The regular season and conference championships are over. For the first time in forever, we have the Army-Navy game coupled with a couple of bowl games on the same weekend. Oh...and they hand out this little award called the Heisman Trophy that finally isn't a QB popularity contest.
One of these bowls is the Celebration Bowl. I've only seen each team once this year and it was against FBS opponents. I wouldn't help anyone by picking that game.
Bowl season lasts a little longer this year. As with last year, I'll put out the bowl picks 5-10 games at a time to try and get the most accurate spread possible. Opt-outs are everywhere. Make sure to check here for updates!
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CFB Betting Picks for Saturday, December 14, 2024
I will pick every college football game every week. Not a top five. 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 and 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.
Army (-6.5) at Navy
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
There was a time not long ago when I would have picked Navy and not thought twice about it. Now I'm thinking twice about it, even at home. This game hasn't been decided by a touchdown or more since 2020.
I feel like it's going to be close again, especially since this game is being played in Landover for the first time since 2011. Navy won that game by six points. Give me Navy.
South Alabama (-7.5) vs. Western Michigan at Montgomery, AL
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 4
This feels too easy. Fluff Bothwell is transferring, but Gio Lopez announced that he is staying with South Alabama, and he is likely to play in this game. Give me the Jags.
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CFB Betting Picks - Last Week's Results
I promised transparency and you will get it, warts and all. I don't like to be wrong, but I will admit when I am. Why listen to someone who won't admit the good or the bad? This year's results will be tracked on this sheet. I have tabs for previous seasons on there and will update the all-time stats on the 2024 tab when I get caught up.
Winners against the spread will be in BOLD. My result will follow.
Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State (-4.5): HIT!
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 2
It was a magical season for the Gamecocks that turned bittersweet since Rich Rod bolted back to Morgantown. Oh well, they were conference champions in Year 2 and we all know it!
Tulane (-4.5) at (24) Army: HIT!
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 2
Army was closer to a playoff game than the committee wanted to admit.
(20) UNLV at (10) Boise State (-4.5): HIT!
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
Last time UNLV defeated Boise State was 48 years ago.
1976. 31-26 win in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/umQoiqwXLn
— Paloma Villicana (@PalomaFOX5News) December 3, 2024
That win for UNLV is going to have to wait at least one more year. Boise's defense was unsung in this game. They played a fantastic game and almost stole the show from Ashton Jeanty. Almost.
Ashton Jeanty ended the reuglar season with more rushing yards himself than MOST college football teams 🤯
(h/t @SickosCommittee) pic.twitter.com/ra1qHRi6XB
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) December 11, 2024
(16) Iowa State vs. (15) Arizona State (-1.5) at Jerry World: MISS!
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 2
I never thought I would see this happen to Iowa State because they are so well-coached. Arizona State left no doubt that they belong in the playoff.
Ohio vs. Miami (OH) (-1.5) at Detroit: HIT!
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 2
It's hard to find a team playing better than Ohio right now. Baylor, Arizona State, Oregon, South Carolina, and Penn State. That's about it.
(5) Georgia vs. (2) Texas (-2.5) at Athens West (Atlanta): HIT!
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 5
Texas was ready for Georgia in the rematch where they weren't in the first game in Austin. That said, Gunner Stockton was thrown into the fire at halftime when Carson Beck went down and led the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind victory. Did we learn as much about Texas as we thought?
In what could be Carson Beck's last play for Georgia, he came in despite being injured and ran the play that won Georgia an SEC Championship.
How fitting. pic.twitter.com/hbq1aV95Ak
— Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi) December 10, 2024
Marshall at Louisiana (-5.5): HIT!
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 2
What a great close to the season for Marshall, but how dysfunctional is an athletic department that the coach would leave to go coach an 1-11 team from the SAME CONFERENCE?
(3) Penn State vs. (1) Oregon (-3.5) at Indianapolis: HIT!
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 5
Penn State could have folded after Oregon jumped out to a big lead. They didn't Drew Allar did what he has done all season. Penn State leaned on their run game, and they stayed in the game until the end. Sure, it wasn't a win for James Franklin, but Penn State didn't fold either. That's something.
(17) Clemson vs. (8) SMU (-1.5) at Charlotte: MISS!
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 1
SMU showed heart by coming back only to lose on a 56-yard field goal from a freshman as time expired. It's a rough loss for the Ponies, but they still get to strut their stuff in the playoffs.
College Football Betting Season Results
I had as good of a week as I could have hoped for. I finished 7-2, hitting both of my max bets and missing the only minimum one. I'm at 372-378 heading into the bowl games and I feel good about my chances to get back over .500. Let's check the points!
The weekly totals follow the bet. Season totals are in parentheses.
1. 0-1 (32-45) = -13
2. 4-1 (166-143) = 46
3. 1-0 (111-123) = -36
4. 0-0 (40-39) = 4
5. 2-0 (24-28) = -20
I gained 18 points on nine games! I'm happy about that. I'm still down 19 points on the season, but I'm feeling good about the bowls. Let's do this!
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