Two years removed from shocking the college football world, the 7-5 Bowling Green Falcons look to do it again when they meet the 5-7 Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 2023 Quick Lane Bowl.
Can Scott Loeffler’s team get another famous win over their Big Ten foe? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Quick Lane Bowl prediction.
Quick Lane Bowl Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Quick Lane Bowl odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Minnesota -3.5 - Moneyline
Minnesota -180, Bowling Green +150 - Over/Under
38.5 points - Game time
2:00 p.m. ET - Location
Ford Field, Detroit, MI - Predicted Weather at Kick
52 degrees, 13 mph winds, showers possible - How to Watch
ESPN, FuboTV
Looking to back Bowling Green in their bowl game? Think you can make some money on Minnesota? If you’re going to take advantage of the Quick Lane Bowl odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
The Quick Lane Bowl will be the fifth ever meeting between the Falcons and the Golden Gophers. Historically, the game has gone one of two ways. Either Minnesota wins by a comfortable margin — like in 2008 and 1986 — or Bowling Green sneaks a close-fought win, like in 2007 and their win over P.J. Fleck’s team in 2021.
Our Quick Lane Bowl suggests we could be in for the latter when these two meet on Tuesday afternoon. The Falcons are on a good run of form, losing just one of their last six. Meanwhile, Minnesota has lost their last four straight games. The Golden Gophers also had a field to cover in each of those games, including two where they entered the game as the favorite.
Based on scoring offense, you’d argue that the Quick Lane Bowl will limbo under the total points line. However, Bowling Green’s 73rd-ranked offense is skewed by some early-season struggles, and they’ve hit the over in four of their last five. Only two of Minnesota’s games this year came under the 38.5-point line. Bowling Green wins, covers, and the game goes over.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Bowling Green Depth Chart | Minnesota Depth Chart
- QB Connor Bazelak, Bowling Green
- QB Camden Orth, Bowling Green
- QB Cole Kramer, Minnesota
- RB Terion Stewart, Bowling Green
- RB Jaison Patterson, Bowling Green
- RB Pasean Wimberly, Bowling Green
- RB Jordan Nubin, Minnesota
- RB Sean Tyler, Minnesota
- RB Bryce Williams, Minnesota
- WR Odieu Hiliare, Bowling Green
- WR Austin Osborne, Bowling Green
- WR Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, Bowling Green
- WR Daniel Jackson, Minnesota
- WR Corey Crooms, Minnesota
- WR Elijah Spencer, Minnesota
- TE Harold Fannin Jr, Bowling Green
- TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota
There are three college football games on Tuesday 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.
Kicking off your Quick Lane Bowl picks at the quarterback position is slim pickings, in all honesty. Bowling Green rotates Camden Orth and Connor Bazelak situationally, impacting their overall value for fantasy purposes. Speaking of value, Minnesota quarterback Cole Kramer had to refute rumors that he was getting paid to play after the Gophers were left short at QB.
MORE: College Football Bowl Opt-Out Tracker
Kramer’s relationship with WR Daniel Jackson may prove pivotal for any hope Minnesota has of getting a result in Detroit on Tuesday, and he’s your best DFS and fantasy option from the available Golden Gophers. With 831 yards and eight touchdowns this season, he’s tallied 130.6 fantasy points as the WR2 in the Big Ten West.
For Bowling Green, Terion Stewart is the obvious fantasy play. He leads the Falcons with 762 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, and with Ta’ron Keith in the transfer portal, the Bowling Green running back should shoulder the load in the Quick Lane Bowl. Harold Fannin Jr. is as legitimate a tight end superflex option as you’re going to find in most bowl games.
Prediction for the Quick Lane Bowl
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Quick Lane Bowl odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction. Can Bowling Green beat the odds and the Golden Gophers to win their first bowl game since 2014? Or can Minnesota end a disappointing 2023 college football campaign with a win?
Fleck’s tenure at Minnesota has been largely successful, but this 5-7 season mirrors his first in charge of the Gophers as the worst of his seven-year spell as head coach. The team is only bowl-eligible due to a lack of six-win teams and the program’s high academic standing. While the latter is not to be frowned upon, it doesn’t get results on the football field — as proven this year.
The Gophers have struggled to get going offensively this year, with WR Jackson and true freshman running back Darius Taylor being the only bright spots. He’s still the team’s leading rusher despite having only played in five games this year due to injury. As a result, they’ve averaged just 20.2 points per game, and there’s no reason to believe they’ll explode into life on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Bowling Green defense has been impressive at times this year. They’ll be without the disruptive Jalen Huskey, but Darren Anders, Cashius Howell, and Jordan Oladokun headline a unit that thrives on forcing turnovers.
The offense has already overcome a Power Five defense this fall, and led by Stewart and Fannin Jr. they can do so again.
Prediction: Bowling Green 26, Minnesota 23