NCAAF bowls: Best bets for Tuesday, Dec. 26

With the next set of bowl games, we are getting closer and closer to the ones that matter, or at least the ones that are less gimmicky. I still encourage you all to tread carefully with these games as key personnel availability can and does change. Who would have thought that Kansas vs. UNLV could be interesting on the gridiron too.

Tuesday, Dec. 26

Quick Lane Bowl
Bowling Green Falcons vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
2 p.m. ET
Best Bet: Golden Gophers -4.5

Minnesota is in this game by default, they only finished the season 5-7, but there were not enough teams with winning records (and apparently being good in school still matters). Still, when the MAC goes against the Big Ten it is not usually good for the MAC. I am looking at a stout Minnesota defense to keep the Falcons at bay while the offense does just enough to get the win. The Gophers’ losses were all to teams in the Big Ten this season and if you take out games against the best of the best (Ohio State and Michigan). They were very competitive. You don’t have to watch a 5-7 team play but you can back them this week.

More: Bowling Green meets Minnesota in return to Quick Lane Bowl

First Responder Bowl
Texas State Bobcats vs. Rice Owls
5:30 p.m. ET
Best Bet: Over 59.5

Texas State is in the top 10 in scoring offense this season and their average game score is about 70 points per game. Rice is not as prolific offensively, and better on defense, but I find it hard to see how this game is going to see just modest scoring even though layoffs can induce that. Much travelled quarterback Rice QB JT Daniels is not going to play for the Owls, but his backup has experience and more than enough time to prepare. This game is going to just be a couple of teams from Texas going up and down the field against each other.

More: Rice seeks redemption in First Responder Bowl vs. Texas State