College Football Betting Picks for Saturday 12/16/23

In just a few short days, we will officially start the 2023-24 college football bowl season.

Admittedly, having only one college football game to watch last Saturday made me a little anxious, but at least Army-Navy delivered a thrilling finish. Fast-forward to now, and we are privy to seven highly anticipated bowl games this coming Saturday.

There is quite a bit to unpack here, and I know you value your time. Before Saturday, let's dive into the odds and lines for the upcoming bowl slate, emphasizing the most valuable of the traditional betting markets where applicable.

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

College Football Betting Picks for 12/16/23

Saturday's Full Slate

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Georgia Southern vs. Ohio

• Venue: Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
• Time: 11 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN/ESPN+
• Spread: GASO -3.5
• Moneyline: GASO -164/OHIO +136
• Total: 48.5 (-115/-105)

Heading to the shores of South Carolina, the Georgia Southern Eagles and Ohio Bobcats will meet in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. On the campus of Coastal Carolina, this will be the fourth edition of this postseason game in Conway. Through that span, neither Georgia Southern nor Ohio has made an appearance here.

Former USC head coach Clay Helton has done a fantastic job since moving to Statesboro. In two seasons of Helton leading Georgia Southern, the Eagles have qualified for bowl games in both campaigns. Currently, GS has played to a 6-6 record and will lean on the Myrtle Beach Bowl to provide a winning season.

From the Mid-American Conference, Ohio University has put together strong campaigns in back-to-back years. Since the start of 2022, the Bobcats have accumulated a 19-7 overall record, including a win at last year's Arizona Bowl. In the present, Ohio is 9-3. Largely, their suffocating defense had led the way, as the Bobcats allowed just 15.4 points per game (PPG) -- FBS' fifth-best mark -- in 2023.

Best Bet: Ohio +3.5 (-115)

Under head coach Tim Albin, Ohio has made incredible strides. After going 3-9 in Albin's first season in Athens, Ohio, the Bobcats have qualified for bowls in every year since. Compared to Georgia Southern, Ohio looks like the much more consistent side.

At numberFire, the game projections are leaning toward the Bobcats; numberFire's model shows a projected score of 31.82-28.31 in favor of Ohio. I could be swayed to play Bobcats' moneyline (+136), but I will start bowl season by going safe, taking more than a field goal with them.

Celebration Bowl

Howard vs. Florida A&M

• Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
• Time: 12 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN/ESPN+
• Spread: FAMU -6.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: HOW +185/FAMU -240
• Total: 50.5 (-115/-115)

As an annual showcase of the top HBCUs in the country, the Cricket Celebration Bowl pits together winners of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference. In 2023, this game will feature the Howard Bison and Florida A&M Rattlers. For both institutions, this will be their first Celebration Bowl appearance. Of course, this is our lone FCS contest on Saturday.

Champions of the MEAC in back-to-back seasons, Howard is absolutely at a high point with their football program. This year, the Bison have played to a 6-5 record, which includes a 4-1 showing in conference play. Still, Saturday's game in Atlanta will be Howard's first bowl bid since 1996. Head coach Larry Scott will surely do all he can to get his side ready for the moment.

Florida A&M has been electric in the current campaign, sporting a record of 11-1 (8-0 in SWAC play). To this point, the Rattlers boast a productive scoring clip of 30.7 PPG. Simply, since Coach Prime left Jackson State for the Colorado Buffaloes, FAMU has looked like the top HBCU team on the gridiron.

Best Bet: Florida A&M -6.5 (-115)

At this year's Celebration Bowl, I do not mind eating the chalk. Head coach Willie Simmons has done an incredible job with the Rattlers over four years in Tallahassee. Simply, I think FAMU is ahead of Howard from a talent perspective. Laying less than a touchdown, I like Florida A&M to cover in Atlanta.

New Orleans Bowl

Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana

• Venue: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
• Time: 2:15 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN/ESPN+
• Spread: JVST -3 (-108)
• Moneyline: JVST -142/UL +118
• Total: 59.5 (-104/-118)

Headed to the world-famous Superdome, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks and Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns will clash in this year's R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Dating back to 2001, Louisiana has previously competed in this specific bowl game in six different years. For J'Ville State, they just finished their inaugural regular season at the FBS level.

The Gamecocks displayed that they can hang amongst college football's top circuit. In 2023, Jacksonville State played to an 8-4 record, including 6-2 within Conference USA. Under head coach Rich Rodriguez (who had previous stints at West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona), J'Ville State should arrive in NOLA well-prepared.

For the Ragin' Cajuns, they saw a bit of a drop-off this season. From 2019 to 2021, Louisiana-Lafayette compiled a total record of 34-5. Since head coach Michael Desormeaux took over the program in 2022, the Cajuns have played to a 12-13 record -- a win at the upcoming New Orleans Bowl will make Louisiana exactly .500 over the past two campaigns.

Cure Bowl

Miami (OH) vs. Appalachian State

• Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC/ESPN+
• Spread: APP -6.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: M-OH +198/APP -245
• Total: 44.5

Taking place at the old "Bounce House" in Orlando, Florida, the Miami (OH) RedHawks and Appalachian State Mountaineers will get together for the Avocados From Mexico Cure Bowl. For both schools in this bid, it will be their first Cure Bowl appearance. So, on the campus of UCF, who will have the edge?

After a down year, Miami (Ohio) dazzled in 2023, playing to an 11-2 record en route to their 22nd conference title. Like many football teams in the MAC, the RedHawks are anchored behind a stout defense; Miami surrendered only 16.2 PPG this season, which was seventh-best in all of FBS.

Appalachian State produced another entertaining campaign in 2023, going 8-5 in head coach Shawn Clark's fourth season at the helm. Prior to losing the recent Sun Belt championship versus the Troy Trojans, the Mountaineers had snapped off five straight wins. Of course, App. State's most impressive showing was a 26-23 road upset against a then-undefeated James Madison team.

Best Bet: Over 44.5 (-110)

This seems like a fabulous contest to make a play on the total rather than a specific side. Appalachian St. has averaged a prolific 34.8 PPG in 2023, which is a top-25 figure this year. I respect the RedHawks on defense, but they are not perfect, allowing 20 or more points in six separate games on the season.

According to numberFire's projections, their model estimates a 31.87-27.09 score in favor of the Mountaineers. That combined sum (58.96 points) towers over the set total of 44.5. With nearly two touchdowns worth of cushion, it'll be over 44.5 in Orlando for me.

New Mexico Bowl

New Mexico State vs. Fresno State

• Venue: University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
• Time: 5:45 p.m. ET
• TV:ESPN/ESPN+
• Spread: NMST -3.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: NMST -172/FRES +142
• Total: 51.5

A beloved tradition of the Southwestern United States, this year's Isleta New Mexico Bowl will actually feature a team from "The Land of Enchantment" for the first time since 2016. Come Saturday, prepare for the New Mexico State Aggies to take on the Fresno State Bulldogs at Albuquerque's University Stadium (located at the University of New Mexico, not New Mexico State).

For Fresno State, this will be their fourth overall appearance at the N.M. Bowl, winning here just two years ago. Under head coach Jeff Tedford, the Bulldogs did well to earn the Mountain West title in 2022. Fast-forward to the present season, and Fresno missed the conference championship, but still fared well at 8-4 overall.

New Mexico State did not get off to the best start in 2023, losing three of five games out of the gate. Still, head coach Jerry Kill did well to rally his squad through the middle portion of the schedule. From October 4th to Thanksgiving weekend, the Aggies turned on the juice for eight consecutive wins.

Best Bet: Fresno State +3.5 (-105)

I've had the pleasure of watching Fresno State play in person a few times over the past couple years, and their discipline always impresses me. Naturally, Coach Tedford runs a tight ship, and always seems to get the most out of his quarterbacks -- he is linked to several NFL first rounders of the past, such as Aaron Rodgers, Kyle Boller, Trent Dilfer, David Carr and others.

Though he does not suit up in a helmet and shoulder pads, Coach Tedford has an exceptional 8-3 bowl game record in his collegiate coaching career. Simply, I know he will have Fresno State well-prepared in Albuquerque this weekend.

When glancing at the CFB power rankings on numberFire, Fresno State (-1.6 nERD) is viewed more favorably than the Aggies (-3.21 nERD) by 11 positions (64th versus 75th in FBS). That, along with Tedford's bowl game prowess, gives me confidence to take the underdog Bulldogs while getting a field goal with a hook.

L.A. Bowl

UCLA vs. Boise State

• Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC/ESPN+
• Spread: UCLA -4.5
• Moneyline: UCLA -188/BSU +155
• Total: 48.5 -112/-108)

A relatively new addition to the bowl slate, the Starco Brands LA Bowl is only in its third rendition ever. In that time, this game has been used as a meeting between the Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences. In 2023, the LA Bowl will feature the UCLA Bruins and Boise State Broncos.

Dawning on the modern spectacle that is SoFi Stadium, the Bruins and Broncos will present an interesting matchup. UCLA played to a 7-5 record this year, often showing mixed results under head coach Chip Kelly. Still, Kelly was recently extended in Westwood despite losing his highly recruited quarterback to the transfer portal.

Boise State is coming off winning its fourth Mountain West title game, which is currently the most of any school in the conference. Boise started 2023 by losing three of their first five contests. Since then, the Broncos have gone 6-2 to reach their current mark of 8-5.

Worth mentioning: neither school here has previously appeared in the LA Bowl, but the Mountain West side won in both 2021 and 2022. Can UCLA break that streak in its final year as a Pac-12 institution?

Independence Bowl

California vs. Texas Tech

• Venue: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
• Time: 9:15 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN/ESPN+
• Spread: TTU -3
• Moneyline: CAL +126/TTU -152
• Total: 57.5

As the longest-running bowl game of any to be played this weekend, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl is a Shreveport tradition dating back to the mid-1970s. This time around, the California Golden Bears will head to Louisiana to square up with the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Frankly, as Saturday's nightcap, this clash could be the best game of the slate.

For Cal, this is their first-ever trip to the Independence Bowl. Under head coach Justin Wilcox, this will be the Golden Bears' third trip bowling since 2018. If UC Berkeley can defeat Texas Tech, it will also be Cal's first winning season in four years.

The Red Raiders have made only two prior trips to the Independence Bowl, both of which resulted in losses (1998, 1986). Back in the present, Tech is also looking to end the campaign above .500. Head coach Joey McGuire won a bowl game with the program last season (his first as the head coach). So, in this meeting of 6-6 Power-5 teams, who has the edge?

Best Bet: California +3.0 (-110)

We have seen many varying versions of the Bears in 2023, which can be attributed mostly to the fact that they started three different quarterbacks this campaign. However, California now seems to have a signal-caller they trust, winning their final three games of the regular season to become bowl-eligible.

At numberFire, the game projections reflect a close contest in Shreveport. Their model yields an estimated score of 30.13-28.59 in favor of TTU, but that falls narrowly short of the field goal spread. Additionally, I like how Cal has run the ball this year, churning out 181.1 rushing yards per game. I think that will give Berkeley a good shot at an upset so far from home.

For Saturday's nightcap, I will take the points with Cal. East Coasters -- I genuinely think this will be one to stay awake for.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.