The 7-5 Texas A&M Aggies of the SEC and the 9-4 Oklahoma State Cowboys of the Big 12 wrap up Wednesday’s college football action in the 2023 TaxAct Texas Bowl.
Which team will end 2023 with a win? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Texas Bowl prediction.
Texas Bowl Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Texas Bowl odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Texas A&M -2.5 - Moneyline
Texas A&M -130, Oklahoma State +110 - Over/Under
53 points - Game time
9 p.m. ET - Location
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX - Predicted Weather at Kick
43 degrees, 9 mph winds, some clouds then clear - How to Watch
ESPN, FuboTV
Looking to place a little stake on Oklahoma State? Is there an argument for the Aggies being the best team to bet on? If you’re going to take advantage of the Texas Bowl odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Two teams who have a little more history against each other than most in bowl season, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State, meet for the 29th time with the Aggies holding an 18-10 advantage after emerging victorious in a close content in 2019. Texas A&M is favored to stretch the lead by the oddsmakers, but don’t be surprised to see Oklahoma State rack up a 10th win of 2023.
Texas A&M has lost just once as a favorite, but that game is emblematic of how both teams have played this year. For every game they’ve looked good in, there’s a game they should have won but didn’t. Oklahoma State beat Oklahoma but lost to South Alabama, for example. We digress. The Aggies have covered just once in the last seven games, and that streak could continue.
Although the two teams have combined to hit the over more than they’ve limboed under the total points line, there are too many changes for Texas A&M to believe that their offense can function fully. Meanwhile, for every game where Oklahoma State has 30+ points, they have a game with less than 30 points.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Texas A&M Depth Chart | Oklahoma State Depth Chart
- QB Jaylen Henderson, Texas A&M
- QB Alan Bowman, Oklahoma State
- RB Amari Daniels, Texas A&M
- RB Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M
- RB Rueben Owens, Texas A&M
- RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
- RB Elijah Collins, Oklahoma State
- RB Sesi Vailahi, Oklahoma State
- WR Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
- WR Noah Thomas, Texas A&M
- WR Jahdae Walker, Texas A&M
- WR Leon Johnson III, Oklahoma State
- WR Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State
- WR Rashod Owens, Oklahoma State
- TE Max Wright, Texas A&M
- TE Josiah Johnson, Oklahoma State
- TE Quinton Stewart, Oklahoma State
There are four college football games on Wednesday from which to compile your DFS team. 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.
We’re starting your Texas Bowl picks with the Texas A&M options because, in the nicest possible terms, it shouldn’t take long. Some of the Aggies top fantasy assets are in the transfer portal or 2024 NFL Draft, and not one single player has gone past 100 fantasy points this year. The Aggies are simply not a viable fantasy team, unless you want to swing for the fences on Jaylen Henderson, who has averaged two touchdowns a game.
There’s been no announcement to suggest that he won’t play in the Texas Bowl, so we have to presume that Ollie Gordon II will be back for Oklahoma State on Wednesday. The Doak Walker Award winner has been the must have fantasy asset this season, contributing over 1,900 rushing yards leading to 317.9 points.
Gordon had a quiet day against Texas, so if he does play, a bounce back could be in order. If not, you have to assume the Cowboys will test an Aggies defense that has lost a lot of talent this time around, which could make wide receiver Brennan Presley, a viable option. He has 135.22 fantasy points this year, with his ability to take snaps out the backfield proving valuable.
Prediction for the Texas Bowl
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Texas Bowl odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction. Can Oklahoma State flip the tables on the 2019 Texas Bowl and give Mike Gundy an eighth double-digit-win season? Or will the Texas A&M end a transformative season in program history with a win despite tremendous upheaval?
That upheaval forms the basis of our Texas Bowl prediction. Although we’ve seen teams overcome substantial losses to the portal with impressive wins during bowl season, Texas A&M is operating with an almost unprecedented amount of unavailability. Interim head coach Elijah Robinson really has his hands tied in terms of who he can put out on the field.
Some of the most important parts of the Aggies team won’t line up on Wednesday. Star WR Evan Stewart is in the portal, while QB and TE brothers Max and Jake Johnson have already committed to North Carolina. Fadil Diggs, Walter Nolen, Tyreek Chappell, LT Overton, and tackle-for-loss leader Edgerrin Cooper will all be absent from the defense.
When you’re facing a running back of Gordon’s caliber, those losses are devastating. The Aggies have actually had a good run defense this year, allowing just 3.27 yards per carry and seven touchdowns through the 2023 campaign. However, without those key components, they may struggle to hold Gordon in the same way Texas and UCF did in recent games.
Prediction: Texas A&M 20, Oklahoma State 23
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!