We’ve made it to the final game of the 2023 College Football season as Michigan and Washington face-off to decide the CFB championship. On paper, this looks like one of the better championship games in recent history as we have two undefeated teams who have found different ways to win all their games. So let’s get right to it and breakdown my favorite bets for tonight’s game in Houston, Texas.

2023 BOWL GAME RECORD: 18-11

Monday January 8th

CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (7:30PM EST): #1 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES vs #2 WASHINGTON HUSKIES

Tonight’s National Championship has so many storylines that catch your attention. For one, this is the first College Football Championship that doesn’t feature an SEC team since 2014. Then there’s the Washington Huskies, who are representing the Pac-12 Conference for the last time. The conference underwent a complete upheaval in the preseason leaving just Washington State and Oregon State behind. Thus ending the conference’s storied tradition. And it won’t be USC, UCLA or Oregon playing the conference’s last football game but instead the underdog Huskies.

As for Michigan, Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has been suspended twice this season for varying reasons. But the biggest one was a sign-stealing scandal that left doubts to football fans about whether they were playing on a even playing field. And through all that, they were able to prevail in every game and make it to the championship tonight vying to win their first undisputed title since 1948.

Putting those stories aside, there is a game to play and a trophy to be lifted. We have a dynamic Washington offense that is dominant in every aspect. QB Michael Penix Jr. has proven he can play at the highest of levels as he will be drafted in this spring’s NFL Draft. He has three dynamic receivers in Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja’Lynn Polk. All three pass catchers will be called on to make plays tonight in order for Washington to keep up with the Wolverines.

Michigan’s offense is much simpler as they depend on the running game behind star RB Blake Corum. And once the running game gets going, Michigan has full trust in their QB JJ McCarthy to make the right plays. For the season, McCarthy has thrown just 4 interceptions and he didn’t turn the ball over in their biggest games against Ohio State and Alabama.

The offenses are close, with an edge to Washington. But the biggest gap is the difference in the defenses. Washington is in the bottom 5 in the country in rush success defense and line yards allowed. On the other side, Michigan is 8th in both categories. Washington has a great O-Line but they haven’t seen a pass rush like Michigan, who is 10th in Havoc.

In the end, I think there is a way for Washington to win this game. They can pull off a game plan like TCU did last year when they upset Michigan. But that took the Frogs creating 3 turnovers and putting up almost 500 yards of offense. Those two tasks are going to be very hard to replicate versus this Michigan team. The Wolverines have a simpler equation to winning tonight and that’s with their bread-and-butter; run game and defense. Those two make for a combination that will make it tough for Washington to compete with. I will be cheering for the dog, but I will be betting the favorite. It’s Harbaugh’s time…..

PICK: MICHIGAN -4.5

OTHER GAME PROPS/BETS

Here are a few props/bets I also like for tonight:

• Blake Corum 2+ TD’s (-120)
• Blake Corum over 150 yards rushing (+400)
• Michael Penix Jr. 3+ Passing TD’s (+170)
• Jalen McMillan over 100 yards receiving (+375)
• Over 55 points (-110)

Now that you finished reading the College Football Bowl Game Betting Picks article make sure to check out our YouTube Channel for constant content for every game and slate in the NFL this season and hop in our Discord Expert Chat.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dgloeck) and my other content that is part of the WinDailySports family.

Happy 2024! I hope everyone had a great New Year’s celebration, even if it was as simple as staying home (my favorite). We finished 2023 strong going 4-1 in NFL Bets yesterday. Now we look to continue the hot streak in College Football with the last major day of Bowls for the 2023 season. After three early games, we have the two national semifinal games to watch in the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowls. It’s sure to be an exciting day and I can’t wait to see the storylines playout. Good luck and let’s go get a few more W’s!

2023 BOWL GAME RECORD: 16-8

Monday January 1st

RELIAQUEST BOWL (12:00PM EST): LSU TIGERS -9 vs WISCONSIN BADGERS

This is a matchup of good defense (Wisconsin) versus great offense (LSU). And I’m trying to convince myself that Wisconsin can stay in this game primarily because LSU’s defense is one of the worst in the entire nation. Heck, I just saw the Arizona Cardinals never punt the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles and pull off a massive upset in the NFL. So it really can happen.

But the problem is, Wisconsin’s offense just isn’t good enough to sustain drives and they’re without their star RB in Braelon Allen, who opted out for the NFL Draft. The Badgers are also without two top WR’s, their backup RB, and key lineman.

On the other sideline, LSU’s biggest absence is Heisman Trophy Winner QB Jayden Daniels. And while that is significant, backup QB Garrett Nussmeier has experience and the pedigree. He played in the SEC Championship last year and threw for almost 300 yards against Georgia. He also has his full allotment of weapons as WR Malik Nabers and WR Brian Thomas Jr will play in this game. Plus, HC Brian Kelly is looking to go 2-0 in bowls as coach at LSU. The Tigers won the Citrus Bowl versus a Big 10 team last year by the count of 63-7. Give me the coach with the fake southern accent to try and pull of a Kirby Smart today against a punchless opponent.

VRBO FIESTA BOWL (1:00PM EST): OREGON DUCKS -16 vs LIBERTY FLAMES

We all love the little guys especially when stepping up in competition. We remember the Boise State Broncos pulling of massive upsets in NY6 Bowl Games. And today, that little guy is Liberty who finished off a perfect season by winning the Conference USA Championship.

However, as much as I love betting the dogs, the Flames have not seen anything like what they’ll face today in Oregon. The Ducks, known for their explosive offense, boast one of the nation’s best defenses. Liberty’s strength is their running game, and Oregon has the athlete’s to counter. The Ducks finished 39th in defensive rush success rate and allowed just 3.4 ypc.

While Oregon will be without one of their top playmakers on offense in WR Tony Franklin, both QB Bo Nix and RB Bucky Irving are suiting up. Combine that with their other stars such as WR Tez Johnson and TE Terrance Ferguson and you have an offense that is ready to be on full display today. While Liberty’s defense was decent, they allowed 25 or more points in 6 of their last 7 games. That’s bad news when trying to slow down Nix and company.

Give me the Ducks who are positioning themselves for their transition to the Big 10 and want to show the nation they are ready. Remember, Dan Lanning comes from Georgia who often shows no mercy when playing the role of the bully.

CHEEZ-IT CITRUS BOWL (1:00 PM EST): IOWA HAWKEYES +6.5 vs TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

Iowa is so inept on offense but still found a way to navigate themselves to the Big 10 Championship Game as well as win 10 games on the season. It’s quite an impressive coaching job for HC Kirk Ferenz. They can also attribute most, if not all, of their success to one of the best defenses in the nation.

As for Tennessee, they finished a disappointing 8-4. Coming into this season they had playoff aspirations, based off their 2022 season where they went 11-2. All of the Volunteers top offensive players have opted out. They will turn to freshman QB Nico Imaleava. While Tennessee fans are excited to see the five-star recruit in action, he will have his hands full against a tough defense.

I expect Tennessee to have trouble navigating the Hawkeyes defense. Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz has 10 career bowl wins and knows how to motivate his team for post season football. I’ll take the points here and expect turnovers to be a big factor.

ROSE BOWL (5:00 PM EST): #4 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE vs #1 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

Pick will be posted by 1pm EST

SUGAR BOWL (8:30 PM EST): #3 TEXAS LONGHORNS vs #2 WASHINGTON HUSKIES

Pick will be posted by 1pm EST

Now that you finished reading the College Football Bowl Game Betting Picks article make sure to check out our YouTube Channel for constant content for every game and slate in the NFL this season and hop in our Discord Expert Chat.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dgloeck) and my other content that is part of the WinDailySports family.

Missouri’s cover, and outright win, helped us close out a 3-1 day and move our bowl record to 13-7. Today brings us another full card of bowl games leading into a big NFL matchup between the Lions and Cowboys. So it’s a full day of football to keep an eye on as you get prepared for NYE.

2023 BOWL GAME RECORD: 13-7

Saturday December 30th

CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL (12:00PM EST): OLE MISS REBELS +6 vs PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS

Both schools come into this game with intact offensive skill positions. Penn State has the bigger opt-out issues as they are losing their top defender, Chop Robinson, and top offensive lineman, Olu Fashanu, for this game. They also may be without star DB Kalen King though there is news he will play.

On the other hand, the Rebels biggest loss is Edge rusher Cedric Johnson. But to offset that, they’ve been riding a wave of momentum with several key players signing at Ole Miss as they have a projected top 10 recruiting class in 2024. HC Lane Kiffin will want to impress the new class and come out of this game with a victory.

We’ve already seen one SEC team prevail against the Big 10 in Missouri over Ohio State. And while OSU was shorthanded, it did show the elite level of play that occurs week in and week out in the SEC. Penn State played the top teams in the Big 10, but their out of conference schedule was WVU, Delaware, and UMASS. That’ll rack up wins, but won’t prepare you for the top teams in the nation. Remember, Michigan did not pass the ball once against Penn State in the 2nd half of their victory in University Park. Ole Miss has one of the best RB’s in the nation in Quinton Judkins and I expect them to be physical and try to replicate Michigan’s success.

So with that, I’m backing the Rebels who have a slight edge in roster continuity and a motivation. And I also think schedule is the biggest factor when handicapping this game.

TRANSPERFECT MUSIC CITY BOWL (2:00PM EST): MARYLAND TERRAPINS +7 vs AUBURN TIGERS

If you weren’t aware, Tua Tagovailoa’s brother is the starting QB at Maryland. However, you won’t get a chance to see Taulia Tagovailoa play today as he opted out to prepare for the National Football League draft. And that’s the biggest news of this game as it moved the spread over 6 points in Auburn’s favor.

And that is rightfully so as the Tigers do own one of the better defenses in the nation. If there is any area, they are susceptible to it is against the run as they rank 73rd in rush success defense. And that will be a key to this game as RB Roman Hemby will be the focal point for the Terrapins in Taulia’s absence.

For me this is simply too many points for an Auburn team that lost 31-10 versus New Mexico State back in November. Their offense is not capable of running away from teams as they rank 102nd in pass success. QB Payton Thorne had a decent year but just isn’t slinging it around like he was at Michigan State. As much as Maryland football scares me, my hope is that the turnovers and pass-heavy play calling are both minimized without Tua Two behind center. And that will be the path to a close game and Terrapin cover.

CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL (4:00 PM EST): GEORGIA BULLDOGS -20 vs FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES

I’m not even sure I’ll bet this game as there is too much uncertainty. On one hand, Georgia is coming into this game almost fully intact. Even their one big question mark, TE Brock Bowers, looks like he’ll play. On the other hand, we have Florida State who has at least 20 players opting out, injured or in the portal. They are without their top 2 QB’s, top 3 WR’s, and top 3 RB’s. The poor offense that we saw against Louisville, which USC QB Miller Moss just eviscerated, will be even worse today.

As much as head coach Mike Norvell can be a great motivator, the talent gap is just too wide for FSU to keep this close. I hate betting a line this high especially knowing that the entire public will also back UGA. But I can’t put my money on QB Brock Glenn and this semblance of weapons against a tenacious Georgia team that is motivated to win another bowl game.

BARSTOOL SPORTS ARIZONA BOWL (4:30 PM EST): WYOMING COWBOYS -3.5 vs TOLEDO ROCKETS

Motivation will be on the side of Wyoming in this game as Head Coach Craig Bohl has announced his retirement from football. Bohl coached 10 seasons at Wyoming, including coaching QB Josh Allen. But prior to that he was HC at North Dakota State where he won three National Titles. The Cowboys will surely want to win one for their coach and put everything on the line to do so. In doing so, they’ll have most of their team available including 6th year starting QB Andrew Peasley.

For Toledo, they are losing several key players including QB Dequan Finn and RB Peny Boone. They had a great year, going 11-2, and losing to just Illinois and Miami-OH (in the MAC Championship game). But the motivation as well as roster is in shambles.

Finally, while Toledo boasts a solid D their strength is against the pass. And Wyoming just doesn’t pass the ball that often and instead leans on Peasley and RB Harrison Waylee to carry the load. Because of that, and the other edges explained above, I’m going with Wyoming today to cover this line and win the Arizona Bowl.

Now that you finished reading the College Football Bowl Game Betting Picks article make sure to check out our YouTube Channel for constant content for every game and slate in the NFL this season and hop in our Discord Expert Chat.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dgloeck) and my other content that is part of the WinDailySports family.

Arizona’s win in the Alamo Bowl last night capped off a good day as we went 2-1 in our article yesterday. We’re now heading into the halfway point as far as games remaining go. After today’s four game college bowl slate, we’ll only ten more bowl games to watch and bet. But the good news is, almost all games remaining are between Power 5 schools so the best is yet to come. Let’s keep the momentum rolling into a set of solid games today.

2023 BOWL GAME RECORD: 10-6

Friday December 29th

TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL (12:00PM EST): KENTUCKY WILDCATS +4.5 vs CLEMSON TIGERS

The Kentucky Wildcats are playing in their 8th consecutive bowl which is a program record. Over the past seven seasons under coach Mark Stoops, they are 4-3 in bowl games. And outside of the first, a 33-18 loss to Ga Tech, and last, a 21-0 loss to Iowa, they have all been decided by 7 or less. The point being here is that the Wildcats are almost always up for this game under Stoops and he plays the underdog role well.

As for Clemson, they are 11-8 in bowl games under HC Dabo Swinney. They are coming off a loss in last year’s Orange Bowl to Tennessee. And they are also dealing with several transfer and opt-outs, including leading tackler Jeremiah Trotter Jr. There is also a question of motivation as they are playing in a non Big 6 Bowl game for only the second time in eight years.

We’ve talked about three factors we always use as part of our handicapping. In this one, I believe Kentucky has two advantages which are roster continuity and motivation. But we are going to add a fourth to consider as we get later in the bowl season. And that’s conference record. The SEC has played only one game and is 0-1. But I think we all know they are the best conference in the nation. On the other hand, the ACC is now 4-5 overall with their two ranked teams losing in NC State and Louisville.

I’m going to ride the Wildcats today and take the points. QB Cade Klubnik struggled against a South Carolina team that allowed the 2nd most points in the SEC. While I don’t have a ton of faith in Kentucky QB Devin Leary, he’s played Clemson three times prior and has experience that will help in this one.

TONY THE TIGER SUN BOWL (2:00PM EST): NOTRE DAME IRISH -6 vs OREGON STATE BEAVERS

If you don’t know about my affinity for the Oregon State Beavers, you just have to look up prior YouTube videos of Betting for Breakfast. Everything that HC Jonathan Smith built in Corvallis. But he is now gone as he moved to the Big 10 and Michigan State. He’s taking with him several key players including backup QB Aidan Chiles. The Beavers are also without their starting QB DJ Uiagalelei. And without those key players, Oregon State would look to lean on RB Damien Martinez but he is ruled out due to an arrest and impending disciplinary actions.

As bad as Oregon State has it, Notre Dame may be even more shorthanded. They are without QB Sam Hartman who opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft (by the way, if you ever want to hear me rant just ask my opinion of Sam Hartman). The Irish are also without all three of their top WR’s. So they have a QB in Steve Angelini that has seven snaps this season throwing to receivers that haven’t caught more than 20 balls this year.

So this game lines up as an ugly one. The difference will likely be the defense of Notre Dame and their coaching continuity. The Fighting Irish will be motivated to get to double digit wins and their star S Xavier Watts will make enough plays to lead them to that accomplishment.

AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL (3:30 PM EST): IOWA STATE CYCLONES -10.5 vs MEMPHIS TIGERS

This spread just stands out. We have a Memphis team that is 9-3 and their only losses were to Mizzou, SMU and Tulane. Yet they are 10.5 underdogs to Iowa State who lost to Ohio? Then we look deeper and see that Memphis still has QB Seth Hanigan and WR Roc Taylor, they’re two best offensive weapons. So what gives to make this line so big? Ultimately, it’s the Tigers defense which is allowing 29 points per game. And that number would have been worse if you take away games against Bethune and Arkansas St where they allowed a combined 17 points.

The other factor is Iowa State started clicking down the stretch. They hung tough against Texas as it was a one score game heading into the 4th quarter. And they upset 19th ranked Kansas State in their finale. The Cyclones have momentum as well as the better defense. I’m going to side with the faves here and not get suckered in by the big number.

GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL (8:00 PM EST): MISSOURI TIGERS +4.5 vs OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

The Missouri Tigers had one of their best seasons in program history. They finished 10-2 with their only two losses to Georgia and LSU. They are absolutely dialed in for this one as they are fired up to test their progress against one of the blue bloods of College Football.

Now that you finished reading the NFL BETS & SURVIVOR POOL PICKS article make sure to check out our YouTube Channel for constant content for every game and slate in the NFL this season and hop in our Discord Expert Chat.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dgloeck) and my other content that is part of the WinDailySports family.

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.

Now that you finished reading the NFL BETS & SURVIVOR POOL PICKS article make sure to check out our YouTube Channel for constant content for every game and slate in the NFL this season and hop in our Discord Expert Chat.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dgloeck) and my other content that is part of the WinDailySports family.

We almost had a clean sweep, but UNLV couldn’t convert their two-point conversions. But getting a 2-1 record and making money on the day is ultimately what we’re about. Today brings another crowded slate of college football bowl games for our betting pleasure. We have four games with the first kicking off at 2:00 PM EST. This is where we start our turn to the best bowl games as seven of the eight playing today are from the Power 5 conferences. And the one that’s not in the Power 5, is ranked in the top 25.

2023 BOWL GAME RECORD: 6-1

Wednesday December 27th

MILITARY BOWL (2:00PM EST): VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES -10.5 vs TULANE GREEN WAVE

We talked yesterday about three factors we look at during college football bowl season: Motivation, Roster Continuity, and Coaching. The Tulane Green Wave have none of those coming into today.

Once Tulane lost their conference championship to SMU, they were left out of a New Year’s Six Bowl Game. Their consolation prize is playing a 6-6 Virginia Tech team in the Military Bowl today. So, their motivation is definitely in question. But the bigger factor is that Tulane is without their Head Coach who left for the same job at the University of Houston. And they already hired their next HC so Slade Nagle, the interim coach, is likely auditioning for his next job. Then there’s the roster, which has been decimated with transfers and injuries. The Green Wave will be without their starting QB, top two WR’s, starting TE, and several offensive lineman and key defensive players. They will likely be using 10 new starters between defense and offense.

On the other side of the field, Virginia Tech comes into this game motivated, healthy and with their entire coaching staff intact. The Hokies won five of their last eight games including a blowout of their rivals, UVA, in the last game to become bowl eligible. They are 6-6 but fully motivated to ensure that turns into a winning season. They also have QB Kyron Drones who developed into a very good signal caller by season’s end. He is a dual threat at the position as he comes into today’s game with over 600 yards rushing. Va Tech also has a star at RB in Byashul Tuten who is also a threat in the kick return game.

I’m a big fan of Tulane and what they’ve done in recent years. But their only key player on offense left to play is RB Makhai Hughes and Tulane’s running game was ranked 114th in the country. Va Tech will focus on stopping the run and force QB Kai Horton to throw the ball. That will be at the Hokies advantage as Horton finished the season with a measly 50% completion rate. On offense, Va Tech will move the ball due to Tulane’s opt outs and injuries on all three levels. This feels like too many points, but I just think the motivation is there with Va Tech and I’ll take them to cover this big number.

DUKE’S MAYO BOWL (5:30PM EST): NORTH CAROLINA TARHEELS +6.5 vs WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

The big story in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl is that UNC QB Drake Maye opted out for the NFL Draft. But also following the star QB are WR Tez Walker and several other key players on UNC. They are now forced to start freshman QB Conner Harrell without their top WR’s and TE. And we all know UNC’s defense is a sieve. So the cards are stacked against the Tar Heels today.

The Mountaineers, on the other hand, are coming into this game with key pieces missing on defense and without their top RB. But they have their QB, Garrett Greene, who is a dual threat, playing and ready to go. He led a team that surpassed expectations finishing 8-4 and 4th place finish in the Big 12.

While two major points, motivation and roster continuity, favor WVU heavily, I am going to back UNC today. You can look at every publication or writing and not find one person picking North Carolina. However, UNC has star RB Omarion Hampton who was 3rd in the nation in rushing yards per game. And freshman QB Conner Harrell is a dual threat as well and can create issues for a WVU defense that was 88th in rush yards success and 71st in line yards. I believe UNC can hang in this game with their running attack and cover the posted number.

HOLIDAY BOWL (8:00 PM EST): LOUISVILLE CARDINALS -6.5 vs USC TROJANS

The USC Trojans are playing without three key players in QB Caleb Williams, WR Brenden Rice and RB MarShawn Lloyd. And that’s significant as those players could often cover up a historically bad defense. The Trojans allowed 34.9 points per game. In their last 9 games, they allowed 40 points or more five times. And they didn’t allow less than 28 points in any of those contests.

As for Louisville, they lost talent on offense as RB Jawhar Jordan and WR Jamari Thrash opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft. But they are almost fully stocked on defense which is a key as that unit allowed just 19.7 points per game. And the Cardinals should still be effective at moving the ball against the Trojans as they have a good backup in RB Isaac Guerendo who averaged 6.0 ypc.

While the Trojans still have talent on offense, the defense is the issue. Louisville can throw up some questionable performances, as shown versus Pitt and Indiana. But this USC defense is too bad for Louisville to not find positive plays in both the passing and running game. Which will allow the Cards defense to play aggressively and help them bring home the W.

TAXACT TEXAS BOWL (9:00 PM EST): TEXAS A&M AGGIES +3 vs OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

The Aggies are without their coach as they pulled the plug on the Jimbo Fisher era in College Station. But I actually think that works in their advantage as Texas A&M carried a gray cloud over them all season. They brought in former defensive coordinator Mike Elko to take the reigns and bring the program back to the top of the SEC. As for the motivation, they have DC Elijah Robinson coaching this game. Robinson has accepted the head coaching position at Syracuse and if you saw that interview, you’d be ready to strap on the pads and play for him. Losing OC Bobby Petrino will be a factor but I believe A&M has the resources, and talent, to move the ball on this porous Oklahoma State defense.

And that’s where my betting angle lies as the Cowboys defense is poor. They rank 120th in pass success rate and 94th in havoc. Their run defense looks good on paper, only because it’s so easy to pass on this team. In their last game, the Big 12 Championship, they allowed 664 yards to Texas. Just three weeks before that, they allowed 592 yards to UCF and lost 45-3.

HC Mike Gundy has done a good job with what he has. RB Ollie Gordon is an amazing talent and will be a big factor today. But even with the question marks on the Aggies offense, they will be able to move the ball efficiently against a bad defense. And A&M has a top 10 defense that will have a script to bottle up Gordon and the Cowboys O. Take the points but I also like A&M moneyline (+130).

Now that you finished reading the NFL BETS & SURVIVOR POOL PICKS article make sure to check out our YouTube Channel for constant content for every game and slate in the NFL this season and hop in our Discord Expert Chat.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dgloeck) and my other content that is part of the WinDailySports family.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or Festivus. I personally have two more family Christmas parties to celebrate so the holiday season is still in full effect. But after a fun filled day of NFL and NBA, we turn our attention to College Football. Today starts the last 25 bowl games of the season. If you’ve followed me in WinDaily discord, I’m 4-0 to start the Bowl Season so far. And while that’s surely to change, as losses will come, I’m looking to see if we can have a big college football bowl season and will be posting all bowl games (between articles and discord) over the next week.

There are 3 games on the slate today and I will go over each below. Bowl games are very difficult for both bettors and Vegas as we have so much movement with the transfer portal and coaching staffs. Did you know someone can elect to enter the transfer portal but still play their bowl game with their current team? It’s really free agency in college which I’m not sure how I feel about it. Obviously, kids should be given a choice. But to see over 100 QB’s in the portal for only 133 starting positions, is really mind blowing. Anyway, onwards we go as we’ll try and work through the labyrinth of which teams have the proper stability, along with motivation and personnel, to cover their spreads.

2023 BOWL GAME RECORD: 4-0

Tuesday December 26th

MINNESOTA GOPHERS -3 vs BOWLING GREEN FALCONS

Minnesota lost four straight to end the season and finished with a 5-7 record. But they were able to get a bowl game due to number of teams needed to fill all the spots and Minnesota having a high Academic Progress Rate. And that should be enough for PJ Fleck to use as motivation to get his team ready to play today. They might not have deserved it, but they earned it based on their academic focus. Additionally, BGSU came to Minnesota two years ago and pulled off a massive upset as a 30.5 point dog. That has to be floating around the Minnesota locker room and adding to the motivational wall.

But the reason I am backing the Gophers is because of the BGSU defense. They rank 110th in the country in rush success defense. And they are 97th in havoc and 105th in line yards. The Falcons are decent at pass coverage, but the Gophers run the ball 60% of the time. So the key matchup will be the Minnesota’s run offense versus Bowling Green’s run defense.

Also factor in Minnesota is without their top two QB’s and Cole Kramer will make his first career start. But that just means a more concerted effort at dominating the line and handing the ball off to RB Darius Taylor, who is slated to be back after missing the last month. With the advantage they have in the trenches, I believe this to be the primary reason PJ Fleck’s team comes out victorious today. Add to that, the Gophers HC is 4-0 in bowl games and Minnesota has won six straight bowl’s overall.

TEXAS STATE BOBCATS -3.5 vs RICE OWLS

Texas State is a great story as they’re appearing in the program’s first ever college football bowl game. They finished second in the Sun Belt West Division and ended the season with a 7-5 record. For the Bobcats, this is all about offense as the rank in the top 25 in both rushing and passing offense. But with that comes a bad defense, as they’ve allowed at least 20 points in every game this season including a game where they allowed 77 to South Alabama. QB TJ Finley, formerly of LSU and Auburn, has been the star for the Bobcats as he surpassed 3000 yards passing on the season.

For Rice, they will be without QB JT Daniels as he retired late in the season due to medical issues (concussion). But their freshman QB, AJ Padgett, was able to start the last three games of the season and lead them to a 2-1 finish. The Owls are a slower paced team but very efficient in the passing game, ranking 38th in the nation in pass offense. But their rushing offense in non-existent as they are 113th overall in that category.

In the end, the public is fully on the Owls and have lowered this spread from 5.5 to 3.5. I expect it to close around 3 so I’m going to wait to place this bet. But even at 3.5, I will be the Bobcats. This total is 60.5 meaning we will see points. And in a high scoring affair, the hook doesn’t worry me as much. Instead, I’m more focused on the motivation of a team that is making their first appearance. I’m also backing an offense that in multi-dimensional and did not lose anything in the portal. Motivation, talent, and cohesiveness are why I’m backing the fave here.

UNLV RUNNING REBELS +11 vs KANSAS JAYHAWKS

In the nightcap, we have a great college basketball matchup between UNLV and Kansas. All kidding aside, these two notorious basketball schools have made impressive gains in their football programs over the past few years. Kansas’s ascension is primarily mapped to their hiring of HC Lance Leipold. He has brought his winning style from Buffalo and turned the Jayhawks into a contender in the Big 12. They are making their second straight bowl game after not being in one for 14 years. As for UNLV, they have turned around a two-year stretch where they went 2-16 to make it to their first bowl game in 10 years. In fact, their 9 wins this season are their most since 1984.

Kansas will be without QB Jaylon Daniels but have a serviceable backup in Jason Bean. But the big news for Kansas is that RB Devin Neal will play in the game and will be the best player on the field tonight in Vegas. For UNLV, they lost several players on defense due to injury and transfers. And this is coming from a defense that allowed 44 points in the MWC championship game. But the reason I back UNLV is their high powered offense, led by QB Jordan Maiava, is mostly intact and should be able to stay close enough with Kansas to cover this big number. The Rebels were 2nd in the nation with 37 rushing TD’s.

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