The 2023 TransPerfect Music City Bowl sees the 6-6 Auburn Tigers of the SEC take on the 7-5 Maryland Terrapins of the Big Ten clash in Nashville on Saturday afternoon.
Which team will end the 2023 college football season on a high? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Music City Bowl prediction.
Music City Bowl Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Music City Bowl odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Auburn -7 - Moneyline
Auburn -278, Maryland +220 - Over/Under
47 points - Game time
2:00 p.m. ET - Location
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN - Predicted Weather at Kick
47 degrees, 8 mph winds, mostly cloudy - How to Watch
ABC, FuboTV
Hoping to make some money on Maryland? Are the Tigers the team to take on Saturday afternoon? If you’re going to take advantage of the Music City Bowl odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Auburn comes into the game as a favorite against a team they boast a two-game win streak against dating back to 1958. Although they haven’t met since 1983, the odds are with the Tigers to extend that winning run, especially with several high-profile Maryland players missing for the Music City Bowl.
MORE: CFB Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
Take away the defeat to New Mexico State that remains a blemish on Hugh Freeze’s first season with the program, and Auburn has been successful this season when favored. They’re 5-1 in that situation, while Maryland has lost all three games when they’ve been an underdog during the 2023 college football campaign.
Our Music City Bowl prediction sees that streak continue while suggesting a potential push on the spread. Meanwhile, the total points line of 47 seems like it might be a stretch, with Maryland missing their offensive leader against a decent Auburn defense. Five of the Tigers’ games this season have featured fewer than 47 points.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Auburn Depth Chart | Maryland Depth Chart
- QB Payton Thorne, Auburn
- QB Billy Edwards Jr, Maryland
- QB Cameron Edge, Maryland
- RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
- RB Damari Alston, Auburn
- RB Brian Battie, Auburn
- RB Roman Hemby, Maryland
- RB Colby McDonald, Maryland
- WR Caleb Burton III, Auburn
- WR Shane Hooks, Auburn
- WR Camden Brown, Auburn
- WR Kaden Prather, Maryland
- WR Jeshaun Jones, Maryland
- WR Tai Felton, Maryland
- TE Rivaldo Fairweather, Auburn
- TE Preston Howard, Auburn
There are four college football games on Saturday to compile your DFS team from. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and a “Superflex” that can be any of the above or a tight end.
Several opt-outs have shaped our Music City Bowl prediction, and they could influence your picks for DFS purposes, too. Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa is the Big Ten record-setter for passing yards but won’t be active for this game. The Terps will roll with Billy Edwards Jr. as the starter, but Cameron Edge may also see substantial time. It’s not a situation to invest in for DFS picks.
There aren’t many Music City Bowl picks to be made, but Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter may attract your interest. The explosive rushing talent leads the team with 865 rushing yards and seven scores, tallying 139.68 fantasy points. He has three 100+ yard games in the last five and came up just seven shy of adding another last time out against Alabama.
To settle the two quarterbacks in action for Maryland, the Terps might put a heavy load into the hands of Roman Hemby. In the regular season finale, he rushed for over 100 yards for just the second time this season. The 6’0″, 200-pound back has been used in the passing game a lot this season and could serve as a security blanket for the two inexperienced QBs.
Prediction for the Music City Bowl
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Music City Bowl odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction.
Can Maryland add another eight-win season to head coach Mike Locksley’s résumé by overcoming the odds in the Music City Bowl? Or is this Auburn’s game for the taking as they continue to build under Hugh Freeze?
With Tagovailoa under center, this could have the makings of a much different game. They’re losing 30 total touchdowns from their offense and a player who has shown the ability to create magic for Maryland during his time with the program.
Edwards Jr. found the end zone six times this season — including three scores against Michigan — but his career passing output doesn’t inspire confidence. They’ll likely turn to the ground game and running back Hemby to settle the offense, but that approach might not bear much fruit against an Auburn defense that ranks in the top 40 teams nationally for rushing touchdowns allowed.
Auburn also ranks in the top 40 for points allowed, giving up an average of 21.9 points per game. Jaylin Simpson and DJ James have been enforcers in the secondary, while the Tigers have five players who have registered multiple sacks this season. They’ve gotten good production out of transfer and high school recruits alike during the 2023 season.
As a result, Auburn has the defensive advantage, and with running back Hunter, they arguably possess the most explosive offensive player in this game. The star running back could surpass 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career, while his ability as a receiver out of the backfield contributes to his game-winning potential.
Prediction: Auburn 23, Maryland 14
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football’s transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!