Rice vs Tulsa Prediction College Basketball Picks 1/1/25

In this article, we will formulate a Rice vs Tulsa prediction for this College Basketball game on Wednesday, January 1st at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this College Basketball matchup.

Rice Owls Betting Preview

The Rice Owls are 9-4 (0-0) this season after they defeated Prairie View by a score of 64-46 in their last game. Rice trailed 27-23 at the half, but they outscored Prairie View by a total of 41-19 in the second half for the win. The Owls shot 44.1% from the field, 25% on three-pointers, and 42.1% on free throws in the game. Andrew Akuchie led Rice with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Trae Broadnax added 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win.   

Prior to that loss, the Owls lost to a non-D-1 team by a score of 69-68 but did beat Alcorn State by a score of 77-75 before that. Rice has alternated wins and losses over their last five games, but they did start the season by winning five of their first six. Rice has scored 70.2 points per game and they have allowed 65.6 points per game, while also averaging 40.1 rebounds and 11.5 assists per game this season. Trae Broadnax is averaging 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, while Kellen Amos is averaging 10.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game this season. Rice is shooting 41.9% from the field, 68.2% on free throws, and 31.8% on three-pointers this year. 

Tulsa Golden Hurricane Betting Preview

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane are 6-7 (0-0) this year after they defeated SW Christian by a score of 96-63 in their last game. Tulsa led 53-37 at halftime and added 43 points in the second half for the blowout win. The Golden Hurricane shot 56.1% from the field, 53.3% on three-pointers, and 60% on free throws in the game. Tyshawn Archie led Tulsa with 18 points and five rebounds, while Keaston Willis added 14 points and three rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Golden Hurricane defeated Mississippi Valley State by a score of 93-48 but did lose the previous four games. Tulsa has lost seven of their last ten games after starting the season with three straight wins. Tulsa has scored 77.3 points per game and they have allowed 73.7 points per game, while also averaging 39.2 rebounds and 14.4 assists per game this season. Keaston Willis is averaging 14.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, while Dwon Odom is averaging 12.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season. Tulsa is shooting 42.7% from the field, 66.7% on free throws, and 32.4% on three-pointers this year. 

Why Rice will beat Tulsa 

• Tulsa has lost 22 of its last 24 Wednesday games against Conference opponents.

Rice vs Tulsa Prediction 

Tulsa comes into this matchup on a two-game winning streak, but one of those wins was against a non-D-1 team. The Golden Hurricanes have struggled over the last few weeks and they only have four wins against D-1 teams this year. Rice has had a successful start to the season and they have won eight of their last 11 games, but they did have a bad loss against a non-D-1 team two games ago. Neither team is shooting the ball very well this season, but Rice is the much better defensive team. This should be a pretty good matchup between two evenly matched teams, but I am going to take the points with Rice on the road.