As we make our way through The 2024 Season’s Bowl games and towards the end of the year we have 5 more games today! Then we get another 8 games on Saturday! To celebrate bowl season, I’ll be releasing a best bets article each day there’s a bowl game! Currently sitting at 14-6, get your bets in before the bowl games kick off each day! Let’s hope we continue to win in today’s bowl games best bets for Friday, December 27th. Check out all the staff picks here.
2024 Season Today’s Bowl Games Best Bets – Friday, December 27th
Game Above Sports Bowl: Oklahoma (-1) Vs. Navy
The first game to kick off on our Friday, December 27th best bets list is Oklahoma vs. Navy in the Game Above Sports bowl! Navy, who went 9-3 straight up and 8-4 against the spread (ATS) look to prove themselves among the big teams. Oklahoma finished the season 6-6 straight up and ATS.
Sure, Oklahoma may have a deeper bench of talent than Navy does. However, Navy is only has one player sitting out. Oklahoma will be without their starting quarterback as well as several wide receivers, offensive lineman, and defenders.
Oklahoma had a disappointing season, averaging just 24 points per game. Their offense had an average of only 167 passing yards and 155 rushing yards. They played better on defense, holding opponents to 21 points per game. The Sooners also held opponents to 212 passing yards and 104 rushing yards. The focus will be on if they can stop the Navy rushing attack.
Speaking of Navy, the Midshipmen averaged 32 points per game. They didn’t pass a lot, averaging just 126 passing yards a game. However, Navy’s bread and butter is in the run game, where they averaged 249 rushing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 22 points a game. The Midshipmen allowed 207 passing yards and 155 rushing yards.
This is a tough one to handicap because the last power-conference school the Midshipmen played was Notre Dame. They lost that game 51-14. However, Oklahoma has had a disappointing year and now has a bunch of backups playing. As much of a storybook ending as it would be to see Navy win the Bowl Game and prove themselves, I think the depth of Oklahoma may overwhelm.
Today’s Bowl Games Best Bets: Oklahoma (-1) Disappointing season or not, they opened as 8.5-point favorites. Their recruiting is stronger and they won’t get blown out. I think the Sooners notch a win here, disappointing Navy. Don’t be afraid to take them on the Moneyline (-110) as well.
Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Tech (-3) vs. Vanderbilt
The next game on our Friday, December 27th best bets list is the Birmingham Bowl. Georgia Tech will take on Vanderbilt at 3:30 Eastern, 12:30 Pacific. There aren’t many impact players sitting out this game, however, one of them that is is the Yellow Jacket’s top wide receiver. Georgie Tech finished the season 7-5 straight up and 6-5-1 ATS. The Commodores went 6-6, but were 8-4 ATS.
Fueled by quarterback Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt averaged 26 points per game, 180 passing yards, and 139 rushing yards. They had some huge wins over Alabama and Auburn. Their defense allowed 23 points per game, 238 passing yards, and 136 rushing yards. Pavia was granted another year of eligibility which could really fuel this team. Despite not having gaudy numbers, the kid plays with fire and heart and is a difference-maker on the field.
The Yellow Jackets averaged 29 points a game, 240 passing yards, and 168 rushing yards. Their defense allowed an average of 24 points per game, 225 passing yards, and 120 rushing yards. They finished the season very strong, taking Georgia to overtime, after beating NC State and Miami. In those last two games against Georgia and NC State, Eric Singleton had really good games. It’ll be interesting to see how much they miss him on the field.
Today’s Bowl Games Best Bets: Vanderbilt +3, fueled by Pavia’s return in 2025 Vandy keeps it close. Not to mention Georgia Tech’s last three games were decided by a combined 7 points.
Holiday Bowl: Syracuse (-17.5) vs. Washington State
The last game to discuss in detail on our list of Friday, December 27th best bets is the Holiday Bowl. Syracuse is a 17.5-point favorite, which seems like a lot for a bowl game. However, Washinton State will be without their starting quarterback (and leading rusher), their starting running back, their wide receiver two, as well as a handful of other offensive and defensive players. Although, we saw that didn’t matter for Pitt yesterday.
Syracuse finished the year 9-3 overall and 6-6 ATS. They averaged 32 points per game, 363 passing yards, and 93 rushing yards. Their defense allowed an average of 28 points, 216 passing yards, and 153 rushing yards per game. This passing attack might be hard to stop against a team that will be starting a lot of backups.
Washington State went 8-4 this year and were also 6-6 ATS. They’ll be missing so many players to the transfer portal that it is hard to gauge how they’ll play based on this year’s stats. However, their offense averaged 36 points per game, 268 passing yards, and 171 rushing yards. That was with their starting quarterback, who also led the team in rushing, and their starting running back. Their defense allowed an average of 28 points per game, 255 passing yards, and 175 rushing yards.
This would have been a great game if everybody was playing. Washington State’s backups will be hungry to prove themselves. However, this Syracuse team has played good football all year long. I think they’ll make some big plays and be able to move the ball fairly quickly. 18 Points is a lot, but with more money on Washington State to cover, it’s hard for me to ride the public dog.
Today’s Bowl Games Best Bets: Syracuse (-17.5) – Public dogs have fleas and Syracuse puts a nice cap to the end of their season.
The Other Two Bowl Games
I wasn’t going to leave you hanging without picking the other two games today. Here’s my best bets for the other two games that will take place on Friday, December 27th.
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas (+2.5) covers and wins vs. Texas Tech
Las Vegas Bowl: Texas A&M (-3) covers and wins vs. USC
