The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl kicks off the final Saturday of the 2023 college football season as the 10-2 Ole Miss Rebels of the SEC take on the 10-2 Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten in an exciting encounter in Atlanta.
It’s the first ever matchup between the two teams, so who gets their 11th win of the season? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Peach Bowl prediction.
Peach 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 Guaranteed Rate Bowl odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Penn State -4 - Moneyline
Penn State -170, Ole Miss +142 - Over/Under
48.5 points - Game time
Noon ET - Location
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA - Predicted Weather at Kick
47 degrees, 9 mph winds, mostly sunny - How to Watch
ESPN, FuboTV
Is Ole Miss can’t miss as a money maker on Saturday afternoon? Looking to make some pennies on Penn State? If you’re going to take advantage of the Peach Bowl odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Penn State comes into this first ever clash between the two teams as the oddsmakers favorite, a position they’ve thrived in during the 2023 college football season. The Nittany Lions haven’t lost as a favorite this season, with their two defeats coming as an underdog against Ohio State and Michigan. Ole Miss, is 1-2 when not fancied, losing to Alabama and Georgia.
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Despite going 10-2 this season, Ole Miss has been average at covering the spread. The Rebels are 6-6 covering this season, and have failed to cover in each of their last four games, and also failed to cover in their two defeats. Penn State has done a much better job, going 9-3 covering this season — including their last two games and in all-bar-one game when favored.
Despite the high-powered reputation attached to their offense under Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss games have only gone over the total points line five times this season. Penn State are 6-6 covering the points line, and their last three games have come under the lone due to the nation of their defense. All signs suggest the under, but they should combine for just over 48.5 points.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Ole Miss Depth Chart | Penn State Depth Chart
- QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
- QB Drew Allar, Penn State
- RB Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
- RB Ulysses Bentley IV, Ole Miss
- RB Jam Griffin, Ole Miss
- RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
- RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State
- RB Treyson Potts, Penn State
- WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss
- WR Dayton Wade, Ole Miss
- WR Jordan Watkins, Ole Miss
- WR Keandre Lambert-Smith, Penn State
- WR Malik McClain, Penn State
- WR Dante Cephus, Penn State
- TE Caden Prieskorn, Ole Miss
- TE Theo Johnson, Penn State
- TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
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.
Looking around the landscape of bowl season Saturday, your Peach Bowl picks might have to include a quarterback. With several QBs on the move, and some teams whose QBs you simply can’t trust for fantasy purposes, Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart is a viable starter who can get you points by air or ground, contributing to his 269.1 fantasy points this season.
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Other fantasy options for the Rebels include running back Quinshon Judkins (214.7 fantasy points), while their trio of WRs poses a DFS conundrum. They’ve all been significant fantasy contributors, but despite having the fewest receptions, Tre Harris leads the way with 133.1 fantasy points, 851 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. He’s a big play threat on every attempt.
Despite boasting the 12th-ranked scoring offense in the nation, Penn State isn’t particularly prolific from a fantasy standpoint. Their running back room is talented but splits carries, impacting fantasy scoring potential. Meanwhile, Keandre Lambert-Smith leads the team in yardage but has fewer touchdowns than the two tight ends, dramatically reducing his fantasy value.
Prediction for the Peach Bowl
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Peach Bowl odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction.
Ole Miss has never had an 11-win season, so a victory in Atlanta would help solidify Lane Kiffin’s place in program folklore. However, is Penn State well-positioned to pour cold water on the Rebels season, while adding a fifth 11-win campaign on the James Franklin era with the Nittany Lions?
One thing you know for sure when a Kiffin-led team takes to the field is that you’ll get offensive fireworks. The Rebels rank 18th for scoring offense this season, led by another outstanding campaign from running back Judkins who has quietly compiled a 16-touchdown, 1,187-scrimmage-yard season without attracting the level of national attention afforded him as a true freshman.
However, this season, they’ve been dramatically improved defensively under new coordinator Pete Golding. Ole Miss has allowed just 22.3 points per game this year, the fewest for a Rebels team since the 2014 team ranked number one in the nation for scoring defense.
A combination of transfers and homegrown talent has contributed to a top-50 unit for total defense.
However, the unit’s fragility against the run that showed up against LSU and Georgia could be an issue against a Penn State team that can move the ball through the air, but love to establish the ground game between their two standout running backs.
As well as being high-scoring, they’re also incredibly secure with the ball, ranking second in total offensive turnovers.
For as good as the Ole Miss offense is, they face a brick wall in a Penn State defense that should feature the majority of their starters for the Peach Bowl. Their 11.4 points per game ranks third in the nation, no team has allowed fewer than their 69.67 rushing yards per game, and their ability to force turnovers contributes to a nation-leading turnover margin.
Prediction: Ole Miss 21, Penn State 30
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