College Football Bowl Picks Over Christmas Weekend

I chipped in the 2023 college bowl schedule, odds and information you can bet on in my pre-bowl game coverage in Forbes. Now I’ve added some college football bowl picks and opinions on games for Saturday, Dec. 23 covering seven bowl games. Read more game analysis and information you can bet on in my coverage at Off Shore Gaming Association.

Following those bowl games, I’ll be traveling to Arizona for Christmas and also attending a pair of bowl games. I have media access to cover a pair of games and see two Mountain West teams. The Guaranteed Rate Bowl is one of three games on Tuesday, Dec. 26 and I’ll be at Chase Field to see UNLV tackle Kansas. in another high-scoring game that I bet the ‘over’ game total.  I’ll also be at the Arizona Bowl in Tucson for Wyoming vs. Toledo as one of four games on Saturday, Dec. 30. Between those bowl games there are four bowl games each day on Dec. 27, 28 and 29 for college football fans to watch and wager on at their preferred online sportsbooks.

If you’ve followed Fairway’s Forecast in the past covering nearly two decades of posting picks, you know we’ve had some strong winning bowl seasons. My dive into the stats and handicapping is not as deep as past seasons, but I’ll chip-in more here with game analysis available at OSGA.

Sat., Dec. 23

Camellia Bowl | 12 p.m. | ABC | Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL

– Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State (-2.5), total 55.5 (line up from -1.5, total up from 51.5)

Opinion: Arkansas State

76 Birmingham Bowl | 12 p.m. | ABC | Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL

– Duke vs. Troy (-7), total 44.5 (line up from -5.5)

Lean: Troy

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl | 3:30 p.m. | ABC | Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX

– Air Force vs. James Madison (-1.5), total 40.5 (line down from -2.5 and total down from 42.5)

Lean: Air Force

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN | Albertson’s Stadium, Boise, ID

– Utah State (-1.5) vs. Georgia State, total 59.5 (flipped favorite with Georgia State opening -3.5 and total down from 63.5)

Opinion: Utah State

68 Ventures Bowl | 7 p.m. | ESPN | Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL

– Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama (-17), total 45 (line up from -14 and total down from 48.5)

Opinion: Under

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl | 7:30 p.m. | ABC | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

– Northwestern vs. Utah (-6), total 41.5 (line down from -9.5 and total down from 42.5)

Pick: Utah

Utah (8-4) is 0-4 SU in its last four bowl games, and this would seem to be a downer with the Utes winning the Pac-12 Championship the last two years and playing in the Rose Bowl. The Utes also have no less than 15 players than entered the transfer portal to just four on Northwestern (7-5). The Utes are also down some defensive players including two safeties. Still, Utah gets the edge in experience, coaching and preparation. We’ll see if the motivation is a factor. The Wildcats overachieved under interium and now nearly-signed head coach David Brawn, who led the Wildcats to the biggest turnaround in college football this season having been projected for just 3 wins. Much of that was due to a +10 turnover margin as the Wildcats’ offense averaged just 305 yards (No. 121 in FBS), with the offensive line contributing to 48 sacks allowed. We chipped-in an opening week winner playing against Northwestern, and we’ll close the season with another winner with the Utes over the Wildcats despite the money showing on Northwestern.

Easy Post Hawaii Bowl | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN | Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI

– Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State (-10), total 48.5 (line up from -7.5 and total down from 55.5)

Lean: Coastal Carolina