College football bowl season rolls on with another 2 games on Wednesday.
First, we'll kick it off with the Cure Bowl between the South Florida Bulls and Old Dominion Monarchs in what should be one of the better Group of 5 bowls this year.
Then, to close it out, we have a 68 Ventures Bowl battle between the Delaware Blue Hens and Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.
Our college football writers broke down both games and came through with a pick for each, so let's dive into our college football picks and NCAAF predictions for Wednesday, Dec. 17.
College Football Picks, Predictions for Wednesday, Dec. 17
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college football betting staff is targeting from Wednesday's slate of bowl games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 5 p.m. | |
  | 8:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
South Florida vs Old Dominion Pick
By Joshua Nunn
USF head coach Alex Golesh parlayed the success of his Tampa tenure into an SEC job, and now defensive line coach Kevin Patrick will serve as the interim before Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline takes over at the conclusion of the season.
The major concern for USF is that several offensive weapons are injured or have/are likely to opt out of this bowl game.
Quarterback Byrum Brown has already pulled the plug, and the Bulls will be without wide receivers Chas Nimrod and Christian Neptune on the outside.
There are likely 3-4 starting defenders who will also bow out, so don't expect this South Florida team to look like the squad we saw most of the season.
This line opened USF -7.5 with a total of 55.5. However, we've seen one-way action on the Monarchs all week, given the personnel issues and coaching changes for South Florida. I agree with that move.
Old Dominion is going to run the football. The Monarchs averaged 5.7 yards per carry this season, ranking seventh nationally.
ODU was excellent in registering explosive rushes, as the offensive line routinely got to the second level of the defense to produce rushing lanes for running backs Trequan Jones and Devin Roche, and quarterback Colton Joseph (who has since entered the transfer portal).
However, quarterback Quinn Henicle will be able to duplicate Joseph's success running the football, which will be critical in this matchup.
Henicle isn't as strong a passer as Joseph, but I trust the ODU receivers to create separation and make catches to extend drives.
Plus, they may be doing so against the second team defense for USF. The Bulls have several key pieces either injured or likely to opt out, both in the front seven and the secondary.
I just don’t see why USF would be motivated to show up here, given the coaching change and its shortcomings compared to preseason expectations.
I want to back the team that wants to be here, and a victory for ODU would really go a long way in continuing to build momentum under head coach Ricky Rahne, who has yet to win a bowl in his tenure with the Monarchs.
I like ODU to win this game outright, and I have bet it on the moneyline.
Pick: Old Dominion ML +120
| |
Delaware vs Louisiana Pick
By Road to CFB
Handicapping motivation during bowl season is a difficult task, and one that modelers scoff at. After all, it’s immeasurable, so trying to weigh it could be a fool’s errand.
But motivation in bowl games is a real factor in the outcome and fairly predictable.
Delaware is seeking a bowl win in its first year at the FBS level. While bowl trophies for programs like Clemson and Michigan sit in cupboards collecting dust, programs of a certain level really value these wins.
Louisiana is coming off a season where it won 10 games and the Sun Belt Championship. Now, the Ragin' Cajuns are lucky to be 6-6 and playing in a bowl that resides in a city they visit every other season for a conference game.
Mobile, Alabama, might be a destination for teams in the MAC, but it’s not that for in-league Louisiana.
The other factor here is the fact that Louisiana is a team fortunate to be playing in a bowl game and is operating on margins unsustainable for long periods of time.
Going 4-0 down the stretch while getting outgained three times and giving up 500-plus yards in two of those games is an unlikely and unrepeatable outcome.
Offensively, Louisiana has little to speak of in explosiveness. Explosive plays are what hurt Delaware. On a down-to-down basis, the defense is quite solid.
The underlying metrics for Louisiana are alarming. This is a team significantly worse than its 6-6 record suggests.
Delaware has the size up front to compete with a Sun Belt roster like Louisiana. If running back Jo Silver goes, this is a dangerous offense capable of scoring crooked numbers all night.
I’m picking Delaware to win this game outright.
Louisiana is represented in 84% of bowl confidence pools despite having just a 60% expected win rate. The Blue Hens are a strong confidence pick and one worthy of a moneyline bet along with the points. They’re simply the better team.
Pick: Delaware +3 · Delaware ML +130
