Saturday, December 30 College Football Bowl Game Parlays

The final Saturday of 2023 puts us at the tail end of bowl season with only a few games remaining. Two teams suiting up on December 30 had their sights set on a New Year’s Day time slot until the College Football Playoff committee intervened. Instead the Florida State Seminoles and Georgia Bulldogs will tangle in the Orange Bowl in one of four games on the docket for the day. Losing Jordan Travis not only cost the Noles a shot at a national championship it also cost them the services of backup Tate Rodemaker, who entered the transfer portal and will not play on Saturday. That’s not even a thought that enters his mind if FSU was preparing for a CFP game. With Freshman Brock Glenn getting the start the Noles have ballooned to a 17.5-point underdog on the college football betting line.

A pair of SEC-Big Ten matchups highlights the Saturday slate with the third-best team from each league going after each other in the Peach Bowl. The Penn State Nittany Lions were beaten by Ohio State and Michigan during the regular season while Ole Miss Rebels succumbed to Alabama and Georgia. NCAAF odds had PSU as a 4-point favorite with the total of 49.5 the highest on Saturday’s board. Not quite the marquee matchup but a good one nonetheless has Auburn and Maryland in the Music City Bowl. The Terps opened as a 2-point dog with the number spiking to +7 after Taulia Tagovialoa announced his opting out.

I stumbled with last week’s college football parlay losing two of three picks at BetRivers sportsbook. I backed Coastal Carolina at +10.5 in its matchup with San Jose State and the Chanticleers got me my only win thanks to a 24-14 upset. The UNDER never had a chance in the Air Force-JMU contest. The ground force churned out 351 yards and three TDs in the 31-21 victory surpassing the total of 41. I also had a losing college football bet with Utah State -2.5 falling to Georgia State, 45-22, in the Potato Bowl. I’ll put that behind me and move on.

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Bowl Game Schedule for Saturday, December 30, 2023

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Peach Bowl – Mississippi vs. Penn State (-4, 49.5)

Music City Bowl – Auburn (-7, 47.5) vs. Maryland

Orange Bowl – Georgia (-17.5, 44.5) vs. Florida State

Arizona Bowl – Toledo vs. Wyoming (-3.5, 45)

Since there are only four games on the slate I’m going to study the NCAAF lines and odds closely and make a college football parlay consisting of one wager from each game. I’ll start with the Orange Bowl matchup between Florida State and Georgia. The point spread is enough to keep me away from backing either club so I’m betting the total falls UNDER the posted number of 44.5. FSU will have problems moving the ball with Brock Glenn at QB. He has some experience starting the ACC Championship and the hope is that he’s better than the 38 percent completion rate and 55 passing yards he compiled in that game. The Noles won on defense and the Bulldogs have been doing that all season.

I have my doubts about Auburn and still can’t get over that loss to New Mexico State. Sure the Tigers rebounded and were that close to beating Alabama in the Iron Bowl, but they lost big to New Mexico State. Maryland suffered a blow when Taulia Tagovailoa opted out making a decent offense worse. And the Terps are susceptible against physical offensive lines, which Auburn certainly has. I expect the Tigers will run the ball successfully while limiting what seldom-used QB Billy Edwards can do allowing Auburn to cover the 7-point NCAAF betting line.

The Peach Bowl matchup has the potential to be a great game. Penn State’s smothering defense against the Rebels’ up-tempo approach in a battle of contrasting styles. Ole Miss is stout defensively as well so I don’t expect a lot of points. However, I will back PSU simply based on their overall depth, ability to control the line of scrimmage and take Ole Miss out of its comfort zone.

Added motivation plays a big role come bowl time. The Wyoming Cowboys have a little extra with longtime coach Craig Bohl pacing the sidelines for the last time in the Arizona Bowl. Every player said they want to send coach out in style and that means a win. And the Pokes have a chance against an undermanned Toledo Rockets outfit that saw players enter the transfer portal after going 11-2. The biggest name is Dequan Finn, who threw for 2,657 yards and 22 TDs with an additional 563 yards seven scores on the ground. Wyoming opened as a short dog on the college football betting line before the line jumped the fence. I’ll still back Wyoming minus the 3.5-points.

Florida State / Georgia UNDER 44.5

Auburn -7

Penn State -4

Wyoming -3.5

Check out the latest NFL odds at BetRivers.