COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEST EARLY BETS BOWL WEEK 2

MONDAY, DEC. 22

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL

WASHINGTON STATE VS UTAH STATE (-2.5, O/U: 50.5)

Hey, remember the Pac-12? Well, it still exists apparently, and Washington State (6-6) secured first place in it to wrap the regular season with a 32-8 beatdown over Oregon State. Zevi Eckhaus, who sounds like one of the fake names you’d get on NES RBI Baseball, was 17 of 28 for 197 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions in the win. He added nine rushes for 63 yards and a score. Angel Johnson carried the ball four times for 64 yards and a TD. Tony Freeman caught seven passes for 84 yards. Trey Leckner had a touchdown grab. The defense picked Tristan Ti’a off twice and sacked him six times. The Aggies (6-6) fell 25-24 to Boise State in their season finale. Bryson Barnes was 13 of 31 for 184 yards, no TDs, and no picks in the loss. He added 18 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Javen Jacobs had five rushes for 92 yards and a score. Miles Davis added a touchdown. Anthony Garcial caught two passes for 54 yards. The defense sacked Max Cutfoth twice.

BEST BETS: Washington State +2.5, Over 50.5

These two teams can score points, so the over looks good here. I like the Cougars in the slight upset, based on how well they played against legit opponents this offseason. Boise State’s egg laid in the Buckle Up LA Bowl doesn’t help Utah State’s case much either. 

TUESDAY, DEC. 23

BUSH’S BOCA RATON BOWL

TOLEDO VS LOUISVILLE (-6.5, O/U: 45)

The Rockets (8-4) ended their season with a solid 21-3 win over Central Michigan. Kalieb Osborne was 5 of 7 passing for 108 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Oborne added 52 yards on the ground. Tucker Gleason went 9 of 17 for 98 yards, no TDs, and no picks. He picked up 31 rushing yards. Chip Trayanum rushed 16 times for 94 yards and a score. He added three receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown. Junior Vandross III caught four passes for 71 yards. The defense sacked Joe Labas twice and intercepted him once. Louisville (8-4) halted a three-game losing streak by knocking off Kentucky, 41-0, to end its regular season. Miller Moss was 12 of 20 for 182 yards, three touchdowns, and no picks in the win. He added 18 yards rushing and a TD. Braxton Jennings carried the ball 20 times for 113 yards. Shaun Boykins rushed 22 times for 101 yards and a touchdown. Jacob Stewart caught one 43-yard touchdown pass. Dacari Collins also hauled in a TD. The defense picked off Cutter Boley two times and sacked him six times. 

BEST BETS: Louisville -6.5, Over 45

Louisville should cruise relatively easily in this one, and there’s a good chance they’ll hit the over all by themselves. 

NEW ORLEANS BOWL

WESTERN KENTUCKY VS SOUTHERN MISS (+5, O/U: 58)

Western Kentucky (8-4) fell for the second straight time to end its regular season, losing 37-34 to Jacksonville State. Rodney Tisdale, Jr. was 17 of 24 for 180 yards, no touchdowns, and a pick in the loss. He did score a TD on the ground. La’Vell Wright rushed 14 times for 116 yards and two scores. Moussa Barry caught three balls for 68 yards. The defense sacked Caden Creel twice. The Golden Eagles (7-5) also ended their season on a low note, losing their third straight to Troy, 28-18. Braylon Braxton was 20 of 35 for 209 yards, one TD, and a pick in the loss. Jeffery Pittman rushed 10 times for 51 yards. Carl Chester caught four passes for 76 yards and a TD. The defense picked off Goose Crowder once and sacked him two times.

BEST BETS: Western Kentucky -5

Southern Miss has limped through to the end of the season and, in spite of their record, will likely limp right back out of it too. 

SCOOTER’S COFFEE FRISCO BOWL

UNLV VS OHIO (+5.5, O/U: 65)

The Rebels (10-3) fell in the Mountain West Championship to Boise State to end their regular campaign, 38-21. Anthony Colandrea was 18 of 38 for 225 yards, one TD, and no picks in the loss. He added 12 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown. JoJo Earle also got into the end zone. Troy Omeire caught a TD pass, too. The defense sacked Maddux Madsen once. Ohio (8-4) closed out its season with a 31-26 win over Buffalo. Parker Navarro was 10 of 23 for 147 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He rushed 18 times for 121 yards and a score. Sieh Bangura carried the ball 22 times for 120 yards and a TD. Chase Hendricks caught five passes for 92 yards. Mason Williams had hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass. The defense intercepted Ta-Quan Roberson once and sacked him twice. 

BEST BETS: Ohio +5.5, Under 65

I like the Bobcats to get the upset here, but regardless, this one could come down to the wire. The way they can run the ball, either way, means the under is the play here.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24

SHERATON HAWAI’I BOWL 

CALIFORNIA VS HAWAI’I (pk, O/U: 54)

California (7-5) won a shootout, 39-35, over SMU to end its season. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was 31 of 40 for 330 yards, four touchdowns, and no picks in what I expect will be his penultimate game for the Golden Bears before entering the portal and collecting a seven-figure check. Kendrick Raphael rushed 33 times for 111 yards and a TD. Jacob De Jesus caught 12 passes for 97 yards and a score. QuaRon Adams and Cole Boscia hauled in TD receptions as well. The defense picked off Kevin Jennings once and sacked him twice. The Rainbow Warriors (8-4) wrapped their 2025 campaign with a 27-7 shellacking of Wyoming. Micah Alejado was 17 of 24 for 289 yards, two TDs, and an interception. Cam Barfield rushed 15 times for 77 yards and a score. Jackson Harris caught four passes for 153 yards and a TD. The defense held Wyoming to just 54 yards on the ground, picked off Mason Drube once, and sacked him three times. 

BEST BETS: California, Over 54

I love these two teams’ offenses and can see the Golden Bears taking a 10-point win in a 45-35 kind of game before JKS ends up at Indiana, Auburn, or Tennessee. 

FRIDAY, DEC. 26

GAMEABOVE SPORTS BOWL

CENTRAL MICHIGAN VS NORTHWESTERN (-11.5, O/U: 43)

The Chippewas (7-5) stumbled in their season finale, falling 21-3 to Toledo. Joe Labas was 19 of 30 for 242 yards, no TDs, and a pick. Brock Townsend rushed 14 times for 68 yards. Tommy McIntosh caught six passes for 83 yards. The defense racked up two sacks against Kalieb Osborne and Tucker Gleason. Northwestern (6-6) dropped four of its last five, including a 20-13 loss to Illinois, to finish out its season. Preston Stone was 19 of 36 for 163 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Robby Preckel had 22 carries for 82 yards. Hayden Eligon II caught eight passes for 99 yards and a score.  The defense sacked Luke Altmyer once. 

BEST BETS: Northwestern -11.5, Over 43

The Wildcats have played a brutal schedule, tough and hung with some of the best teams in the country. They should win this one comfortably, but that total looks low to me.

RATE BOWL

NEW MEXICO VS MINNESOTA (-2.5, O/U: 45.5)

New Mexico (9-3) won six straight to end its season, beating San Diego State 23-17 in the finale in double overtime. Jack Layne was 14 of 25 for 127 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. James Laubstein rushed 10 times for 70 yards and a score. DJ McKinney also got into the paint. Cade Keith caught a TD pass. The defense picked off Jayden Denegal once and sacked him four times. The Golden Gophers (7-5) halted a two-game losing streak with a 17-7 win over Wisconsin in their last action. Drake Lindsey was 18 of 24 passing for 90 yards and a TD with no picks. Darius Taylor rushed 19 times for 100 yards and a score. Jamerson Geers caught a touchdown. The defense picked up a sack and intercepted Hutner Simmons twice. 

BEST BETS: New Mexico +2.5, Under 45.5

Minnesota has not scored more than 20 points in a game since its 24-6 win over Nebraska on Oct. 18. I like the Lobos to win and Minnesota to continue its scoring issues. 

SERVPRO FIRST RESPONDER BOWL

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL VS UTSA (-9.5, O/U: 59.5)

FIU (7-5) won four straight to close out its season, obliterating Sam Houston 56-16 the last time they took the field. Keyone Jenkins was 15 of 24 for 291 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He added 47 yards and a score rushing. Kejon Owens rushed 15 times for 124 yards. Sterling Joseph carried the ball four times for 112 yards and two TDs. Alex Perry caught seven passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Dallas Payne had four grabs for 100 yards and a score. The defense picked off Landyn Locke twice and sacked him four times. The Roadrunners (6-6) fell to Army to wrap up their season, 27-24. Owen McCowb was 27 of 40 for 266 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. David Amador completed one pass for a four-yard TD. Patrick Overmyer caught six passes and scored twice. Robert Henry rushed 13 times for 62 yards. 

BEST BETS: Over 59.5

UTSA has topped 23 or more points eight times this seaso,n and did it once against Texas A&M. FIU can sling it too, so this over looks solid to me. I could easily see this one going 35-30 final. 

Follow Adam Greene on Blue Sky @AdamGreene13, threads @adam.greene and Twitter @TheFirstMan