College football bowl picks: Best CFB bets for Dec. 23 games

The most entertaining of the three bowl games on Dec. 26, might be between Kansas and UNLV. These teams had overachieving seasons and they can light up the scoreboard.

Dec. 23 college football predictions for bowl games: Best bets for Kansas vs. UNLV and more on Tuesday

2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl - Kansas vs. UNLV picks: Over 67.5 (-110 or better)

Kansas (8-4) and UNLV (9-3) were among the nation’s surprises this season. UNLV was 5-7 last season and among its three losses was a 35-7 defeat to No. 1 Michigan in the Big House in September. 

UNLV averaged 34.3 points (22nd in the country). Kansas averaged 33.6 points (28th). Kansas’ defense allowed 25.7 points (60th); UNLV allowed 27.0 (70th).

Expect the Over to hit.

Kansas is an 11.5-point favorite. Jayhawks backup quarterback Jason Bean has been outstanding as has the KU running attack. Kansas upset No. 12 Oklahoma, 38-33, in October.

UNLV has a terrific freshman quarterback in Jayden Maiava (62.9 completion percentage, 2,794 yards, 14 touchdowns, 8 interceptions). Defenses will be under stress to stop these teams and they didn’t stop many teams this season.

2023 Quick Lane Bowl odds, Bowling Green vs. Minnesota picks: Bowling Green +3.5 (-110 or better)

This is a traditional Big Ten vs. MAC game in Detroit. Minnesota (5-7) will be without its two two quarterbacks, both of whom entered the transfer portal. Fifth-year senior Cole Kramer will start for the Golden Gophers, who are playing in a bowl game because not enough teams qualified with a .500 record.

Kramer has completed just eight passes in his career and Bowling Green's defense could be problematic for him. The Falcons (7-5) have 22 sacks (23rd in the country) and only allowed 192.7 passing yards per game (25th in the country).

Minnesota is 1-5 against the spread against teams with winning records. Bowling Green is 6-0 against the spread against teams with losing records.

We like the Falcons, behind quarterback Connor Bazelak (47 career touchdown passes, 9,079 yards), to win and cover.

2023 First Responder Bowl picks - Texas State vs. Rice predcitions: Rice +5.5 (-110 or better)

Texas State’s powerful offense (32.3 points per game, 26th in the country) might be the game’s determining factor. Texas State ran the seventh-most plays in the country this year.

Rice’s defense was only 67th in points allowed (26.6 per game), so the Owls will be under stress to slow down Texas State and limit its possessions.

But Rice (6-6) was 6-1 as an underdog against the spread. The Owls have a balanced attack and Texas State’s defense has allowed 33.8 points (114th overall). We expect Rice’s ability to move the ball will be key to the Owls covering the spread against a Texas State team that was 6-6 ATS this season. 

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Chuck Bausman is a sports betting writer at Gaming Today. Bausman has worked 30+ years in journalism and is a former executive sports editor of the Philadelphia Daily News and managing editor of Philly Hockey Now. He is a journalism professor at Rider University.