The 2024 Bowl Season is coming to a close soon but there’s still money to be made. We haven’t placed a bet since…since last year! We started slow yesterday with Bama’s loss but we’re looking to sweep the CFP today! Let’s hope we continue to win in today’s New Years’ Day bowl games best bets for Wednesday, January 1st. Check out all the staff picks here.
2024 Bowl Season New Years’ Day Bowl Games Best Bets – Wednesday, January 1st
CFP Quarterfinal Peach Bowl: Texas (-12.5) vs. Arizona
The first New Year’s Day bowl game for Wednesday, January 1st’s best bets list is the Peach Bowl! The CFP system may still need tweaked since the team that got the bye is a 12.5-point dog. That dog is Arizona State as they face off against Texas who is coming off a 38-24 first-round win over Clemson. Which of these teams will advance to the semi-finals? Let’s take a look before placing our bet.
Texas has had a tremendous year against every team not named Georgia. They finished 12-2, with their only two losses to Georgia, and 8-6 against the spread (ATS). Their offense averaged 33.9 points per game, with 275 passing yards, and 173 rushing yards. Their defense was smothering, holding opponents to an average of 13 points, 156 passing yards, and 104 rushing yards.
Arizona State also had a great year. Just because they didn’t face a team like Georgia doesn’t mean they played poorly. They finished 11-2 straight up and 11-2 ATS. They lost to teams like Cincinnati and Texas Tech but beat teams like Iowa State and BYU. Their offense averaged 33 points per game, 224 passing yards, and 198 rushing yards. The defense held opponents to an average of 21 points, 215 passing yards, and 117 rushing yards.
Arizona State will find that Texas is their toughest matchup yet. I hate to lay 12.5 points when one team is fresher than the other, especially in a quarterfinal matchup. However, if Texas can take Clemson out by 14, there should be no reason they can’t do the same to Arizona.
New Year’s Day Bowl Games Best Bets: Texas (-12.5) advances to the semi-finals.
CFP Quarterfinal Rose Bowl: Ohio State (-2.5) vs. Oregon
The second New Year’s Day bowl game for Wednesday, January 1st’s best bets list is the Rose Bowl! Two powerhouses face off against each other as Ohio State and Oregon battle it out. Ohio State is coming off a 42-17 victory over Tennessee while Oregon had a first-round bye. This will be a rematch from October 12th’s game where Oregon won by a single point.
Ohio State is 11-2 straight up this year and 7-6 ATS. They’re no stranger to playing in the Rose Bowl either! This year they averaged 36 points per game, 259 passing yards, and 168 rushing yards. Their defense held teams to an average of just 11 points, 141 passing yards, and 101 rushing yards. Oregon may find it difficult to move the ball on them. However, Oregon put more points up against them than any other team this year.
Speaking of Oregon, they are looking to protect their perfect season record of 13-0. They finished 7-6 ATS. Their offense averaged 36 points per game, 278 passing yards, and 171 rushing yards. Their defense held opponents to 17 points per game, 175 passing yards, and 126 rushing yards. They had narrow wins over Boise State, Ohio State, and Penn State.
Which team will bend and not break? This could be the best matchup all Bowl season. It’s hard to beat the same team twice but I see Oregon doing it.
Bowl Games Best Bets: Oregon +2.5, Oregon Moneyline – Oregon advances to the semi-finals.
CFP Quarterfinal Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Georgia (-1)
The last New Year’s Day bowl game for Wednesday, January 1st’s best bets list is the Sugar Bowl! Notre Dame cruised passed Indiana to advance while Georgia had a first-round bye. All eyes will be on Georgia and Kirby Smart to see if they can advance in the CFP without their starting quarterback Carson Beck.
With Carson Beck, Georgia went 11-2 straight up but just 4-9 ATS. They just didn’t seem to cover the big spreads like in previous years. Their offense averaged 33 points, 284 passing yards, and 129 rushing yards. The defense held opponents to an average of 20 points per game, 208 passing yards, and 128 rushing yards. Those numbers on defense were also a step back from last year.
Notre Dame had a much easier schedule on their way to 12-1 and 11-2 ATS. Their offense averaged 39 points per game, 196 passing yards, and 222 rushing yards. Their defense held opponents to just 14 points per game, 162 passing yards, and 133 rushing yards. Their main focus will be stopping Georgia’s rushing attack, and forcing their backup quarterback to beat them with his arm.
The main question is – how valuable is Carson Beck? Georgia has been a dominant team the past couple of years, despite maybe not dominating as much this year. Notre Dame has continued to find themselves on the outside looking in, but now gets their chance? Could this be their year?
Bowl Games Best Bets: Georgia (-1), on paper, I should pick Notre Dame. However, I think Kirby Smart is one of the best coaches in the league and that’s the hill I’m choosing to die on.
