last six games as a favorite.
Owls are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
Owls are 4-1 ATS in their last five games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.

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