College Football Betting Picks for Tuesday 12/26/23

If you've not hopped on December's bowl-season train already, fret not! The college postseason action is really only just beginning.

With games firing off all throughout the week, this Tuesday offers three CFB contests to keep bowl season churning strong. Of that bunch, I am most thrilled for a clash between the Kansas Jayhawks and UNLV Rebels in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

There is quite a bit to unpack here, and I know you value your time. Prior to Tuesday, let's dive into the odds and lines for the upcoming bowl slate, emphasizing the most valuable of the traditional betting markets where applicable. Also, be sure to check out our piece for Saturday's bowl action, as well.

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

College Football Betting Picks for 12/26/23

Tuesday's Full Slate

First Responder Bowl

Texas State vs. Rice

• Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX
• Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN/ESPN+
• Spread: TXST -5.5
• Moneyline: TXST -120/RICE +172
• Total: 59.5outh

A Lone Star tradition since 2011, the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl is played annually in the Dallas area. No longer hosted at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park, this game moved to Ford Stadium on the campus of the SMU Mustangs in 2019, and so it stands.

In 2023, the First Responder Bowl will pit together two teams from Texas: the Texas State Bobcats and Rice Owls. Representing the Sun Belt, Texas State has played to a 7-5 record thus far while Rice is stuck at 6-6. So, in this all-Lone Star affair, who has the edge?

According to power rankings on numberFire, Rice (-6.18 nERD) chimes in at 90th in FBS. On that same scale, the Bobcats (-9.27 nERD) are slightly behind at 99th. Knowing that, the Owls reflecting as a 5.5-point underdog for Tuesday sticks out as a number to watch.

Best Bet: Rice +5.5 (-110)

Under head coach Mike Bloomgren, Rice has just qualified for bowls in back-to-back years for the first time since 2014. After joining the American Conference this season, the Owls still managed to score to the tune of 30.2 PPG. Simply, I think that will bode well against a defense from Texas State that allowed 33.8 PPG in 2023 (118th out of 133 schools).

Perhaps banking the Owls to upset the Bobcats in Dallas is a bit too bold, but I am quite intrigued by Rice getting five points with a hook. Genuinely, I would consider the Owls at anything more than a field goal in this contest.

Back at numberFire, the CFB game projections show an estimated 36.00-32.43 score in favor of Texas State. That provides a scoring differential of only 3.57 points, which falls on my side of Rice against the spread (ATS).

Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Kansas vs. UNLV

• Venue: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
• Time: 9 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN/ESPN+
• Spread: KU -12.5
• Moneyline: KU -450/UNLV +340
• Total: 64.5

There are several reasons I am looking forward to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. First off, this bid is currently held at Chase Field -- home of MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks. The game has had many homes throughout "The Grand Canyon State," but bringing it back to downtown Phoenix has provided a unique CFB atmosphere.

In 2023, the Guaranteed Rate Bowl will feature Kansas and UNLV, which are both institutions that are a little more familiar success on the hardwood rather than the gridiron. Regardless, each program here has made incredible strides this season. The Jayhawks went 8-4 en route to reaching their highest win total since 2008 while UNLV played to a 9-4 record, appearing in their first Mountain West title game.

With Barry Odom taking over the coaching duties in Vegas this year, the Rebels climbed to 34.3 PPG. Notably, UNLV's ground attack was especially dynamic in 2023, producing 2.8 rushing scores per game. However, KU can say the same; the Jayhawks churned out 211.3 yards per game on the ground this year.

Best Bet: UNLV +12.5 (-110)

I expect this contest to be a physical showing, but I think the line is set just a little too far apart here. Notably, the Rebels were one of the top cover teams in all of college football, playing to a 10-3 record ATS. One final time in 2023, I see UNLV covering.

Behind MWC Freshman of the Year Jayden Maiava, Nevada-Las Vegas has an incredibly bright future. As a dual-threat quarterback, Maiava has the potential to give KU fits.

Though an upset outright would be highly unlikely here, 12.5 is quite an expansive spread between these sides. Considering that the line is outside of a touchdown plus a field goal (or even four field goals), I am eager to challenge KU's football team to win by at least 13. Give me Rebels +12.5.

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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.