“Between Bets” is an article series revealing our staff’s best wagers across the NFL, College Football, NASCAR and PGA Tour. This edition’s bets feature our favorite 2024 College Football Bowl Games picks for the StaffDNA Cure Bowl and Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl.
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
2024 College Football Playoffs First-Round Picks (ATS & Totals)
Ohio vs. Jacksonville State (StaffDNA Cure Bowl)
Friday, Dec. 20 @ 12:00 p.m. ET | Orlando, Fla.
College Football Bowl season continues in Orlando, Fla., with the StaffDNA Cure Bowl featuring two conference champions undergoing significant transitions. The Ohio Bobcats, fresh off a dominant 38-3 win over Miami (OH) in the MAC Championship, enter the game at 10-3 SU and an impressive 9-4 ATS. The Bobcats boast the nation’s 12th-ranked rushing offense, led by dual-threat QB Parker Navarro and RB Anthony Tyus III. On the other side of the ball, their eighth-ranked total defense has been the backbone of their success.
However, the coaching carousel has impacted Ohio, as head coach Tim Albin has left for the Charlotte 49ers, leaving offensive coordinator Brian Smith in the interim role. Despite the leadership change, Ohio’s roster remains intact with no major opt-outs or injuries, keeping them in prime position to maintain momentum.
Jacksonville State also claimed its conference title, dismantling Western Kentucky 52-12 in the Conference USA Championship. The Gamecocks finished the season 9-4 SU and 7-6 ATS, but their situation is far more complicated. Head Coach Rich Rodriguez has returned to West Virginia, leaving offensive coordinator Rod Smith to guide the team in Orlando. To make matters worse, the Gamecocks will be without key defensive players, including leading tacklers S Zechariah Poyser and LB Reginald Hughes, as well as standout CB Jabari Mack.
Ohio’s consistency and superior defense make them the stronger play here. With Jacksonville State missing critical pieces and navigating leadership changes, we’re backing the Bobcats to roll.
Pick: Ohio ML (-155)
Tulane vs. Florida (Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl)
Friday, Dec. 20 @ 3:30 p.m. ET | Tampa Bay, Fla.
The Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl brings an intriguing matchup between two programs heading in opposite directions. Tulane stumbled in the AAC Championship, falling 35-14 to Army, and enters this game at 9-4 both SU and ATS. The Green Wave face a significant challenge at quarterback, as starter Darian Mensah has opted out after entering the transfer portal, leaving Ty Thompson to take the reins before he also transfers.
Florida, on the other hand, comes off a 7-5 SU and 8-4 ATS campaign in the daunting SEC. The Gators showed flashes of brilliance, notching wins against LSU and Ole Miss while pushing Georgia and Tennessee to their limits. However, like many programs during College Football Bowl season, Florida isn’t immune to roster changes, with starting TE Arlis Boardingham and EDGE Jack Pyburn (second on the team in tackles) departing via the transfer portal.
Despite the turnover, Florida has one major advantage: QB DJ Lagway. The 2025 Heisman hopeful has proven capable of leading an offense that has faced some of the nation’s toughest defenses. With Tulane’s QB situation in flux and Florida’s SEC pedigree, I’m confident in the Gators’ ability to cover the double-digit spread. We’re laying the points with Lagway and head coach Billy Napier.
Pick: Florida -13.0 (-108)
Thanks for reading our 2024 College Football Bowl Game Picks for Dec. 20! Check out more of our College Football betting articles and other written content here at In-Between Media, or head over to our YouTube channel to get your fix via video.
*Photo Credit: Matt Pendleton – USA TODAY Sports*
