Sept. 26, 2026, 11:05 a.m. ET

A squad hoping to compete in the newly reformed Pac-12 conference in its first season faces a non-conference battle against an American opponent on Saturday night.

Fresno State (2-1) saw its only blemish come in a shutout loss to USC, but it has since rolled to double digit wins against in-state foes Sacramento State and San Jose State. The Bulldogs will look to extend that winning streak to three with Rice (1-2) coming to town.

The Owls won their opener against Houston Christian, but they were shutout by Notre Dame in Week 2 and fell by seven against a solid Western Michigan team in Week 3.

If you are looking for some betting advice for the matchup, we’ve got you covered. Here are the latest odds for the game, courtesy of FanDuel.

Fresno State vs. Rice game odds:

All college football odds via FanDuel

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!Spread: Rice +13.5 (-105), Fresno State -13.5 (-115)Money Line: Rice +450, Fresno State -630Over-Under: Over 44.5 (-110), Under 44.5 (-110)Fresno State vs. Rice prediction, pick:

This matchup feels fairly lopsided on paper, though given its performance against a potential G6 playoff contender last week, it’s probably a bit better than the record and raw numbers show. Stil, Fresno has a lot going for it. Its passing game is solid, and though its run game has left a bit to be desired, it has a good lead back in Bryson Donelson.

Its defense has also fared well against like competition, and even in the USC game, it held the Trojans’ rushing attack largely in check. It’s going to get a heavy dose of the rushing game against a Rice team that runs an option-based offense and has attempted just 36 passes with quarterback Jacurri Brown, who also paces the team in rushing.

That could cause some problems, but given Fresno’s defensive strengths, I think it could be a long night for the Owls offense.

Prediction: Fresno State 32, Rice 14

Best Bet: Fresno State -13.5

Fresno State vs. Rice channel, start time, streaming:

Time: 10 p.m. ET

TV: CW

Stream: FuboTV

Watch Fresno State vs. Rice on FuboTV (Free Trial)

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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