After a tremendously entertaining regular season, the first week of bowl season always provides a myriad of fun and interesting matchups. The first full week of bowl games provides us 10 FBS bowl games and we predict them all.
Bowl Season Week 1 College Football Picks and Predictions
Last Week: 5-5-0 (0.500)
This Season: 54-56-1 (0.491)
Overall Record: 135-139-4 (0.493)
For all current betting odds surrounding the college football season, check out our live betting odds and make your plays today!
All lines are via Draft Kings Sportsbook. You can find the best available odds from sportsbooks all over the country below as well.
Ohio +3 (-105) vs. Georgia Southern -3 (-115)
Georgia Southern has been a fun team to watch this season. Clay Helton’s second season transitioning from the triple option to the air raid was just as successful offensively as it was the year prior. Unfortunately, the record didn’t follow as the Eagles started 6-2 but lost their last four games to finish the year.
Quarterback Davis Brin started off hot outside of his five-interception performance against Wisconsin. He finished with 3,431 yards, 22 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. They did take advantage of weaker defenses consistently, with Khaleb Hood and Derwin Burgess Jr. doing damage on the outside.
MORE: Top Players Not Playing in Myrtle Beach Bowl
The big thing here is that the Eagles are mostly intact heading into the bowl game, and the same can’t be said for the Bobcats. They will be without starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke, running back Sieh Bangura, and wide receiver Miles Cross, among multiple others who have also entered the transfer portal.
The loss of those three is a brutal one for the Bobcats, as they are their version of the triplets. Their third-leading receiver, Tyler Walton, also entered the transfer portal, as did their second-leading rusher, O’Shaan Allison. They likely won’t be able to put up enough points to get the win, opening a mostly intact Eagles team able to
Bet: Georgia Southern -3 (-115)
Jacksonville State -2.5 (-112) vs. Louisiana +2.5 (-108)
This will be one of the few games where the transfer portal isn’t a major factor. The Gamecocks have nobody who left the team via the portal, and the Ragin’ Cajuns have just two defenders. This game will feel like a regular season matchup.
The fighting Rich Rodriguez’s of Jacksonville State only got a bowl bid due to the lack of eligible 6-6 teams there were. It’s a good thing because this Gamecocks team is a good one, having finished 8-4 in their first season at the FBS level.
Quarterback Zion Webb is a talented dual-threat option in the backfield, with running back Malik Jackson being the biggest weapon to attack defenses with Rodriguez’s multiple offenses focused on the running game.
On the other side of the ball, the Ragin’ Cajuns needed a win over a lowly Louisiana-Monroe team in their final game of the season. Quarterback Chandler Fields led them to the win and has been the lynchpin to their success.
Despite playing in the weaker conference, the Gamecocks are simply the better team and could run away with this game.
Bet: Jacksonville State -2.5 (-112)
New Mexico State -3.5 (-110) vs. Fresno State +3.5 (-110)
Jerry Kill deserved the Coach of the Year award this season.
Kill led the Aggies to their first 10-win season for the first time since 1960, their only other occurrence of such a season. They won 11 games that season. They are also set to get Diego Pavia back after he left the CUSA Championship Game with a shoulder injury.
This is a battle-tested and well-coached team that went to Jordan Hare and beat Auburn rather convincingly.
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
For the Bulldogs, it’s all based on the uncertainty surrounding the program. Head coach Jeff Tedford stepped away from the team and the program’s direction is currently unknown. Quarterback Mikey Keene has found a home at Fresno State, but the response from the players will be pivotal in how this game shapes up.
The Aggies don’t just have the better resume and a darn good football team; they will have home-field advantage as they don’t have a long way to travel with the game being in New Mexico. Even with the Bulldogs potentially rallying around each other for their head coach, the Aggies will get their 11th win for just the second time in school history
Bet: New Mexico State -3.5 (-110)
Other Bets
UCLA -4 (-112) vs. Boise State
Appalachian State -6.5 (-102) vs. Miami OH
Texas Tech -3 (-105) vs. Cal
Western Kentucky +2.5 (-1.8) vs. Old Dominion
UTSA -13 (-108) vs. Marshall
South Florida +3 (-112) vs. Syracuse
UCF -5 (-108) vs. Georgia Tech