College Football Bowl Picks and Bets for December 23

This is it: the last college football-heavy Saturday of 2023! It’s been a wild ride. Here are some college football bowl picks and bets for December 23!

College Football Bowl Picks and Bets for December 23

Camellia Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois

12:00 pm on ESPN
Arkansas State to COVER -3 points over Northern Illinois

There’s not a whole lot to say here other than the obvious. Arkansas State has beaten the spread in four out of the last five games played. Northern Illinois has done the opposite – they’ve only beaten the spread once in the last five matchups. Pick the team that’s running hot and bet on Arkansas State to cover.

Birmingham Bowl: Troy vs. Duke

12:00 pm on ABC
Troy and Duke to go OVER the 44.5 total

This total is just too low for this matchup. These team’s matchups have gone over 9 out of the last 10 times out, with most of those totals being over 44.5. The only thing that could slow this down would be Duke’s 34th-ranked defense. If Troy is going to beat this rather large -7.5 spread, they are going to have to put up some points.

Armed Forces Bowl: James Madison vs. Air Force

3:30 pm on ABC
James Madison to WIN over Air Force (-125)

James Madison will be driven to win this game. They were told all year that they wouldn’t be eligible to make a bowl game, but they won 11 games anyway. Now that they’re in due to technicalities, there’s no reason to think that they should have any trouble with this 8-4 Air Force team.

Idaho Potato Bowl: Utah State vs. Georgia State

3:30 pm on ESPN
Utah State to WIN over Georgia State (+123)

Georgia State is in a bad spot. They are in the midst of a five-game losing streak. Last week was the only week that they’ve covered the spread during the streak, and it was by only one point. Utah State getting plus money here is a gift that we should be taking.

68 Ventures Bowl: South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan

7:00 pm on ESPN
South Alabama and Eastern Michigan to go UNDER the 46.5 total

What can you expect from two defense-minded 6-6 teams in a primetime matchup? Not much, probably. This total is a little low, so this one may be close, but look for South Alabama to try to go ahead early and then lean on the run game and the defense the rest of the way. It’s how they’ve played the second half of the season – and there’s no reason to expect that to let up.

Las Vegas Bowl: Utah vs. Northwestern

7:30 pm on ABC
Utah to COVER the -6.5 point spread

This is another point spread that feels way too close. Utah was a nationally-ranked team all season long, with some big wins in nationally televised games. Northwestern beat the odds to get to a bowl game for 2023 against a much weaker strength of schedule. Utah should be ready to put on the points for this one.

Hawaii Bowl: San Jose State vs. Coastal Carolina

10:30 pm on ESPN
Coastal Carolina to COVER the +10.5 point spread

This should be a close game between two evenly-matched teams – way closer than the 10.5-point spread implies. Both teams are 7-5 in games played against similarly ranked opponents. These teams have too much in common to warrant a spread like this. Take the points and root for a close one.