The SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl sees the 8-4 Utah Utes of the Pac-12 and the 7-5 Northwestern Wildcats descend on the nation’s gambling capital to roll the dice on the 2023 college football season one last time.
With the Utes or the Wildcats head out of Nevada with another win? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Las Vegas Bowl prediction.
Las Vegas Bowl Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Las Vegas Bowl odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Utah -6.5 - Moneyline
Utah -258, Northwestern +210 - Over/Under
41.5 points - Game time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV - Predicted Weather at Kick
41 degrees, 6 mph winds, partly sunny - How to Watch
ABC, FuboTV
Wondering whether the Wildcats can win you some wonga? Can Utah make you euphoric with a money-winner? If you’re going to take advantage of the Las Vegas Bowl odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
The two teams head to Las Vegas, with Northwestern holding a 2-1 head-to-head advantage over the Utes. They last met in the 2018 Holiday Bowl, and five years later, Utah appears to hold the aces in the pack as nearly a touchdown favorite. Several opt-outs could upset the odds, but Kyle Whittingham’s team should be able to get the job done in Vegas.
Can they cover the spread, however? Well, there’s a good chance that Northwestern can keep it close despite some offensive struggles. The Wildcats have covered each of their last six games, including two games as a single-score underdog. Utah is 6-6 against the spread and hasn’t covered in the last two. Our Las Vegas Bowl prediction sees that run extended.
Two good defenses and two lethargic offenses should equate to this game coming under the 41.5-point line. However, it’s an extremely low line, and there should be enough offensive spark to ensure it carries just over the line. It would have been an easy under if a different Big Ten program had played.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Utah Depth Chart | Northwestern Depth Chart
- QB Bryson Barnes, Utah
- QB Ben Bryant, Northwestern
- RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, Utah
- RB Jaylon Glover, Utah
- RB Charlie Vincent, Utah
- RB Cam Porter, Northwestern
- RB Anthony Tyus III, Northwestern
- RB Joseph Himon II, Northwestern
- WR Money Parks, Utah
- WR Luca Caldarella, Utah
- WR Munir McClain, Utah
- WR AJ Henning, Northwestern
- WR Cam Johnson, Northwestern
- WR Bryce Kirtz, Northwestern
- TE Landen King, Utah
- TE Miki Suguturaga, Utah
- TE Thomas Gordon, Northwestern
There are seven 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.
It would be easy to take one look at these two offenses and the defense that they’ll face and just dismiss your Las Vegas Bowl picks. There are, after all seven games to choose from. But there are some fantasy points to be had from this matchup if you search hard enough.
MORE: College Football Bowl Opt-Out Tracker
For Northwestern, Cam Porter has tallied triple-digit fantasy points this fall after totaling over 700 yards and five touchdowns. Wide receiver A.J. Henning has seen use both at WR and out of the backfield, giving him positional versatility that can pay dividends from a fantasy perspective. He might only have 77 points for the year, but he can break open a game.
Utah’s leading fantasy scorer this season is safety Sione Vaki due to his dual usage. He won’t, however, line up in Las Vegas. As a result, Ja’Quinden Jackson (103.5 fantasy points in 2023) and Jaylon Glover (68.2) should power the Utes offense, with quarterback Bryson Barnes adding his own ground threat.
Prediction for the Las Vegas Bowl
Okay, we’ve furnished you with the Las Vegas Bowl odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction. Can Northwestern finish a remarkable season under first-year head coach David Braun by beating the outgoing Pac-12 champions? Or will the Utes overpower the Wildcats to record the fifth nine-win campaign under Kyle Whittingham?
When a shadow formed over Northwestern as the 2023 college football season approached, no one envisioned Braun leading the Wildcats to a bowl game. He’s transformed a 1-11 team on the verge of collapse, guiding them to a second seven-win season in five years.
Whatever happens in Vegas stays in…oh wait, we meant to say whatever happens in Vegas, he’s done a great job.
As you’d expect from a Northwestern team with a winning record, there’s a 100+ tackle defensive driver behind their success, in fact, there are two. Bryce Gallagher and Xander Mueller have been enforcers in all phases, combining for 212 tackles, 14.5 for loss, six sacks, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles. As a unit, they’ve allowed just 23.8 points.
Sadly for Northwestern, Utah has the advantage on both sides of the ball, even with some of their opt-outs and injuries.
Watch out for Van Fillinger and Connor O’Toole to cause havoc in the Wildcats backfield, while two of their three leading tacklers — Levani Damuni and Karene Reid — that have helped power a unit allowing just 19.8 points per game will play in Las Vegas.
Prediction: Utah 24, Northwestern 19
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!