Free College Football Picks 12/28/2024
Connecticut vs. North Carolina College Football Pick Prediction 12/28/2024
Connecticut vs. North Carolina Team Profiles
UCONN vs. North Carolina 12PM ET—UCONN improved to 8-4 following their 47-42 road win at Massachusetts. The Huskies won four of their final five games. The Huskies had four games against Power 4 schools and lost each game. All eight victories came against mid major schools. North Carolina drops to 6-6 after their 35-30 home defeat to NC State. They closed the regular season dropping six of their past nine games.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Forecast for the Fenway Bowl is 35 degrees with 35% chance of snow and light wind. North Carolina head coach Mack Brown was fired, and the team will be without their offensive coordinator. There are several starters opting outs for the Tar Heels. UCONN expects their players in the portal to play in the bowl game. Huskies quarterback Joe Fagnano will start at quarterback and has thrown 7 touchdowns with 1 pick in his past three games. Tar Heels senior quarterback Jacolby Criswell is expected to start at quarterback. He completed 58% of his passes this year. Coaching continuity with the Huskies here. Play Connecticut +2.5.
Boston College vs. Nebraska College Football Pick Prediction 12/28/2024
Boston College vs. Nebraska Team Profiles
Boston College vs. Nebraska 12PM ET—Boston College improved to 7-5 after their 34-23 home win to Pittsburgh. The Eagles won two straight. They lost four straight on the road. Nebraska fell to 6-6 after their 13-10 road defeat to Iowa. The Cornhuskers have dropped five of six. They have a notable 28-10 home win to Colorado in Week 2.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Pinstripe Bowl will be played at Yankees Stadium in New York. There is an 80% chance of rain with the temperature at 44 degrees and light wind. Nebraska will be without their defensive coordinator. BC has few opt outs. Two starters on defense opted out as did a tight end. The Cornhuskers are 4-1 to the under away from home. Boston College in their past three games have allowed only 2.5 yards per run. They have averaged only 3.7 yards per rush this season. The Cornhuskers have allowed only 3.7 yards per run. Their offense struggled away with 16.4 points per game and only 5.7 yards per pass attempt. Passing the football looks to be tough in rainy conditions on grass. Play Boston College and Nebraska under 46.5.
Louisiana vs. TCU College Football Pick Prediction 12/28/2024
Louisiana vs. TCU Team Profiles
Louisiana vs. TCU 2:15PM ET—Louisiana fell to 10-3 following their 31-3 home defeat to Marshall in the Sun Belt Title game. The Ragin Cajuns had one game against a Power 4 school and beat Wake Forest 41-38 on the road. They dropped a 41-33 home decision to Tulane. TCU improved to 8-4 after their 20-13 road win at Cincinnati. The Horned Frogs have won five of six. They have a notable 66-42 defeat at SMU
The Pick with the Explanation
The New Mexico Bowl is played outdoors. The forecast calls for sunny skies with 52 degrees and light wind. Louisiana quarterback Ben Wooldridge is probable to start after his collar bone injury. He will be without his starting receiver and tight end. Receivers and running backs have opted out for TCU. The Horned Frogs starting quarterback Josh Hoover will start. He completed 67% of his passes this season with 8.4 yards per pass attempt. Both teams has productive offenses as the Ragin Cajuns averaged 32 points per game and the Horned Frogs at 32. Both starting quarterbacks appear to be under center here. Play Louisiana and TCU over 59.
Iowa St vs. Miami College Football Pick Prediction 12/28/2024
Iowa St vs. Miami Team Profiles
Iowa St vs. Miami 3:30PM ET—Iowa St fell to 10-3 with their 45-19 road defeat at Arizona ST in the Big 12 Championship Game. This broke a three game win streak. They have a road win at rival Iowa by 1. Miami is 10-2 after their 42-38 road defeat to Syracuse. The loss cost the Hurricanes a shot at the ACC championship game and playoff berth. Their other defeat came at Georgia Tech 28-23.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Pop Tarts Bowl is played in Orlando Florida. It will be 78 degrees with 14 MPH winds and a 19% chance of rain. Three defensive linemen have hit the portal for Iowa St. Media reports have the portal entries playing in this game for the Cyclones. The Hurricanes have a starting wide receiver out as he is headed to Alabama. Most of their starters will play. Cam Ward is a projected first round pick and indications are that he will play but that could change at the last minute. The Hurricanes defense away from home allowed 31 points with 257 yards passing for 8 yards per pass attempt. The offense performed well down the stretch by putting up 34 points with 5.4 yards per run and 68% completions for 8.6 yards per pass attempt. The pass defense was poor in this period. Iowa St defensively struggled down the stretch by allowing 31 points per game with 8.9 yards per pass attempt. Look for both teams to attack poorly performing pass defenses here. Play Iowa St and Miami over 57.5.
Miami Ohio vs. Colorado St College Football Pick Prediction 12/28/2024
Miami Ohio vs. Colorado St Team Profiles
Miami Ohio vs. Colorado St 4:30PM ET—Miami Ohio fell to 8-5 following their 38-3 defeat to Ohio in the MAC championship game. The Redhawks had a seven-game win streak heading into the title game. Their losses came at Toledo by 10, at Notre Dame, at Northwestern and home to Cincinnati. Colorado St improved to 8-4 with their 42-37 home win to Utah St. The Rams have won six of seven. Their loss at Fresno St 28-22 in Week 13 cost them a shot at the Mountain West title game.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Arizona Bowl is played in Tucson Arizona. It will be 70 degrees with light wind and sunny skies. Miami Ohio lost both starting receivers and their left tackle. Two starting corners are out. Colorado St has a starting receiver and three starters on defense out. The Redhawks struggled offensively away from home by putting up 17.9 points per game with only 54% completion rate. Point production was poor in their past three games. The Rams averaged 290 yards passing in their past three games with 7.6 yards per pass attempt. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brayden Fowler Nicolosi threw just one pick in his past six games and has started two seasons with the school. There is not much depth on these MAC schools. Play Colorado St +2.5.
East Carolina vs. NC State College Football Pick Prediction 12/28/2024
East Carolina vs. NC State Team Profiles
East Carolina vs. NC State 5:45PM ET—East Carolina fell to 7-5 following their 34-20 home defeat to Navy. The Pirates had their four-game win streak snapped in defeat. Notable wins came to UTSA at home and North Texas on the road. They faced no Power 4 schools. NC State improved to 6-6 after their 35-30 home road win at North Carolina to become bowl eligible. They had bad losses to Tennessee 51-10 on a neutral and at Clemson 59-35.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Military Bowl is played in Annapolis Maryland. There is an 87% chance of rain and 45 degrees with light wind. ECU lost three starters on defense to the portal as well as two receivers. NC State has three receivers out and two defensive starters. Both defenses enter in poor form. The Pirates in their past five games allowed 31 points per game with 4.6 yards per run and 7.2 yards per pass attempt. The numbers were worse away from home. NC State in this period allowed 30 points per game with 7.8 yards per pass attempt. The Wolfpack also had worse numbers in their road games. ECU quarterback Katin Houser threw for an average of 288 yards per game in his final six games. NC State quarterback CJ Bailey averaged 7.9 yards per pass attempt. He threw for over 300 yards against Cal and Syracuse. Play East Carolina and North Carolina over 60.
BYU vs. Colorado College Football Pick Prediction 12/28/2024
BYU vs. Colorado Team Profiles
BYU vs. Colorado 7:30PM ET—BYU improved to 10-2 after their 30-18 home win to Houston. This broke a two-game losing steak with losses to Kansas at home by 4 and at Arizona St by 5. They had a three-point win at SMU in Week 2. Colorado improved to 9-3 after their 52-0 home win to Oklahoma St. A Week 13 37-21 road defeat at Kansas cost the Buffs a shot in the Big 12 title game and playoff.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Alamo Bowl is played in a Dome in San Antonio. A starting linebacker hit the portal for the Buffs. Deion Sanders said he expects everyone to play. His NFL prospects purchases insurance policies. BYU will be without a starting safety on defense. BYU will be without a running back due to injury but have a banged up offensive line. Colorado’s form great the past three games as they averaged 41 points with 78% completions for 9.3 yards per pass attempt. Defensively they have held opponents to 20 points, 3.7 yards per run and 5.3 yards per pass attempt. BYU struggled offensively down the stretch putting up just 22 points per game with 55.8% completions. In this period, they allowed 8.3 yards per pass attempt. Play Colorado -3.
Louisiana Tech vs. Army College Football Pick Prediction 12/28/2024
Louisiana Tech vs. Army Team Profiles
Louisiana Tech vs. Army 9:15PM ET—Louisiana Tech is 5-7 after their 33-0 home win to Kennesaw St. The Bulldogs are the only losing team in a Bowl Game. They accepted this bowl bid as Marshall opted out. Louisiana Tech has only 4 wins against D1 schools as they beat Nichols St in Week 1. Army fell to 11-2 after their 31-13 home defeat to Navy. Their other loss came to Notre Dame 49-14 on a neutral site.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Independence Bowl is played in Shreveport Louisiana. The temperature will be 58 degrees with light wind and a 22% chance of rain. Louisiana Tech will be without three starters or possibly more on defense. They could be without up to three starters on offense. Army will be without a starting running back and edge rusher. Louisiana Tech was a poor offensive team. Away from their home stadium they averaged just 14.8 points per game, 2.9 yards per run and 5.6 yards per pass attempt. Army on the season averaged 31 points per game with 5.6 yards per run and 9.4 yards per pass attempt. They defended well. The Bulldogs played in a weak Conference USA and will have trouble defending the option. Play Army -14.5.
Free College Football Picks 12/28/2024