Dave Gloeckner 
We finally hit a speed bump in our bowl game bets as backup QB’s were the story yesterday. The two we backed, Conner Harrell and Jaylen Henderson, we bad but for different reasons. But that’s the game and we have to take that info and tuck it away for future bets. Today we have four bowl games (one already in action) to choose from. Let’s get back on a winning track and build that bank roll back up.
2023 BOWL GAME RECORD: 8-4
Thursday December 28th
BADBOY MOWERS PINSTRIPE BOWL (2:15PM EST): RUTGERS SCARLETT KNIGHTS -1.5 vs MIAMI HURRICANES
Because Rutgers resides in the state of New Jersey, I can’t easily bet their games. But this one is big enough for me to cross state lines and get into the action. That’s because I see the Scarlett Knights having the motivational edge, as well as roster continuity and coaching, to win this game.
Rutgers lost their last four games but those were to Penn State, Iowa, Ohio State and Maryland. All bowl eligible teams and three ranked in the top 25. Miami is coming into this one with three losses in their last four games. But they are also without their starting QB Tyler Van Dyke, as well as roughly 10 other starters. They have to travel from warm sunny weather to a wet and rainy New York. The other factor to consider is HC Greg Schiano is 5-2 ATS in bowl games. He knows how to get his teams motivated and ready. Which is why I’m backing Rutgers today. Also, as of this writing, 90% of the betting tickets are on Miami.
POP-TARTS BOWL (5:45PM EST): NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK +3.5 vs KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
This looks like a great matchup on paper, with two top 25 teams battling it out for the frosted pastry championship. However, we have another case of significant opt-outs potentially watering down an attractive cross-conference matchup of good teams and coaches. Kansas State will be without their QB as Will Howard entered the transfer portal. They’re also going to be without their top 2 pass catchers and several key defensive players. Lastly, K-State lost offensive coordinator Collin Klein to the same job title at Texas A&M. It’s a lot to overcome for a team that almost won the Big 12 title last season.
As for NC State, their big loss is NT CJ Clark. But outside of that, they are mostly intact. And that’s good news as the Wolfpack won their last 5 games to close the season. For the record, I can’t stand how QB Brennan Armstrong plays. And NC State felt the same way by midseason. But backup QB MJ Morris redshirted midseason giving the ball back to Armstrong. With that, he ended up taking care of the ball better leading the Wolfpack to their successful finish.
In the end, the Wolfpack’s D is solid and should be able to contain the Kansas State run game. And as long as Armstrong can keep the chains moving with his legs, and not throw critical INT’s, then NC State will be victorious in the first ever Pop-Tart Bowl.
ALAMO BOWL (9:15 PM EST): ARIZONA WILDCATS -2.5 vs OKLAHOMA SOONERS
The Wildcats and Sooners meet tonight in the Alamo Bowl with both teams ranked in the top 25. That’s a normal accomplishment for the Sooners. But for Arizona, this was a surprising rise as they were predicted to be towards the bottom of the Pac-12. Which was rightfully so as they finished 2022 with a 1-11 record. And though they started slow, Arizona is coming in hot. The Wildcats are riding a 6-game win streak which was capped off with a 36-point win against their in-state rivals, ASU.
But the main talk will be Oklahoma’s last game as a Big-12 school and Arizona’s last in the Pac-12. As the Sooners are heading out, so is most of their offense as QB Dillon Gabriel is moving onto Oregon and their top two RB’s have also hit the portal. Add to that OC Jeff Lebby has moved over to Mississippi State. The Sooners defense wasn’t hit hard, but that unit struggled all year to stop anyone.
On the other hand, Arizona has starting QB Noah Fifita playing which is a major key as he threw 23 TD’s to only 5 INT’s. The Wildcats have opt-outs across the O-line but I think they can overcome that versus a suspect Sooners D.
I’m not sure what the Sooners will look like on offense. And Arizona boosts a solid D allowing 20.4 ppg. Give me the motivated Wildcats here against a Sooners team that is likely looking more forward to their future than the present. Add to that is the fact that Arizona was 10-2 ATS this season.
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