RADIO
Bowl games are a crap shoot. With the money in the NFL being so high, many of the top talents have decided in recent years to sit out the games to save themselves for the draft combine and true, lifechanging money. You can certainly not blame the young men. But it can also lead to teams appearing in these games being a shell of what they were during the regular season.
Georgia vs. Florida State could be an amazing Orange Bowl. But who will be in the game? If QB Carson Beck decides to turn pro, he is not going to play here and risk getting hurt. His backup, Brock Vandagriff has already entered the transfer portal and committed to Kentucky. This means the only QB left would be Gunner Stockton. And to whom will he be throwing? TE Brock Bower will also be sitting out to get ready for the combine and becoming a top 10 selection.
For Florida State, the issue comes down to the desire to play. After being snubbed by the playoff committee, will the players want to play and show what they have? Or will they also decide to sit out and get ready for an NFL career? See the predicament? Here are some of the bowl games in which most of the players should be playing for their respective teams. Of course, make sure you look at who has opted out last minute before making any wagers.
Five Bowl Games to Watch:
Alamo Bowl: Arizona vs. Oklahoma|
Betting Lines: Arizona -2.5(-122) O/U 62.5 O(-110) U(-110)|
Arizona has had a resurgence of sorts under head coach Jedd Fisch. After winning one game in the year prior to his arrival, the Wildcats made a huge jump this season in going 9-3 and ranked No. 14 in the nation. While much of this had to do with the dedication to recruiting Fisch has put in, much of it also had to do with finding the right QB in Noah Fifita.
Fifita, who has played in the last 11 games, finished with 73.6% completions with 2,515 yards, 23 TD and just six INT. Although not a runner at all, the plays Fifita was able to make with his arm led the Wildcats into this game against an Oklahoma team which will be turning to freshman QB Jackson Arnold after Dylan Gabriel entered the transfer portal.
Oklahoma, a bit disappointed to be here, will still want to put up a good fight to show what Arnold can do heading into 2024-25 and an SEC conference loaded with teams contending for a national championship. While Arnold did not play much this season, when he did enter the game, he was able to move the team. A good sign for a young player with limited experience in college football.
Playing in five games for the Sooners, Arnold completed 18 of 24 passes for 202 yards, two TD and no INT. He even managed to run the ball 20 times for 78 yards and one TD in his limited game action.
This game should be high scoring and will also feature two QBs who are the future of their team. Both the Wildcats and the Sooners will look to put up an offensive show and it will make this one another shootout at the Alamo (bowl).
Best Bet: Over 62.5
Fiesta Bowl: Liberty vs. Oregon|
Betting Lines: Oregon -15.5(-115) O/U 64.5 O(-110) U(-110)|
To channel Gary Parrish from CBS Sports, there are more of us than there are of them. In this game, Liberty will find this out for themselves.
Despite going undefeated at 13-0 in Conference USA, Liberty does not belong in this game. The Flames are not the best group of five teams. They are not even the second or third best. But the record is the record and that means they deserve it. Much like Florida State. But I digress.
The Flames faced exactly zero power five teams this season. Their strength of schedule ranked No. 133 out of 133 FBS schools. In year one in Lynchburg, Jamie Chadwell did exactly what we expected from him with the number of resources he has at his behest. He dominated a less than stellar conference. But now he will take on a real opponent in Oregon.
Even with opt outs coming into play for the Ducks, their athletic superiority will be seen all over the field in Arizona. With Bo Nix playing, Oregon will light up the Flames and send them home burnt to a crisp.
While SMU or Tulane may have not been a much closer game, at least it would have pitted a team worthy of being on the same field.
If I am wrong, then I will admit it. But as for right now, I cannot wait to see Oregon dismantle this Liberty team and prove to the committee that they were wrong twice on Sunday when deciding the rankings.
Best Bets: Oregon -15.5 and Under 64.5
Peach Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Penn State|
Betting Lines: Penn State -4.5(-105) O/U 49.5 O(-110) U(-110)|
Penn State will have few opt outs for this game. Chop Robinson has already declared for the draft and said he will not play. But other than this, the only other starters to potentially miss the game will be CB Kalen King and OT Olu Fashanu. This will make Penn State one of the most intact teams outside the playoff teams.
Ole Miss will also be at close to full strength and coach Lane Kiffin will look to make a statement in this game. Much like he does in all his games. But talk aside, Kiffin will keep his foot down and attempt to run up the score in Atlanta. This will force James Franklin and the Nittany Lions to do the same if they want to win.
Penn State brings in one of the best defenses in the nation. A defense which was able to hold Michigan and Ohio State to a total of 44 points in its two losses this season. With the Rebels playing at a far higher pace than the Wolverines or Buckeyes and with King and Robinson missing on the defense, this will be a higher scoring game than most of the Penn State games this season.
Look for a fun game as Ole Miss looks to tally up points and Penn State looks to show new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Nick Singelton and Kaytron Allen will look for big games against a suspect Rebels defensive front and Drew Aller will attempt to throw the ball down field. Something he was not asked to do much throughout the year under Mike Yurcich. This could be a fun one and the 49.5-point total does not take this into account.
Best Bet: Over 49.5
Sun Bowl: Oregon State vs. Notre Dame|
Betting Lines: Notre Dame -8.5(-105) O/U 44.5 O(-105) U(-115)|
This one is intriguing due to an already announced coaching change at Oregon State. Johnathan Smith has left his alma mater and taken the bag at Michigan State. Along with the money, Smith has also taken QB Aiden Chiles. A needed commodity with all three of the Spartans QB entering the transfer portal after the season. But this will leave Oregon State down to its third string option against the Irish as starter D.J. Uiagalelei is also in the portal and expected to sign elsewhere soon.
The only hope Oregon State has in this game is to allow RB Damien Martinez loose behind the solid offensive line. If he is able to keep drives moving down the field, it will allow Oregon State to keep Sam Hartman on the bench for his final college game.
While Notre Dame will not have many opt outs of its own, it also might not have the motivation to be here. It is only in this game due to the confusion the ACC had with Florida State not getting a playoff berth. When this happened, the ACC literally drew a bowl out of a hat, and this is the game Notre Dame was sent to. No wonder FSU wants out of this conference.
This will be an ugly, low scoring game. Neither team will have its full complement of weapons. But both coaches want to win this game to take motivation into 2024. And in the case of Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, continue to show that he is the man for the job in South Bend.
Best Bet: Under 44.5
Citrus Bowl: Tennessee vs. Iowa|
Betting Lines: Tennessee -7.5(-110) O/U 35.5 O(-110) U(-110)|
Does Joe Milton have a reason to play in this game? Not really. But he will anyway because he is from just outside Orlando and this game is played in the land of Disney.
Milton will want to show out for his family and friends in attendance and Josh Heupel will allow his senior QB to do just this. If Milton decides to opt out and get ready for a combine, $8 million QB Nico Iamaleava will take over heading into his ascension to the starting job in 2024.
Either way, Tennessee will be throwing the ball a lot. Something which leads to the suffocating defense of Iowa being able to shut down the Volunteers. And we already know what Iowa can do on offense. Nothing.
Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Clark finally got his just due winning the Broyles Award as the best assistant coach in the nation. He could win this award every year. He finally has the acknowledgement from his peers, and he will prove why he won the award in this game.
Do not expect either team to score many points and the only reason the total is even at 35.5 is due to the respect Las Vegas is showing for Tennessee. But it will not matter as Milton or Iamaleava will be picked off and an Iowa defensive score is a solid bet here to go along with the under 35.5.
Best Bets: Under 35.5 and Iowa to score a defensive TD
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