College Football Best Bets: Picks & Analysis For The Bowl Games On Friday, December 23

The Friday, December 23 college football bowl game slate features the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns facing the Houston Cougars in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons taking on the Missouri Tigers in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. These are two games that should be a lot more fun to watch than you might think, so make sure you check them out and get a little action on them. Both games have the potential to turn into shootouts. These picks were very profitable for us during the regular season and we're confident we can continue providing winners the rest of the way. 

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College Football Best Bets For The Friday, December 23 Bowl Games

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns vs. Houston Cougars - 3:00PM ET

This is a really good matchup for a Louisiana team that is getting a touchdown in this bowl game. The Ragin' Cajuns have a very solid passing defense, as the team gave up just 15 touchdowns through the air this season and also picked off 15 passes. That's crucial in a meeting with a Houston offense that simply wants to throw the ball all game. If the Cougars were more open to running the football, we'd be somewhat worried about a leaky Ragin' Cajuns running defense. However, that hasn't proven to be the case this year. 

As for the Louisiana offense, we think there's a real chance Chris Smith dices up the Houston defense in this game. Smith has rushed for at least 60 yards in three of the last four games, and Dre'lyn Washington should also pick up some chunk yardage in this one. The Cougars are just miserable defensively, which is part of the reason this team had a disappointing year. 

All in all, this just comes down to us trusting that Louisiana's weaknesses aren't as glaring as Houston's. The Cougars were also 1-7 against the spread as favorites this season, so they aren't exactly great when they're expected to win games.  

BET: Louisiana +7 at -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook

🏈 Louisiana vs. Houston Predictions
📈 Betting preview: Louisiana vs. Houston

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Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Missouri Tigers - 6:30PM ET

These teams are in different places entering this bowl game as Wake Forest lost four of its final five games in the regular season, while Missouri won two in a row to become bowl eligible. So, the Tigers are likely the team that has better vibes entering this one, but that might not matter all that much. This game looks like it could be a rather high-scoring affair, and you're going to want to have your money on Sam Hartman if that ends up being the case. 

Even in something of a down year for Hartman, the quarterback threw for 3,421 yards with 35 touchdowns and 11 picks this year — and six of those interceptions came over a two-game stretch against Louisville and NC State. We expect Hartman and the Demon Deacons offense to have no trouble moving the ball through the air in this one, and we ultimately just don't think Brady Cook is capable of making enough throws for Missouri to win here — even if Cook is a real threat with his legs, and also played better to end the season. 

Wake Forest is also 11-9 ATS when coming off a bye week under head coach Dave Clawson. This is a little more than just a bye week, but it shows that the Demon Deacons tend to handle their business with time to prepare. 

BET: Wake Forest -1 at -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook

🏈 Wake Forest vs. Missouri Predictions
📈 Betting preview: Wake Forest vs. Missouri

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College Football Playoff Previews: 

TCU vs. Michigan

Ohio State vs. Georgia