RADIO
Mike's CFB betting picks against the spread for the first week of bowl games, December 23 through December 27, 2024. Who will win the bowl games during the week of Christmas?
The bowls start picking up in earnest after Christmas. For those spread picks, I will likely do an article per day. It is the age of opt-outs, even from teams in the playoffs. This is the most up-to-date site I've found so far. It has been a great help over the first week!
I closed out the regular season strong, going 8-2 in Championship Week and the Army/Navy game. The bowls have been hit-and-miss, but these things can happen when teams have half of their starters from the team that got them to said bowl out of action. It's not pretty, but it's life in college football in 2024.
These picks are for entertainment purposes only. Don't bet more than you can afford. This is supposed to be for fun and excitement. I may be under .500 on the season, but I'm having a blast and am still up some real money.
CFB Betting Picks for Week 2 Bowl Games (12/23 Through 12/27 2024)
I will pick every college football game every week. It's not a top 5. Not a top 10. All of them. Big deal, right? Lots of people make picks. Well, I do them all against the spread. I take the odds of each game, average them out at all the Vegas casinos, and round to the nearest half. There will be no ties here. Ties are for the other (European) football.
UTSA (-13.5) at Coastal Carolina (Monday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
I was going to lock in my bet on this last week and I should have. The line was a touchdown lower then. Ethan Vasko is transferring to Liberty and isn't expected to play. UTSA has most tools at its disposal. Yeah, it's a road game in a bowl, but this UTSA team is still fun and exciting to watch. Give me the Roadrunners.
Northern Illinois (-3.5) vs. Fresno State at Boise, ID (Monday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
Somewhere in South Florida, the Miami Hurricanes are wondering what they have to do to play in Boise during the day. They played there at night a couple of times with terrible results. Thankfully, this is the last time we'll have to see the Smurf Turf in 2024.
Unfortunately, both teams are a shadow of the teams that got them here. Both starting quarterbacks are transferring and NIU will be without star RB Antario Brown again. This is the strong run game and defense of NIU against the high-flying Fresno passing attack. Mac Dalena is expected to play, but he has an unproven player throwing to him. Give me NIU.
South Florida vs. San Jose State (-3.5) at Honolulu, HI (Tuesday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
It's a homecoming game for San Jose State coach Ken Niumatalolo. He played quarterback at Hawaii and is from the islands. Still, I'm surprised SJSU is favored. There are rumblings that Byrum Brown might play in this game. Keep a close eye on this one.
Since information on Brown is murky at best, I'm going with SJSU. I'm not touching this unless we get confirmation though. If Brown is confirmed out, I'm upping the bet to three points. If Brown starts, I'm taking USF outright for three points.
Pittsburgh (-6.5) vs. Toledo at Detroit, MI (Thursday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 1
BREAKING: There is rumors coming out of Pittsburgh that Star RS-FR QB Eli Holstein is entering the Transfer Portal. The transfer from Alabama threw for 2,225 Yards and 17 TDs in 10 games this year. Would be a massive blow to Coach Narduzzi’s team. pic.twitter.com/ksEa3kRaXx
— Hot Rod (@HoldTheRopeRR) December 16, 2024
I have it on good authority that Eli Holstein is not transferring from Pitt
— Jack Maurer (@jackmmaurer) December 18, 2024
This one is a mess. The line is dipping due to rumors (mostly unfounded so far) that Eli Holstein is transferring out of Pittsburgh. If that's true, Pitt will be on QB4 for this game and might be without Desmond Reid as well.
Toledo is not a good team, but Pitt doesn't have a good enough team to beat them with depth. As of now, I'm not touching this one. Give me Pitt since I have to pick. If Holstein is healthy enough to play and doesn't transfer, I'm significantly upping the bet. Stay tuned.
Rutgers vs. Kansas State (-6.5) at Phoenix, AZ (Thursday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 5
This line is a joke. K-State is a significantly better team. Give me Willie.
Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green (-7.5) at Mobile, AL (Thursday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 4
Harold Fannin, Jr. will go about his business with his #BGSU teammates during the bowl game preparation. You can count on him to take the high road after this Mackey snub. And then he’ll go out & break the TE season record on 12/26. And then become a draft steal for an #NFL club.
— James Lautzenheiser (@J_Lautzenheiser) December 13, 2024
Harold Fannin Jr. announced that he was playing in this game even before the Mackey snub. ESPN claims another. They got the Tyler Warren hype train rolling and it derailed the rightful winner (Fannin). There are also rumors that RB Terion Stewart, who is in the transfer portal, will play as well. I was already on Bowling Green. Now I'm upping the bet!
Oklahoma (-3.5) vs. Navy at Fort Worth, TX (Friday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
There is no way on God's green earth that Oklahoma should be favored without Jackson Arnold and the top six receivers on the depth chart. I'm a fan so I want to see an Oklahoma win, but I don't think it happens. Give me Navy.
Georgia Tech (-2.5) vs. Vanderbilt at Birmingham, AL (Friday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
Bet against Diego Pavia at your own risk. Give me Vandy.
Texas Tech vs. Arkansas (-1.5) at Memphis, TN (Friday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
Tahj Brooks officially listed as the RB1 on Tech’s Liberty Bowl depth chart.
Good sign that he’ll be out there against Arkansas. #TexasTech pic.twitter.com/EH2PisZN5w
— Cole Banker (@colebankertv) December 21, 2024
Tahj Brooks is playing. That's all I needed to hear. Give me Tech.
(21) Syracuse (-16.5) vs. Washington State at San Diego, CA (Friday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 2
This line went off the rails after John Mateer's transfer to Oklahoma. It's warranted. Give me the Orange, but I'm lowering the bet a little.
Texas A&M (-3.5) vs. USC at Las Vegas, NV (Friday)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
Miller Moss, who won the opening game for USC in this stadium against LSU, is transferring after losing his starting job. Zachariah Branch and Kobe Hudson are transferring. Woody Marks is expected to opt out of the game. Lincoln Riley teams have no heart. Give me the Aggies.
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