Free College Football Picks 12/31/2024
Alabama vs. Michigan College Football Pick Prediction 12/31/2024
Alabama vs. Michigan Team Profiles
Alabama vs. Michigan 12PM ET—Alabama improved to 9-3 following their 28-14 home win to Auburn. The Crimson Tide has won four of their past five games. Their losses came on the road to Oklahoma, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. They have a notable home win to Georgia. Michigan is 7-5 with their 13-10 road win at Ohio St. The Wolverines suffered road losses to Indiana, Illinois and Washington. Home losses came to Texas and Oregon.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Relia Quest Bowl is played in Tampa Florida. The temperature will be 76 degrees with light winds and a 4% chance of rain. Three starters on defense are injured for Alabama and a starting corner has opted out. Their receiver depth is thin based on opt outs, but their starters will play along with quarterback Jalen Milroe. Michigan let go of their offensive coordinator. Five starters on defense have opted out and a starting corner is injured and out. Alabama in their past three games has averaged 8.6 yards per pass attempt. The Wolverines in this period have put up 26 points per game. Many defensive starters are out on both sides with many NFL draft picks. Play Alabama and Michigan over 44.
Louisville vs. Washington College Football Pick Prediction 12/31/2024
Louisville vs. Washington Team Profiles
Louisville vs. Washington 2PM ET—Louisville improved to 8-4 following their 41-14 road win at Kentucky. The Cardinals have won four of five games. Road losses came at Stanford and Notre Dame. The home defeats came to Miami and SMU by seven points. They have a road win at Clemson. Washington is 7-7 with their 49-21 road defeat in Oregon. They have dropped four of six. They have other road losses at playoff bound Penn St and Indiana by double digits. Washington dropped games at Iowa and Rutgers. No wins on the road for the Huskies.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Sun Bowl is played in El Paso Texas. Clear skies are forecasted with 62 degrees and light wind. Louisville starting quarterback has opted out. Two receivers, a defensive end and a corner opted out for Louisville. Washington starting left tackle and linebacker have opted out. Backup quarterbacks start on both sides. Senior Harrison Bailey for Louisville saw limited action the past two seasons with the program throwing a total of 13 passes. Freshman quarterback Demond Williams to start for Washington. He has seen significant action this year completing 77% of his passes with 7.8 yards per pass attempt and four touchdowns. Will Howard was benched in the finale and won’t start in the bowl game. Williams will have his top playmakers available. The top receiver for Louisville opted out. Play Washington +1.
South Carolina vs. Illinois College Football Pick Prediction 12/31/2024
South Carolina vs. Illinois Team Profiles
South Carolina vs. Illinois 3PM ET—South Carolina is 9-3 after their 17-14 road win at Clemson. The Gamecocks have won six straight. Their losses came at Alabama and Ole Miss as well as LSU at home. Illinois improved to 9-3 after their 38-28 road win at Northwestern. The Fighting Illini has won three straight. The losses came at playoff bound Oregon and Penn St with a home defeat to Minnesota.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Citrus Bowl is played in Orlando Florida. It will be 77 degrees with 14MPH wind and a 10% chance of rain. Illinois has a receiver opt out and no other player is expected to opt out according to media reports. South Carolina will be without a running back and defensive end. Those are the two only opt outs according to the Gamecocks coaching staff. South Carolina defense in their past three games held teams to 16.7 points per game with 3.2 yards per run. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers completed 72.4% of his passes for 10.8 yards per pass attempt in his past four games. Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer struggled with accuracy down the stretch completing just 54% in his final six games. Illinois was beaten soundly by Oregon and Penn St by a composite score of 59-16. Play South Carolina -8.5.
Baylor vs. LSU College Football Pick Prediction 12/31/2024
Baylor vs. LSU Team Profiles
Baylor vs. LSU 3:30PM ET—Baylor improved to 8-4 following their 45-17 home win to Kansas. The Bears have won six straight. Their losses came at Utah, Colorado and Iowa St with a home defeat to BYU. LSU improved to 8-4 after their 37-17 home win to Oklahoma. The Tigers lost to USC on a neutral and at Florida and Texas A&M. They dropped a home game to Alabama.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Texas Bowl is played in Houston Texas. There will be sunny skies with a temperature of 68 degrees and light wind. A starting safety and defensive end hit the portal for Baylor. LSU opt outs includes both tackles on offense and a tight end. Also, a receiver and safety. Media reports have experienced linemen playing out of position to fit three freshmen into the starting lineup. LSU offensively in their past three games averaged 293 yards passing per game with 7.4 yards per pass attempt. Garrett Nussmeier will start at quarterback and will return next season. He will have his running backs and three of his top four receivers available. The Bears struggled down the stretch in run defense as in their past three games allowed 5.3 yards per attempt. Tough schedule and offensive skill players available for the Tigers the key here. Play LSU +3.5.
Penn St vs. Boise St College Football Pick Prediction 12/31/2024
Penn St vs. Boise St Team Profiles
Penn St vs. Boise St 7:30PM ET—Penn St improved to 12-2 following their 38-10 home win to SMU in the playoff opening round. Their losses came at playoff bound teams in Oregon on the road and Ohio St at home. Boise St is 12-1 after their 21-7 home win to UNLV in the Mountain West title. The loss came at Oregon by three in Week 2.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Fiesta Bowl is played in a Dome in Glendale Arizona. Boise St enters with rest. Their defense was in great form down the stretch by allowing 12.7 points per game with 53% completions for 5.9 yards per pass attempt. They rushed effectively in this period for 223 yards per game and 5.8 yards per attempt. The Nittany Lions have been 1-3 to the spread on the road against winning teams and 0-2 to the spread away when facing a team that averages 5.9 yards per play or greater. Broncos quarterback Maddux Madsen has been good at avoiding mistakes. He averaged 7.5 yards per pass attempt and can make plays as teams key on their running back. Penn St quarterback Drew Allar in his past two games completed just 54.1% with 5.8 yards per pass attempt. Play Boise St +11.
Free College Football Picks 12/31/2024