College Football Picks

One of the best games of the entire bowl season slate will take place on Friday, as the Arizona Wildcats are set to take on the SMU Mustangs in the Holiday Bowl. This is an instance where both teams should be motivated to be here, and each side expects to have minimal opt-outs and/or injuries in this game, which bodes well for a very competitive matchup on Friday. Arizona is a team that I have consistently backed throughout the season, and I don’t intend on stopping now, especially since the Wildcats are being priced like a team that is undeserving of being in the favorite role.

Not only is Brett Brennan’s team is one of the more underrated units in the entire country, I also have to think they’ll have the mental edge against an SMU team that was just one victory away from playing for the ACC Championship for a second consecutive season, before a loss to lowly Cal derailed the Mustangs’ season. It would be fair to question if Rhett Lashlee’s team is fully locked in for what is essentially a meaningless game. Yes, Kevin Jennings is expected to play for the Mustangs, but the veteran quarterback is going up against an Arizona defense that is top 10 in the nation in success rate allowed and 17th in points per drive allowed. SMU’s rush defense is the strength of its unit, but Arizona is not exactly a team that wants to keep the ball on the ground with its pass-centric offense. There are some clear edges for the Wildcats in this matchup and when I also factor in the possible motivation angle, so I’ll back Arizona to finish the season on a high note.

Arizona vs SMU prediction: Arizona ML (-105) available at time of publishing. Playable to -120.

You can bet on our Arizona vs SMU pick at DraftKings Sportsbook, which has thousands of betting options available and a great new customer offer where you can get $200 in bonus bets INSTANTLY when you make a first bet of just $5! Click here 👈🏼 to sign up for a DraftKings account now.

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons will look to finish their season tied for the most wins in the program’s last 25 seasons. Wake Forest finished with nine wins in 2021 and 2006. The Demon Deacons have a record of 8-4 this season, and they finished their season winning three of their last four games. They lost their last game against Duke 49-32. Quarterback Robby Ashford led the team with 342 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. Duke went on to win the ACC Championship, but the loss should not take away from the great season Wake Forest had. Their opponent for this game will be the 5-7 Mississippi State Bulldogs. Mississippi State ended their season losing their last three games. The Bulldogs still got the bowl game bid with enough teams in front of them declining the opportunity to play. Their last three losses of the season came against Georgia, Missouri, and Ole Miss. All three losses came by a total of 19 points or more. 

After wins to end the season against SMU, Virginia, and North Carolina, a win in a bowl game would finish off one of the most successful seasons that Wake Forest’s program has had in recent years. First-year head coach Jake Dickert will have his team inspired to play, but he will have to go into this game missing some key contributors. Running back Demond Claiborne will miss this game in preparation for the NFL draft, and defensive tackle Mateen Ibirogba will miss due to the transfer portal. Success will depend on senior quarterback Robby Ashford. Ashford finished his season throwing for 2169 yards, and he ran for another 504 yards. Good news for Wake Forest is that Mississippi State will likely be without quarterback Blake Shapen as he prepares for the NFL Draft. With 2433 yards passing and 15 touchdowns, Shapen was the bright spot on this Mississippi State offense. Freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor will have to join a roster that failed to compete, and backed by a defense that allowed 29.2 points per game.

Wake Forest vs Mississippi State prediction: Wake Forest +3 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 1.5.

If you’re looking for a new sportsbook, check out Bet365, the world’s #1 sportsbook. They have an amazing sign-up offer where you can INSTANTLY receive $150 in bonus bets from a $5 wager, regardless of whether that bet wins or loses! There’s no catch, it’s really that simple. Join Bet365 right now ⏰ in time to fade or follow our experts’ Wake Forest vs Mississippi State predictions.

Catching more than two touchdowns in a bowl game in itself could offer tremendous equity. This is especially true considering the profile of the favorite. The Bobcats have a penchant for shootouts and their defense is not a feature of their approach. Texas State’s identity is clear – tempo, explosiveness, and aggression on offense, paired with a defense that can absolutely leak yards and points. That’s not the kind of profile conducive to laying two full scores. Games that often turn into track meets make it naturally harder to separate and sit on a big margin for four quarters. That is what the Cats bring to the table here.

Rice, meanwhile, will be overlooked because they only got a bowl invite since so many others declined. But that makes them dangerous here because they are playing with house money. Add in an enhanced point allotment and a porous defense, this dog has the DNA to get us home. Texas State may be a “sexy” favorite but they are also not built to be laying this kind of margin. However, high-scoring outfits are teams that casual bettors have a tendency to like to ride even if there is voltaility that accompanies them. We won’t follow suit though. We know Rice doesn’t need to be perfect; they just need to hang around, trade scores, and avoid the avalanche. Texas State’s defense makes that feasible.

Rice vs Texas State prediction: Rice +14 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

If you’re looking for a new sportsbook for the football season, we recommend checking out Fanatics Sportsbook. New users can get $250 in FanCash INSTANTLY when they make their first $50 wager! Join Fanatics Sportsbook, where you can bet on our Rice vs Texas State predictions.

Following a New Year’s holiday loaded with College Football Playoff action, the bowl season draws near a close with its final remaining day containing multiple games. Among them is the Liberty Bowl in Memphis pitting the Navy Midshipmen and the Cincinnati Bearcats. Navy finished the season at 10-2, good for 3rd in the American Athletic Conference. Meanwhile, Cincinnati finished at 7-5 and 10th in the Big 12. Oddly enough, this used to be a conference matchup back when the Bearcats were in the AAC. This will be the first time they have met since November 2022.

There are a good bit of opt-outs for Cincinnati – including starting QB Brendson Sorsby – while Navy will maybe have a couple. Service academies tend to excel in bowl games due to their players’ commitment to their respective programs, as their rosters are typically at full strength in the postseason. Much will be the same here, and the market acknowledges that and has reacted to the difference in player availability – swinging the line more than a touchdown in Navy’s favor. As such, I don’t see much value in the spread at the current number, but I could only side with Navy here. 

Cincinnati has been absolutely eviscerated by opposing rushing attacks of late. In their 4-game losing streak down the stretch, the Bearcats surrendered 174 yards to TCU’s Jeremy Payne, 222 yards to BYU’s LJ Martin, nearly 200 yards to Arizona’s trio of running backs and 267 team rushing yards against Utah. That doesn’t bode well against an offense like Navy, as the Midshipmen are one of the most run-heavy teams in the country. I just don’t see how Cincinnati will be able to consistently limit Navy’s rushing attack or answer the Midshipmen’s points without Sorsby. 

Navy vs Cincinnati prediction: Midshipmen -7.5 (-110) at the time of publishing. Playable to -8. 

You can bet on our Navy vs Cincinnati pick with BetMGM, where right now new users can activate your new BetMGM account ⚡ and receive $150 in bonus bets INSTANTLY if your first $10+ wager is a winner!