Get set for the weekend’s action with the latest betting insights from FanDuel — let’s college football picks Week 1 style.

This is not a drill. Week 1 of the new college football season is upon us! I repeat; this is not a drill.

To up the ante, we will see FBS games played on Thursday through Monday. Of course, many of the contests in these first couple of weeks are staggering mismatches. However, there are still plenty of lucrative markets we can play to start the season in the green.

With an eye on September 2nd, let us survey the slate for the first full Saturday of college football’s 2023 campaign. Spoiler alert: I am confident in the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes early on. In a different contest, I’m eager to see if the No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes will return just as stout on defense.

Keeping in mind that all odds and spreads are subject to incremental movement, let’s go through our Week 1 college football predictions and betting insights, including the USC Trojans’ clash with Nevada in LA.

2023 College Football Picks Week 1

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Fresno State Bulldogs @ Purdue Boilermakers

• Time: 12 p.m. ET
• TV: Big Ten Network
• Spread: PUR -4.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: FRES +160/PUR -194
• Total: 47.5 (-105/-115)

As the cream of Mountain West football, the Fresno State Bulldogs are entering 2023 after winning their fourth conference title in the current grouping last season. However, since head coach Jeff Tedford took over the program in 2017, the Bulldogs have twice risen to the top of the Mountain West.

Eagerly awaiting Fresno State on Saturday will be the Purdue Boilermakers. Purdue was not as successful as Fresno in 2022, but naturally, the Big Ten offers challenges that the Mountain West does not. Still, the Boilermakers went 8-6 last year. However, they will be going forward without Jeff Brohm, for he returned to Louisville to lead his alma mater. That brings in Ryan Walters as head coach at Purdue; Walters played safety for the Colorado Buffaloes two decades ago.

Naturally, Fresno, California and West Lafayette, Indiana aren’t exactly bordering towns. That means the Bulldogs will endure a 2,000-mile flight before Saturday’s game at Purdue.

According to ESPN’s final SP+ Preseason Rankings, the Bulldogs and Boilermakers actually matchup quite closely. Out of 133 FBS schools, Purdue comes in at 58th while Fresno State is ranked 63rd. Candidly, this contest should be the closest competition that Saturday has to offer.

Best Bet: Fresno State +4.5 (-115)

For FRES-PUR, I will be taking the points with the underdog Bulldogs. Coach Tedford has been one of the most underrated leaders in college football for some time now. From Aaron Rodgers with the California Golden Bears to Jake Haener in Fresno, Tedford has always had a way with quarterbacks. I think that transitions to current Bulldog starting signal-caller Mikey Keene, who transfers in from the Central Florida Knights.

The game projections at numberFire support my ATS play on Fresno State. Per their model, the Bulldogs are showing a winning estimated score of 31.57-30.89. Genuinely, I don’t mind taking it a step further for a Fresno play on the moneyline — especially since Purdue is now under a rookie Division I head coach.

Let’s start simple in Week 1. Give me 4.5 points with the Bulldogs.

We’re Tracking the Biggest Conference Realignment Moves

Who’s in, who’s out? From the Pac-12 exodus to the Big Ten and Big 12’s expansions, Boardroom has you covered.

Let’s Go!

College Football Picks Week 1: Utah State Aggies @ No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes

• Time: 12 p.m. ET
• TV: FS1
• Spread: IOWA -23.5 (-104)
• Moneyline: USU +1160/-2800 IOWA
• Total: 42.5 (-115/-105)

As alluded to in the introduction, the No. 25 Hawkeyes boast one of the best defenses in the nation year in and year out. In 2022, Iowa suffocated opponents into scoring just 13.3 points per game, which was the second-best clip in FBS.

Iowa will host the Utah State Aggies in Week 1 this year. Utah State won the MWC as recently as 2021, but they experienced a major fall from grace last season behind a 6-7 overall record. Heading out to Iowa City, do the Aggies have any chance of getting by the Hawkeyes?

2023 will mark a quarter-century since head coach Kirk Ferentz took over as Iowa’s head coach. Last year, Ferentz notched his 10th bowl win in school history by shutting out the Kentucky Wildcats in the Music City Bowl. Simply, all signs point to the Hawkeyes staying consistent this season.

When perusing through ESPN’s 2023 College Football Power Index, Iowa shows up at 38th overall out of 133 institutions. For Utah State, they land all the way down at 118th. Transparently, I am not ruling out Iowa pitching their second consecutive shutout.

Best Bet: Under 42.5 (-105)

As usual, the Hawkeyes take the field with a hyper-athletic defense. Linebackers Nick Jackson and Jay Higgins play the game with sideline-to-sideline speed, which should thwart the Aggies for most of the day. Iowa’s secondary also features star players, such as Cooper DeJean and Xavier Nwankpa.

I like under 42.5 total points in this contest rather than banking on the Hawkeyes to cover an expansive spread of 23.5. On offense, Iowa does not do a ton of scoring, producing just 17.7 points per game last year. So, even if they were to defeat Utah by three scores, let’s say 21-0 (which is entirely possible), that still would not cover.

Everything considered, under 42.5 is my best play here.

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No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes @ Indiana Hoosiers

• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS
• Spread: OSU 29.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: OSU -10000/IU +2200
• Total: 59.5 (-105/-115)

As per usual, the Ohio State University is champing at the bit for football season to return. Head coach Ryan Day is preparing to commence his fifth full season leading the Buckeyes, and make no mistake: they have authentic national title aspirations in Columbus this year. At FanDuel Sportsbook, the Buckeyes’ odds to win the next CFP National Championship are +700, which are currently third-shortest in the market.

No. 3 Ohio State will begin 2023 with a conference clash against the Indiana Hoosiers. Last season, the Hoosiers were quite awful on the gridiron, playing to a 4-8 record (including 2-7 in Big Ten games). In their 2022 meeting with the Buckeyes, Indiana was flattened by a score of 56-14.

Frankly, we know what Ohio State is looking to do. Behind starting quarterback Kyle McCord, the Buckeyes’ spread option scheme will produce many astronomical point sums this year. Considering McCord’s offensive skill group, which is headlined by star receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, I think there is a high probability of a blowout in Bloomington this Saturday.

Ohio State enters the upcoming season ranked tops overall on ESPN’s CFPI while also showcasing the very best offense according to the SP+ scale. Simply put, I don’t think the Hoosiers have much of a chance in Week 1; that is reflected in FanDuel Sportsbook’s moneyline prices in this contest of -10000/+2200.

Best Bet: Ohio State -29.5 (-115)

There have already been a few games through Week 0 and Week 1 this season when my ATS interest was deterred due to imposing point spreads. Well, that is not the case this week with Ohio State. Laying 29 points with a hook, I am all over the Buckeyes at Indiana.

In 2022, Ohio State trounced the Hoosiers by 42 points at “The Shoe.” The season prior, the Buckeyes won in Bloomington by 47 points, so give me Ohio State in a major way.

I can hear my next-door neighbor yelling it now: O-H! I-O!

College Football Picks Week 1: Nevada Wolf Pack @ No. 6 USC Trojans

• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
• TV: Pac-12 Network
• Spread: USC -38.5
• Moneyline: N/A
• Total: 66.5

The No. 6 USC Trojans are back for their second contest of the season. In Week 0, USC did well to outduel the San Jose State Spartans by a score of 56-28. Despite the lopsided victory, the Trojans failed to cover a 30.5-spread. Now in Week 1, Southern Cal faces the Nevada Wolf Pack and another daunting spread. This time, they’ll 38.5 points. Go big or go home?

Obviously, Nevada is not in the same talent tier as Lincoln Riley’s Trojans. Not only is USC returning last year’s Heisman winner, Caleb Williams, but they embark on 2023 with the second-best offense in the nation via the final preseason SP+ rankings. Additionally, the Trojans are currently operating with the fifth-best offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus.

When surveying the Wolf Pack in 2023, there really is not a ton to feel great about. Reflecting back on the SP+ rankings, Nevada is slotted at 106th overall, but their offense is even worse. The unit is ranked 113th out of 133 schools.

Nevada closed out 2022 on a 10-game losing streak, so don’t expect any historic upset in this contest against USC. It won’t be a grueling flight from Reno to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Pack, but it has the potential to be a very long trip back home if they lose by 40 — or more.

Best Bet: USC -38.5

I stayed away from USC laying 30.5 in Week 0 against SJSU, but I like this matchup with Nevada much more for the Trojans. Frankly, I don’t think San Jose State’s offense got their due respect in Week 0, which is why they easily put up 28 points versus USC while losing — but covering. Simply, I don’t see the Wolf Pack scoring that much this Saturday in L.A.

Williams and the Trojans did well to score 56 points against the Spartans last week. I think they can eclipse that number this week against Nevada and would not be surprised if USC crosses the 60-point threshold this week — something they last did in Week 1 of 2022 against the Rice Owls. Remember: the Trojans were the second-most prolific scoring team last year, producing 41.4 points per game.

It’s ambitious, but I am on USC -38.5 this week.

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The post College Football Week 1 Predictions: Ohio State, USC, Iowa & More appeared first on Boardroom.

To read Boardroom’s March Madness odds update entering the 2023 Sweet 16, click here.

The bracket is set and the field of 68 for the 2023 men’s NCAA Tournament is official. You know what that means: One of the year’s biggest sports betting events is on.

The fun part about this year? There’s no clear-cut heavy favorite. Sure, Houston has the best odds to go all the way, but at +490, it’s hardly a sure thing, especially with the health of Marcus Sasser in question. No. 1 overall seed Alabama is second at +800, but will the Tide’s off-court distractions catch up with them?

We’ll find out soon enough. For now, with some help from our friends at FanDuel SportsBook, here are the latest odds on the national champion, the Final Four, and the Sweet 16 for the men’s March Madness field.

2023 Men’s March Madness Odds

National Champion

• Houston: +490
• Alabama: +800
• Kansas: +1200
• Purdue: +1200
• UCLA: +1200
• Gonzaga: +1600
• Arizona: +1600
• Marquette: +1600
• Texas: +1600
• Tennessee: +2600
• Baylor: +2600
• UConn: +2600
• Duke: +3100
• Kentucky: +3700

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Final Four

West Region

• Kansas: +330
• UCLA: +340
• Gonzaga: +420
• UConn: +600
• TCU: +850
• Saint Mary’s: +1100

South Region

• Alabama: +190
• Arizona: +360
• Baylor: +550
• Creighton: +800
• Virginia: +1200
• San Diego State: +1500

Midwest Region

• Houston: +120
• Texas: +450
• Xavier: +900
• Texas A&M: +1000
• Indiana: +1200
• Miami: +1600

East Region

• Purdue: +300
• Marquette: +420
• Tennessee: +500
• Kentucky: +850
• Duke: +850
• Kansas State: +900

Sweet 16

• Alabama: -300 yes, +250 no
• Arizona: -225 yes, +180 no
• Baylor: +104 yes, -128 no
• Creighton: +168 yes, -210 no
• Duke: +154 yes, -192 no
• Gonzaga: -144 yes, +118 no
• Houston: -320 yes, +245 no
• Kansas: -225 yes, +180 no
• Kentucky: +160 yes, -200 no
• Marquette: -142 yes, +118 no
• Purdue: -188 yes, +152 no
• Tennessee: -110 yes, -110 no
• UCLA: -250 yes, +198 no
• Xavier: +106 yes, -130 no

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The post Men’s March Madness Odds: Houston Favored to Cut Down the Nets appeared first on Boardroom.

In the time it took you to click on this story, TCU punted again and Georgia scored another touchdown.

Yes, the college football season had about as anti-climactic an ending as you could imagine, and letdown fans might be wondering where to turn. The answer is, of course, college basketball.

If you’ve been sidetracked by Saturday afternoon tailgates and midweek MACtion to this point, don’t worry. You’ve missed a lot since the Champions Classic in November but never fear. From the Big East to the Big 12, and Zach Edey to Zia Cooke, Boardroom is here to catch you up.

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The Men’s Top 25 Looks Nothing Like It’s Supposed To

If you only saw the preseason AP Poll and then tuned out until right this minute, you’d be forgiven for being positively baffled. Houston and Kansas (preseason Nos. 3 and 5) being in the top two spots is nothing outlandish, but after that, it gets crazy. Purdue started the season unranked but was actually No. 1 until this week thanks to a dominant run at the PK85 tournament and a 13-0 start. Alabama, which started at No. 20, is now ranked fourth, with UConn (unranked to start the season) at No. 6.

And those teams we thought would be awesome? Well, preseason No. 1 North Carolina lost four straight at the end of November and is now unranked. Things have gotten so bad for preseason No. 4 Kentucky that people are starting to wonder if John Calipari‘s time with the Wildcats is nearing an end. Creighton, thanks partly to an illness from star Ryan Kalkbrenner, went from top 10 to losers of six in a row before getting their big guy back and starting to right the ship. Duke and Baylor were also top 10 teams in November. Today, Duke is No. 24 and Baylor is unranked and 0-3 in the Big 12.

New Blood in Women’s Basketball

As expected, South Carolina and Stanford appear to be the two best teams. They’re a combined 32-1, and that one loss came for the Cardinal at the hands of…the Gamecocks. But take a look at the top 25 and you’ll see some unfamiliar names — or some kind of familiar names in unfamiliar spots.

Ohio State, which has not been to the Elite Eight since 1993, is 17-0 and in the driver’s seat for a 1 seed. Made even more impressive is how flat-out awesome the Big Ten has been. The Buckeyes are one of three Big Ten schools in the AP Poll top 10 (Indiana and Maryland are the other two), with Iowa, Michigan, and Illinois all in the rankings as well.

Yes, Illinois. The Illini went 7-20 last year, 1-13 in the Big Ten, and are somehow 14-3 this year, complete with a win over Iowa and a down-to-the-wire loss against the Buckeyes.

It’s not just the Big Ten that’s brought surprises. Out west, Utah is 14-1 and suddenly ranked in the top 10. And on the outskirts of the Top 25, you have two traditional men’s powerhouses proving the women can compete as well, with Kansas and Villanova.

Tournament Expansion: Possible, Not Likely

NCAA Tournament expansion is going to be a topic of discussion every year until it actually happens. Then, two or three years later, it’ll come right back. It’s the nature of the March Madness beast.

Last week, the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee released its recommendations to the Board of Governors, and it included expanding NCAA championships for sports with 200 or more teams to 25% of eligible schools. In basketball, that would mean a 90-team NCAA Tournament.

Before you throw your computer/phone/tablet in frustration, don’t. There seems to be little interest from the men’s or women’s basketball committees to expand to 90, and you shouldn’t expect any expansion at all until the men’s contract with Turner is up in 2032. After that, could you see an expansion to 72 or 76 teams? Maybe. And if you don’t like it, just remember you’re complaining about more March Madness. Not a bad problem to have.

The Wildest Men’s Coaching Carousel Ever?

Let’s get this part out of the way: One of the most prominent jobs in the game opened under one of the worst circumstances you could imagine when Texas fired head coach Chris Beard following a domestic violence arrest. That will forever be the most important and serious part of the story. But the reality is that Texas is going to need to hire someone and the list of names is intriguing, led by the Hall of Famer Calipari. If the Longhorns don’t go that route, they could take a swing at Kelvin Sampson (Houston), Jerome Tang (Kansas State), Eric Musselman (Arkansas), or Chris Holtmann (Ohio State).

The chain reaction that would set off is only the beginning. Plenty of other questions abound, including: Will Georgetown finally say it’s had enough of Patrick Ewing? Will Jim Boeheim call it a career at Syracuse? Will Kenny Payne even get a second year at Louisville? Those are all elite jobs and they all have a non-zero chance of opening (along with Kentucky, maybe the best in the nation). Buckle up.

Player of the Year Watch

Men’s Basketball Favorite: Zach Edey, Purdue

The best player on one of the best teams, Edey is running away with the player of the year race in men’s basketball. Through 15 games, the 7-foot-4 behemoth is averaging 21.9 points and 13.2 rebounds per game while shooting 63% from the field. The Purdue conversation begins and ends with the big man, who has compiled an ORtg over 100 in every game he’s played this year and is far outpacing everyone else in the country on the KenPom Player of the Year list.

Other candidates: Jalen Wilson (Kansas), Marcus Sasser (Houston), Drew Timme (Gonzaga)

Women’s Basketball Favorite: Aliyah Boston (South Carolina)

You can make a great case for a handful of players, but for now, it’s still Boston. Her per-game numbers are down this year, but it’s because she is commanding so much attention from opposing defenses that it’s making everyone on her team better. Combined with Zia Cooke, South Carolina undoubtedly has the best 1-2 punch in the game. The best player on the best team will always be in the running for player of the year and Boston checks all the boxes.

Other candidates: Cameron Brink (Stanford), Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Angel Reese (LSU)

Playing Favorites

Considering how turbulent the first couple of months have been, it’s no surprise that the betting market has changed substantially. Here are the favorites to win the men’s and women’s national championships, with their odds today compared to their odds in the preseason, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

Men’s Basketball Odds

Houston: +600 (was +850)
Kansas: +750 (was +1500)
Purdue: +1200 (was +4500)
Arizona: +1300 (was +2000)
UConn: +1400 (was +8000)
Tennessee: +1400 (was +2500)
UCLA: +1400 (was +2000)

Women’s Basketball Odds

South Carolina: +125 (was +135)
Stanford: +270 (was +450)
UConn: +700 (was +1000)
LSU: +1200 (was +5000)
Ohio State: +1800 (was +5000)
Indiana: +2000 (was +4000)
Notre Dame: +2000 (was +2500)
Iowa State: +2500 (was +3000)
Utah: +3500 (was +20000)

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The post The Football Fan’s Guide to the 2022-23 College Basketball Season appeared first on Boardroom.

It ought to be a simple question: WHERE IS THE CHEEZ-IT BOWL PLAYED?

Moreover, WHEN is the Cheez-It Bowl played?

The unsuspecting college football fan would like to think that this query doesn’t require quantum theory, votive candles, chalk circles, or Hegelian dialectics in order to produce a satisfying answer. However, thanks to the tastiest of inanities on offer by late capitalism, even cursory Googling of these two quandaries renders several different responses that, while seemingly contradictory, are nonetheless “correct” in a glorious superposition of space and time.

From an orthodox perspective, this season’s Cheez-It Bowl took place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando Florida on Dec. 27, 2022. Casting an awry gaze on the matter, it also took place on the opposite side of the country at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona on the very same day. If you’re ready to go full-on galaxy brain, the Cheez-It Bowl also does not happen until Jan. 2, 2023.

It would appear that the Cheez-It Bowl is everything everywhere all at once. Before our minds fracture and we get fully lost in the crispy, cheesy sauce forever, let’s get to the bottom of this and determine just what and when the Cheez-It Bowl was, is, and could be.

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The Gloriously Confusing History of the Cheez-It Bowl Game(s)

Cheez-It Bowl (2020-present)

Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Last result: Florida State 35, Oklahoma 32 (Dec. 27, 2022)
Previously known as: Camping World Bowl (2017–2019), Russell Athletic Bowl (2012–2016), Champs Sports Bowl (2004–2011), Mazda Tangerine Bowl (2002–2003), Visit Florida Tangerine Bowl (2001), MicronPC.com Bowl (1999–2000), MicronPC Bowl (1998), Carquest Bowl (1994–1997), Blockbuster Bowl (1990–1993)

WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE CONFUSION LEVEL: Nuclear

Cheez-It Bowl (2018, 2019)

Now known as: Guaranteed Rate Bowl (2020-present)
Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona (2018, 2019); State Farm Stadium, Phoenix, Arizona (2020-present)
Last result: Wisconsin 24, Oklahoma State 17 (Dec. 27, 2022)
Previously known as: Cactus Bowl (2017), Motel 6 Cactus Bowl (2016 x2), TicketCity Cactus Bowl (2015), Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (2012–13), Insight Bowl (2002–11), Insight.com Bowl (1997–01), Copper Bowl (1996), Weiser Lock Copper Bowl (1992–95), Domino’s Pizza Copper Bowl (1990–91), Copper Bowl (1989)

WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE CONFUSION LEVEL: Severe

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (2022-present)

Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Last result: Kentucky 20, Iowa 17 (Jan. 1, 2022)
This season’s matchup: LSU vs. Purdue (Jan. 2, 2023)
Previously known as: Vrbo Citrus Bowl (2019-21), Citrus Bowl presented by Overton’s (2018), Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl (2015–17), Capital One Bowl (2003–14), Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl (2001–02), Ourhouse.com Florida Citrus Bowl (2000), CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl (1994–99), Florida Citrus Bowl (1983–93), Tangerine Bowl (1947–82)

WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE CONFUSION LEVEL: High

Key Takeaways From the Cheez-It Bowl Spacetime Conundrum

Okay. Hoooooo, boy. A knee, gang.

1. This season, the current Cheez-It Bowl and the former Cheez-It Bowl (a.k.a. the Guaranteed Rate Bowl) took place on the same day
2. The non-profit group Florida Citrus Sports operates both the current Cheez-It Bowl and the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl — it is unclear if the Kellogg Company cuts two separate checks for these sponsorship privileges or just one
3. Both the Cheez-It Bowl (2001-03) and the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (1947-82) have been called the Tangerine Bowl at different times in their respective histories
4. The way we measure time and space is a social construct, and the way we perceive them is immutably subjective in such a way that while life may have no inherent meaning per se, we are afforded as sentient beings with reason and free will to determine that meaning for ourselves. Also, football.

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The post The Cheez-It Bowl is Everything Everywhere All at Once appeared first on Boardroom.

I mean no disrespect to Glenn Hansard and Markéta Irglová, but bowl season is truly the Swell Season. And while several of the supposed top contenders in August have since found themselves Falling Slowly — and some have fallen All the Way Down — there are other times in which the momentum builds and you’re a team of destiny and perhaps you just need to get lucky Once.

Yes, we’ll get to the CFP when we get there. But in the meantime, there’s a movable gridiron feast of Cheez-Its, mayonnaise, oranges, sugar, and the military-industrial complex to regale in, perhaps drown in, and When Your Mind’s Made Up about where these festive chips are to fall, you might consider making some safe, legal bowl game wagers about it.

If you are indeed Feeling the Pull, you’re in luck, because we called upon our best friends at FanDuel to point us in the proper direction with some expert-level college football bowl game predictions to finagle some best bets for Wisconsin-Oklahoma State, Texas-Washington, Notre Dame-South Carolina, Tennessee-Clemson, Alabama-Kansas state, and many, many more.

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2022-23 CFB Bowl Game Predictions

Thursday, Dec. 22

ARMED FORCES BOWL: Baylor vs. Air Force

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Baylor might be the favorite at the Armed Forces Bowl, but Air Force shouldn’t be overlooked. The Falcons have been one of the better teams on both sides of the ball. On one hand, they average the most rushing yards in the nation (312.9) and are more than capable of making big plays through the air. On the other, their defense allows the fewest total yards (256.4) and third-fewest points (13.3).

It’s just hard to like much that Baylor has done lately, regardless of how tough its opponents have been. I don’t expect the Bears’ frontline to stop the Falcons’ run attack either, especially after the former has averaged 169.0 rushing yards against in their last three games, having just surrendered 208 to Texas.

Air Force’s versatile attack should get the lead here before the run game locks things down until the final whistle.

AIR FORCE VS. BAYLOR ARMED FORCES BOWL PREDICTION: Air Force 33, Baylor 20

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Friday, Dec. 23 Bowl Predictions

GASPARILLA BOWL: Wake Forest vs. Missouri

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Wake Forest might have the better record here, but don’t let that distract you from its awful defense. The Demon Deacons haven’t been able to keep the ball out of their end zone lately, allowing 30-plus points in each of their last five games, averaging out to a 36.6 PPG rate.

Missouri’s offense isn’t elite, but it should be able to generate some numbers against Wake Forest’s defense. After all, the Tigers are averaging 40 more passing yards over their last three games (240.0) compared to their season average (204.7).

Those numbers are encouraging as they’re set to take on a Demon Deacons’ secondary that surrenders the fifth-most passing yards (285.0), which has only increased to a 398.7-yard rate over their last three games.

Though Wake Forest is decent enough to win, I smell a Missouri upset win in the cards.

MISSOURI VS. WAKE FOREST GASPARILLA BOWL PREDICTION: Missouri 38, Wake Forest 35

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Tuesday, Dec. 27

GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Oklahoma State’s campaign took a massive nosedive the longer the season went on. The Cowboys haven’t been able to keep things close when they lose, either, with their last four losses coming by an average margin of 22.3 points. Even if you remove the 49-0 blowout loss to Wisconsin from the group, losing by 13.7 points on average still isn’t anything to be proud of.

Wisconsin isn’t an offensive powerhouse (25.5 PPG, No. 76), but there should be plenty of opportunities to score. Oklahoma State surrenders 31.4 points (No. 104) and 460.0 total yards (No. 121) per game while allowing opponents to hold the ball for 31:13 (No. 93).

With how bad Oklahoma State has looked lately, the Cowboys are destined to be faded. Back a more consistent Wisconsin squad getting the job done in Phoenix.

OKLAHOMA STATE VS. WISCONSIN GUARANTEED RATE BOWL GAME PREDICTION: Wisconsin 27, Oklahoma State 18

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Wednesday, Dec. 28 College Football Bowl Predictions

MILITARY BOWL: UCF vs. Duke

As Larry Rupp writes at TheDuel:

Things are not trending in the right direction for the Knights. Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee was in and out of the AAC Championship Game with an injury, while his backup Mikey Keene has entered the transfer portal. Plumlee will be far from 100% healthy if he suits up, so expect a ton of running plays.

That bodes well for a Duke defense that gives up only 111.5 rushing yards per game (No. 17 in FBS) and allows just 3.5 yards per carry (No. 21 in FBS). The Blue Devils also average 31.6 points per game this season (No. 33 in FBS) and could pull away early in this one if they can force the Knights to pass.

Duke players will want to give first-year head coach Mike Elko a win here, so I’ll back the Blue Devils.

DUKE VS. UCF MILITARY BOWL PREDICTION: Duke 35, UCF 31

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

LIBERTY BOWL: Kansas vs. Arkansas

As Larry Rupp writes at TheDuel:

Kansas’ early season success was a great feel-good storyline, but its defense regressed as the season went on. The Jayhawks went from allowing 24.0 points per game in their first five games to giving up an average of 40.9 over their final seven games. Talk about falling apart.

A shaky run defense was to blame as Kansas finished last in the Big 12 when it came to rushing yards allowed per game (193.8). Look for Arkansas’ powerful backfield to make an impact in this matchup, as running back Raheim Sanders and quarterback KJ Jefferson have combined for 1,936 rushing yards.

Arkansas needs this win to salvage an otherwise disappointing season, so I’ll back the Razorbacks to pick up their third straight win in the Liberty Bowl.

ARKANSAS VS. KANSAS LIBERTY BOWL PREDICTION: Arkansas 41, Kansas 31

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

HOLIDAY BOWL: Oregon vs. UNC

As Larry Rupp writes at TheDuel:

This is going to be an exciting game between two teams that know how to reach the end zone. Oregon averages an impressive 36.9 points per game (No. 14 in FBS), while North Carolina puts up 33.3 points per game (No. 23 in FBS). Each team ranks among the top 20 in yards per game as well.

The Tar Heels will be without one of their top offensive players, though. Wide receiver Josh Downs has declared for the NFL Draft and will not suit up for the Liberty Bowl. He had logged 1,029 yards on 94 receptions this season. Ducks quarterback Bo Nix has announced he will play, however, which is a boost.

Look for freshman QB Drake Maye to struggle early on without his top target. That will give Oregon a chance to grab the lead and never look back.

UNC VS. OREGON HOLIDAY BOWL GAME PREDICTION: Oregon 38, North Carolina 28

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

TEXAS BOWL: Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

A date with Texas Tech might be exactly what Ole Miss needs to taste success once again. The Rebels are 4-2 in six all-time matchups against the Red Raiders, tallying a 47-27 victory in their last meeting (Sept. 2018), which also happened to be at NRG Stadium.

Besides, it’s not like Ole Miss’ recent losses have come against bad teams. Three of those losses stem from games against LSU, Alabama, and Mississippi State — all ranked programs at the moment. Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s run is comprised of wins against Oklahoma, Iowa State, and Kansas, who have a combined 16-20 record with none of the trio being over .500.

Ole Miss is still a solid team despite its recent record and has the defensive edge over Texas Tech. I’ll take the Rebels forgetting about their recent woes with a victory in Houston.

OLE MISS VS. TEXAS TECH TEXAS BOWL PREDICTION: Ole Miss 38, Texas Tech 35

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

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Thursday, Dec. 29

CHEEZ-IT BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Florida State

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Florida State’s offense has been firing on all cylinders over its five-game winning streak. The Seminoles have averaged 43.6 points over that stretch, finishing above 40 on four occasions. That’s not exactly good news for the Sooners, who’ve allowed opponents to score 32.3 PPG over their last four games and were just burned for 51 points by the Red Raiders.

Meanwhile, Florida State’s defense has looked much better. Opposing teams have scored more than 17 points only once against the Seminoles during their impressive run. With FSU also boasting a plus-14.4 scoring margin this season (No. 9), I just don’t see Oklahoma keeping things close.

Give me Florida State winning this one in lopsided fashion.

FSU VS. OKLAHOMA CHEEZ-IT BOWL PREDICTION: FSU 43, Oklahoma 24

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

ALAMO BOWL: Texas vs. Washington

As FairwayJay writes at TheDuel:

The Longhorns qualify as a defensive dominator, allowing just 21.2 points and 362 yards per game. Washington allows 28.2 points and 390 yards per game, and 5.5 yards per play vs. FBS opponents. The Longhorns’ strength is run defense, but they allow 239 passing YPG (No. 82) and Washington has the top pass attack in the country led by QB Michael Penix Jr. He’s passed for 4,354 yards (362/game) to lead the country while passing for 29 TDs.

Texas has a solid, balanced offensive attack led by top RB Bijan Robinson. The Longhorns run for 200 YPG and pass for 231 YPG. Quarterback Quinn Ewers has failed to pass for more than 200 yards in his last four games, but the Longhorns scored 34, 55 and 38 points in three wins. Texas was perfectly balanced on offense in beating Baylor to close the season against the Bears’ Big 12 average defense.

Washington’s run defense is pretty solid allowing 131 YPG vs. FBS foes, but their pass efficiency defense is below average. Washington only punted 22 times this season, but they will punt more than two times in this contest. Penix passed for 298 yards vs. Oregon State’s top Pac-12 defense, but wasn’t sacked in 52 dropbacks in a 24-21 win.

WASHINGTON VS. TEXAS ALAMO BOWL GAME PREDICTION: Texas 31, Washington 27

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Friday, Dec. 30 Bowl Game Predictions

SUN BOWL: Pittsburgh vs. UCLA

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Despite Pittsburgh’s solid play this season, the Panthers didn’t fare too well against ranked schools. After all, they lost a combined 76-51 against Tennessee and North Carolina. While they did secure a victory over Syracuse at the start of November, it’s worth pointing out that the Orange are 1-5 in their last six games and the loss to the Panthers was one of five in a row.

UCLA isn’t perfect, but it boasts an elite offense that puts up 39.1 points (No. 8) and 510.0 yards (No. 3) per game. UNC proved that the key to beating Pittsburgh is through the air (388 passing yards), which is doable for the Bruins, who average 261.2 aerial yards this season (No. 33).

Throwing in the fact that UCLA has also won 10 of its last 11 games as the favorite, it’s easy to see why the Bruins should be victorious at the Sun Bowl.

UCLA VS. PITT SUN BOWL PREDICTION: UCLA 41, Pitt 33

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

GATOR BOWL: Notre Dame vs. South Carolina

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

While South Carolina has played well recently, its run defense has left a lot to be desired this season. Not only do the Gamecocks surrender the 21st-most rushing yards in the nation (197.2), but they’ve also allowed an average of 254.3 yards on the ground over their last three games. If that wasn’t bad enough, the 5.0 yards per carry that they surrender is also among the worst in the nation (No. 113).

The good news for Notre Dame is that its rushing attack is quite strong. The Fighting Irish put up 182.8 rushing yards per game (No. 41), with a lot of that having to do with names like Audric Estime and Logan Diggs in the backfield.

Considering how Diggs has toppled 100 yards three times in his last six games while Estime has also hit the century mark thrice this season, the duo will be key to Notre Dame’s Gator Bowl success.

While I expect South Carolina to put up a solid fight, I’m going with Notre Dame as the victor.

SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NOTRE DAME GATOR BOWL PREDICTION: Notre Dame 30, South Carolina 27

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

ORANGE BOWL: Tennessee vs. Clemson

As Larry Rupp writes at TheDuel:

Tennessee’s season truly took a turn when starting quarterback Hendon Hooker went down with a gruesome knee injury in Week 12. Backup Joe Milton was unable to mount a comeback against South Carolina, but the good news is that he looked improved against Vanderbilt (11-of-21, 147 yards, 1 touchdown).

That kind of effort is not going to be enough to beat Clemson, though. The Tigers have been stellar on defense, allowing 20.8 points (No. 16 in FBS) on 328.8 total yards per game (No. 21 in FBS). They have been especially great against the run, allowing just 100.8 rushing yards per contest (No. 9 in FBS).

Clemson is 18-2 straight up in its last 20 games as a favorite, so I trust the Tigers to earn a victory.

CLEMSON VS. TENNESSEE ORANGE BOWL FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Clemson 34, Tennessee 24

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Saturday, Dec. 31

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF @ FIESTA BOWL: Michigan vs. TCU

Click here for Boardroom’s Michigan vs. TCU predictions and picks.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF @ PEACH BOWL: Ohio State vs. Georgia

Click here to read Boardroom’s OSU vs. UGA predictions and picks.

SUGAR BOWL: Alabama vs. Kansas State

As Larry Rupp writes at TheDuel:

These teams have reached this bowl in very different ways. Alabama entered the season touted as an SEC Championship contender, yet failed to live up to those expectations due to a few close losses. Kansas State was not originally seen as a Big 12 threat, yet proved everyone wrong week after week.

Momentum is key at this point in the season and the Wildcats have it. They are expected to have zero opt-outs, meaning their stellar defense will be ready to go. Kansas State allows only 21.8 points per game (No. 27 in FBS) and has a third-down conversion percentage of 33.9% (No. 24 in FBS).

Alabama has lost in three of its last four Sugar Bowl appearances, so I’ll back Kansas State to pull off the upset.

KSU VS. ALABAMA SUGAR BOWL GAME PREDICTION: Kansas State 27, Alabama 24

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

MUSIC CITY BOWL: Iowa vs. Kentucky

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

If Iowa’s going to win this game, it’s going to be due to its stout defense. Before the loss to Nebraska, the Hawkeyes had allowed 13 or fewer points in four straight games. In fact, their scoring defense ranks sixth-best in the nation (15.5 PPG). They’re also allowing the seventh-fewest total yards per game (292.3) as well.

Meanwhile, Kentucky’s offense has been far from consistent. Not only do the Wildcats average roughly five fewer points away from home (18.0 PPG) than they do at Kroger Field, but they also have been held to exactly six points twice in the last five games.

I’m expecting Iowa to rely on its defense to slow down and frustrate Kentucky, leading to another low-scoring win for the Hawkeyes.

KENTUCKY VS. IOWA MUSIC CITY BOWL PREDICTION: Iowa 20, Kentucky 17

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

Monday, Jan. 2 Bowl Predictions

RELIAQUEST BOWL: Mississippi State vs. Illinois

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

I really like Mississippi State in this matchup, especially after its win over Ole Miss (ranked No. 20 at the time), proving that the former can handle some of the better competition. It’s hard to say the same about Illinois, especially after three losses in its last four games with the only win in that stretch coming against the 1-11 Northwestern Wildcats.

Even with the Fighting Illini’s strong defense, they’re beatable through the air. They allow over 80 more passing yards in road and neutral site games (219.8) than they do at home (139.5). That might not be an eye-popping total, but it gives the Bulldogs’ offense more than enough to work with after averaging 32.6 completions (No. 1) and 310.9 passing yards (No. 11) this fall.

Illinois has also been outscored 70-38 in its last two bowl games, having not won in over a decade. With Mississippi State having won the Armed Forces Bowl just two years ago and going 10-5 in its last 15 bowl outings, it’s easy to see that the Bulldogs are capable of pulling off an upset to kick off 2023.

ILLINOIS VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE RELIAQUEST BOWL PREDICTION: Mississippi State 24, Illinois 21

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

NOTE: The above was written before the passing of Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach.

COTTON BOWL: Tulane vs. USC

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

One of the reasons why the Trojans came up short in the Pac-12 Championship Game is that they only generated 56 rushing yards on 27 carries against the Utes. Fortunately, Tulane’s frontline isn’t nearly as stout, surrendering 161.7 rushing yards per game (No. 74), which has increased to 173.7 over the last three outings.

USC also has the edge when it comes to the turnover department. Not only do the Trojans give up the ball less than any other team (0.5 per game), but they also force the seventh-most turnovers (2.1). While Tulane is relatively decent at holding onto the ball, the offense is coming off a three-turnover performance against UCF, so some vulnerability is there.

As long as USC sticks with what’s worked this season, a Cotton Bowl victory is attainable.

USC VS. TULANE COTTON BOWL GAME PREDICTION: USC 41, Tulane 38

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

CITRUS BOWL: LSU vs. Purdue

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

Though Purdue has won three of its last four games, two of those victories came against Indiana and Northwestern, who have a 5-19 combined record. As soon as the Boilermakers faced tougher competition in the form of the Wolverines, they collapsed, allowing 386 total yards and six offensive touchdowns.

LSU hasn’t been perfect, but it has performed well against noteworthy opponents, picking up wins against both Alabama and Ole Miss this season. Even though the Tigers were steamrolled by the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship, LSU head coach Brian Kelly can take solace in the fact that his team at least put up 549 total yards on one of the nation’s top defenses.

It’s going to be a hard-fought contest between two hungry teams, but LSU’s ability to step up in tough situations leads to me siding with the Tigers in the end.

PURDUE VS. LSU CITRUS BOWL PREDICTION: LSU 33, Purdue 27

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

ROSE BOWL: Penn State vs. Utah

As Devon Platana writes at TheDuel:

It’s hard to bet against Utah, especially after such an impressive performance to take home the Pac-12 Championship. The Utes absolutely brutalized the Trojans to the tune of 533 total yards, picking up six offensive touchdowns along the way.

Penn State might have some momentum, but three of the four wins over its successful run have come against sub-.500 opponents. That’s not exactly inspiring considering how the Nittany Lions are 0-2 against ranked competition this season, losing by double digits both times.

Although Penn State’s defense is solid, it won’t be a match for a Utah team that’s averaged 42.3 points over the last three games. The Utes are also hungry after last year’s Rose Bowl loss, only giving them more incentive to get the job done next month.

UTAH VS. PENN STATE CITRUS BOWL PREDICTION: Utah 38, Penn State 28

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

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The post College Football Bowl Game Predictions & Picks 2022 appeared first on Boardroom.

The college football regular season is (almost entirely) over. Bowl season, the College Football Playoff, and the awarding of the Heisman Trophy are all just days rather than months away.

But before we prepare ourselves emotionally for what quickly becomes last-minute holiday shopping and the teeth-gnashing institution known as the New Year’s resolution, it’s time to nail down who truly bosses the respective families that make up the Power 5.

With that in mind, let’s attack the first weekend in December with our finest college football conference championship predictions powered by our friends at FanDuel, including Georgia-LSU in the SEC, Michigan-Purdue in the Big Ten, USC-Utah in the Pac-12, and more.

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2022 NCAA Football Conference Championship Predictions

PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP: Utah vs. USC (Dec. 2, 8 p.m. ET)

Pac-12 After Dark is an institution unto itself in college football, but this weekend, the Left Coast conference gets the drop on the rest of the Power 5 with a Friday primetime kickoff.

As FairwayJay writes at TheDuel to kick off our college football conference championship predictions:

This game is a rematch from an epic meeting on Oct. 15 in Salt Lake City, where the Utes handed the Trojans their only loss of the season in a 43-42 stunner. Southern Cal never trailed in the game until Utah QB Cameron Rising scored the game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion with 48 seconds left to lift the Utes to victory.

USC enters this rematch fresh off a 38-27 win over Notre Dame — the Trojans’ sixth straight game with at least 38 points. USC quarterback and Heisman frontrunner Caleb Williams ran for three touchdowns and threw another to beat the Fighting Irish.

Utah crushed Colorado last week, 63-21, and then got help with UCLA, Oregon State, and Washington all winning to get the Utes into their fourth Pac-12 Championship Game appearance in the last five years.

Utah has the Pac-12’s No. 1 defense allowing 20 points per game and 317 yards per game — 6 points and 88 YPG better than Southern Cal. USC leads the country in turnover margin (+22), however, and the Trojans will need a few more big plays on defense this week if they’re going to hold off the Utes.

Expect another back-and-forth competitive contest with USC also playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

USC vs. Utah Pac-12 Championship prediction: USC 38, Utah 37

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP: Kansas State vs. TCU (Dec. 3, 12 p.m. ET)

Sure, it’s not the sexiest matchup on paper, but can we appreciate what Sonny Dykes has done not simply as a first-year coach for the Horned Frogs, but in doing so immediately following a program legend like Gary Patterson who led TCU for more than two decades? Bravo, sir.

As FairwayJay writes at TheDuel:

What a season for TCU and new head coach Sonny Dykes. The 12-0 Frogs have exceeded all expectations after going just 5-7 last year, beating all comers this season including Kansas State in a 38-28 home win on Oct. 22. TCU trailed 28-17 at halftime in that one, only to roar back in the second half and come away with a huge win.

Now they’ll meet again with a conference championship on the line. Kansas State does have the Big 12’s No. 1 scoring defense (19 PPG), while TCU sports the Big 12’s No. 1 scoring offense (41 PPG). The Wildcats struggle throwing the ball, however, ranking last in the conference with just 211 passing yards per game.

That said, both quarterbacks protect the ball well and limit interceptions. Kansas State excels on special teams while also ranking No. 2 in the country in turnover margin, but the Wildcats will need to force a few more turnovers here if they want to take down the Frogs.

TCU vs. Kansas State Big 12 Championship prediction: TCU 34, Kansas State 24

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP: LSU vs. Georgia (Dec. 3, 4 p.m. ET)

Are the Georgia Bulldogs really on their way to winning a second consecutive national title? Even if they lose the SEC title game to Brian Kelly’s Bayou Bengals, aren’t they still getting into the CFP? It’s quite a conundrum — and one that’s likely to make

As FairwayJay writes at TheDuel:

Georgia lost 15 players to the NFL Draft following last season’s championship season. But the Bulldogs defense has remained dominant allowing just 136 points this season – or 11.3 points per game.

Georgia’s offense is still strong with QB Stetson Bennett leading a 488 YPG offense with efficient balance (203 rush, 285 pass). The Bulldogs will run over and through a Tigers defense that is wearing out and was gashed for 274 rushing yards on 50 carries by A&M last week.

LSU’s offense has improved to 433 YPG (191 rush, 241 pass), but they’ve had three clunkers against Tennessee, Arkansas and Auburn. Tigers duel-threat QB Jaydon Daniels has taken care of the football well (2 INTs, 3 lost fumbles), but now faces his stiffest challenge against the Dawgs dominant defense.

Daniels also injured his ankle in last week’s 38-23 loss at Texas A&M, and he was in a walking boot Monday. Monitor his practice schedule, but the betting line is up a point and coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers are in too tough regardless.

Georgia vs. LSU SEC Championship prediction: Georgia 38, LSU 13

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

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BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP: Purdue vs. Michigan (Dec 3, 8 p.m. ET)

Was this the Big Ten title matchup you were expecting? Well, probably not — but give the Boilermakers their due for rising to the top of the (admittedly lackluster) Big Ten West and making it to the big show.

As FairwayJay writes at TheDuel:

Michigan put a second-half beatdown on the Ohio State Buckeyes last week to win 45-23 and earn their second straight trip to the Big Ten Championship Game. The Wolverines buried Iowa 42-3 in last year’s title game, and this line suggests another one-sided result. But Purdue’s offense features the No. 2 pass attack in the Big Ten, and QB Aiden O’Connell averaged a league-high 284 passing yards per game throwing to the league’s top receiver Charlie Jones (12 TDs, 100 YPG).

O’Connell is away from practice and campus this week handling family obligations surrounding his brother’s recent death.

Michigan’s defense is No. 1 in the Big Ten, but No. 4 against the pass. Michigan and Purdue faced six common opponents this season and the Wolverines went 6-0 (2-3-1 ATS), outscoring those foes by an average score of 31-15 and out-gaining them 435-273. The Boilermakers went 4-2 (3-3 ATS) vs common foes, but the average score was 28-28 and Purdue had a small yardage edge of 405-395.

Purdue’s defense is average at best statistically in the Big Ten. Even with a potential letdown by Michigan following the huge win over rival Ohio State, the Wolverines will move the ball and wear down the Boilermakers in victory.

Michigan vs. Purdue Big Ten Championship prediction: Michigan 34, Purdue 23

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP: Clemson vs. UNC (Dec. 3, 8 p.m. ET)

Ladies and gentlemen, the most underrated game on the weekend’s slate in terms of pure entertainment is going down in Charlotte on Saturday night. You may not have a horse in this race, but expect the points to pile up by the bushel when Dabo’s Tigers meet Mack’s Tar Heels.

As FairwayJay writes at TheDuel to cap off our conference championship predictions:

The Tigers are 7-1 SU/ATS in ACC Championship Games, including a 45-37 win over the Tar Heels in 2015 which was UNC’s only appearance in this game. The last time these two met was in 2019 and North Carolina (+27) nearly pulled off the upset over No. 1 Clemson, losing 21-20.

Now North Carolina has prized freshman QB Drake Maye leading the ACC’s No. 1 offense (37 PPG, 481 YPG) and Maye’s 320 passing yards per game is best in the ACC. But the Tar Heels have lost back-to-back games as the favorite entering this championship contest while Clemson is coming off a 31-30 loss to South Carolina as a 14-point favorite.

Clemson’s defense just allowed 360 passing yards to South Carolina, so Maye should have another big game. Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei can be inconsistent and he was clueless in last week’s loss, going 8-of-29 for 99 yards with more questionable decisions. Clemson does have top freshman QB Cade Klubnik available if coach Dabo Swinney cuts the cord on Uiagalelei.

North Carolina’s defense is the worst in the ACC, allowing 441 yards per game at 6.1 yards per play. Combined with Clemson’s below-average pass defense, we should see a shootout in the ACC Championship Game.

UNC vs. Clemson ACC Championship prediction: Clemson 41, North Carolina 34

Click here to read the full story at FanDuel.

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The post College Football Conference Championship Predictions 2022 appeared first on Boardroom.

Ahead of his first career regular season game, Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey signed an endorsement deal with Gatorade, the company announced Wednesday.

Ivey, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, joins stars like Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, Paul George, and Karl-Anthony Towns on Gatorade’s player roster, following in the footstep of the brand’s first-ever signed athlete, Michael Jordan.

“It’s surreal to be signing with a brand as iconic as Gatorade because I’ve looked up to Michael Jordan my whole life,” Ivey said. “Joining the Gatorade family is a huge honor and I’m excited to continue to build on the legacy of Gatorade athletes past and present as I start my NBA career.”

The Jaden Ivey Gatorade deal continues the sports drink brand’s recent trend of investing into tomorrow’s star athletes following additions like Paige Bueckers, Kahleah Copper, and Shedeur Sanders in recent months.

“Gatorade has always prioritized identifying the next generation of athlete talent,” Jeff Kearney, Gatorade’s Global Head of Sports Marketing, said on the occasion. “Jaden comes from a deep sports background in his family, and it’s clear he wants to make his own mark on and off the court, so we see a very bright future ahead for the newest member of the Gatorade family.”

Ivey is a 3rd generation professional athlete. His grandfather, James Hunter, played seven seasons for the Detroit Lions in the 1970s and 80s, racking up 27 career interceptions as a cornerback and safety. His father, Javin Hunter, played a season as a Baltimore Ravens wide receiver in 2002 — and Jaden’s mother, Niele Ivey, played five WNBA seasons and is currently the head coach of the Notre Dame women’s basketball team.

Now, Ivey gets to take the next step in forging his own professional path when his Pistons open their season Wednesday against the Orlando Magic in his first game as a pro baller.

Read More:

• ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI
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• Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop
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• CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

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The post Pistons Rookie Jaden Ivey Signs With Gatorade appeared first on Boardroom.

Jaden Ivey is the best guard in this year’s NBA Draft, and at 20 years old, the Purdue product is already being compared to elite NBA talents such as Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Victor Oladipo. He has a basketball pedigree as well, as the son of Niele Ivey, who played for five years in the WNBA and is currently the head coach at Notre Dame.

Let’s get to know Ivey more and look at what he could bring to an NBA roster.

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Jaden Ivey Tale of the Tape

Age: 20
Height: 6’6”
Position: SG/SF
Projected draft position: No. 4 overall, via ESPN.
Previous team: Purdue Boilermakers.
Agents: Aaron Mintz/ CAA Sports
Career achievements:  Consensus second-team All-American (2022), First-team All-Big Ten (2022), Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2021)

Deals and Perks

• Chipotle: His signature meal is available for purchase.
• iShares: This deal allows Jaden to set aside a portion of his iShares sponsorship earnings to go into an investment portfolio.

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A post shared by Jaden Ivey (@poisonivey)

Player Evaluation

Offensively, Ivey has it all. He has a lethal triple threat, explosive first step, and every sidestep and step-back a player can include in their tool bag. He’s got significant bounce yet floats through the air with power like poetry in motion. Ivey is super fast, strong, and has fast-twitch muscles that welcome contact in the lane. Any team who selects him will instantly improve on offense.

Ivey still has work to do to get his three-point shooting up to the standards of the modern NBA game. Additionally, he will have to adjust to the speed of defenders, as he sometimes lost on-ball assignments at the college level. Nonetheless, all the flaws in Ivey’s game are easy fixes with his work ethic and apparent desire to master his craft.

Jaden Ivey College Stats

• Points per game: 17.3
• Assists per game: 3.1
• Rebounds per game: 4.9
• Field Goal %: 46
• 3-Point %: 36

Ivey has the potential to go in the top three of the draft, and if he does, he’ll be the only one of that opening trio who spent more than a year in college. During his freshman season, he shot just 39.9% from the field, but he upped his efficiency to 46.0% and scored nearly 20 points per game as a sophomore. He also improved his three-point percentage from 25.8% to 35.8%. Staying an additional year worked in his favor, allowing coaches to glimpse his progression into a complete offensive player.

Through hard work and focus, Ivey leaped in his second year, making him the eight-best scorer in the Big Ten. We’ll soon see how that translates as an NBA rookie.

The 2022 NBA Draft will take place Thursday, June 23, at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, beginning at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN. See the entire draft order here.

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The post The Beginner’s Guide to Jaden Ivey appeared first on Boardroom.

From Rock Chalk Jayhawk to the St. Peter’s Peacocks, get ready for the conclusion of the men’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

The NCAA Tournament rolls on with the Sweet 16 continuing at 7:09 pm ET on Friday night.

Filling out a bracket is the main attraction for most sports fans this time of year, but the fun doesn’t have to stop there. It’s also the perfect opportunity to place some bets at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Which games should draw our attention? Let’s find out.

Please note that lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. Please check here to make sure you’re seeing the most updated information.

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(3) Purdue Boilermakers vs. (15) St. Peter’s Peacocks

Let’s face it, it’s more than likely that their Cinderella run comes to an end on Friday, but that doesn’t mean the St. Peter’s Peacocks are about to go quietly.

The Purdue Boilermakers have the top adjusted offense in the country, per BartTorvik, so it isn’t shocking to see them as 12.5-point favorites over a 15 seed. There’s no question that the Peacocks will have their hands full.

But St. Peter’s rates as the nation’s 31st-best adjusted defense, and it’s not like they played scrub offenses to get this far, besting Kentucky (No. 6 in adjusted offense) and Murray State (43rd). The Peacocks’ defensive prowess includes the fourth-best defensive effective field goal percentage (eFG%), too.

They could also be peaking at just the right time. Since a bad loss to Siena in February, St. Peter’s has now won nine games in a row and ranks fourth nationally in adjusted defense over that stretch. Sure, most of those victories came against lesser MAAC opponents, but as this tournament has shown, we probably shouldn’t underestimate this team’s defensive play.

It isn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Peacocks, though, as they aren’t nearly as proficient offensively. They sit outside the top 200 in adjusted offense this season, and even during their win streak, they’ve just barely cracked the top 150.

Luckily for them, the Boilermakers are far from elite defensively, ranking 82nd in adjusted D. In fact, out of all Sweet 16 teams, Purdue has the second-worst adjusted defense behind only the Miami Hurricanes.

Going one step further, the Boilermakers infrequently force turnovers (346th in defensive turnover rate), which is great news for a Peacocks offense that often struggles to take care of the ball.

Both teams also rank outside the top 240 in adjusted tempo, and a slower-paced game also lends itself to St. Peter’s avoiding a large deficit.

The numberFire model is a big fan of taking the Peacocks and the points and sees them covering at a 64.55% clip.

(1) Kansas Jayhawks vs. (4) Providence Friars

Perhaps the most over-seeded team in the entire tournament, you can be forgiven if didn’t have the Providence Friars making it this far in your brackets. But it’s one thing to get past double-digit seeds like South Dakota State and Richmond; it’s another thing to knock out the 1-seed in your region.

The Kansas Jayhawks are a top-five college basketball team, per KenPom and BartTorvik, whereas the Friars don’t crack the top 30 on either site. That performance gap has FanDuel Sportsbook pegging the Jayhawks as 7.5-point favorites, and there’s reason to think they can beat that number.

Kansas is the superior team on both offense and defense. They’re No. 5 in adjusted offensive efficiency and 23rd in adjusted defensive efficiency this season, per BartTorvik, while Providence is top 30 and top 60, respectively, in said metrics. To put things into perspective, the Friars are actually bottom-five in both categories among Sweet 16 teams.

While Providence allowed fewer than 60 points in each of their tourney wins, they’ve actually been 101st in adjusted defense over their last 10 games as well.

This spread feels about right — it’s not like the Friars are a bad team — but the Jayhawks rate as the better squad pretty much across the board and should be able to cover in a relatively comfortable win.

(10) Miami Hurricanes vs. (11) Iowa State Cyclones

This is a clash of polar opposites. The Iowa State Cyclones have a stifling adjusted defense (fifth), while Miami boasts a top-20 adjusted offense (18th).

However, they’re also opposites in a less flattering way. Among Sweet 16 teams, the Cyclones own the second-worst remaining adjusted offense (170th), and the Hurricanes have the worst adjusted defense (120th). They’re double-digit seeds for a reason.

Overall, it shakes out to both teams being top 50 on KenPom and BartTorvik, separated by just a handful of spots.

With the teams so evenly matched, the Hurricanes come away as mere 2.5-point favorites. But it’s Miami’s recent play that suggests that they’re the pick.

According to BartTorvik, the Hurricanes have played like a top-20 team over their last 10 games. Iowa State is 60th over that span, which is easily the worst mark among all Sweet 16 teams.

Most notably, Miami has played better defensively (59th in adjusted defense), while Iowa State’s offensive woes have remained unchanged (182nd in adjusted offense).

In fact, it’s hard to find reasons to have any confidence in the Cyclones’ ability to score. For the season, they’re 203rd in eFG%, 294th in turnover rate, 253th in free throw rate, and 262nd in three-point percentage.

The Hurricanes are also coming off an impressive 18-point win over Auburn, the 13th-best team on KenPom. On the other hand, the Cyclones failed to reach 60 points in close wins over LSU and Wisconsin, and the Badgers were the worst 3-seed in the tournament by far.

The Hurricanes are a team trending upward, and it’s hard to see an Iowa State offense stuck in neutral being able to score enough to win. I like Miami to cover the slight spread.

— Kenyatta Storin

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The post March Madness Betting Guide: Sweet 16 Friday appeared first on Boardroom.

With nearly 150 years of history, college football has a myriad of treasured artifacts. The very best come from rivalry games, many with their own unique trophies. Two of the strangest and most historic reside in Big Ten Country and will be on the line this weekend.

Paul Bunyan’s Axe

Wisconsin at Minnesota: Saturday, 3 p.m., BTN

• All-time meetings: 130 (Wisconsin leads 62-60-8)
• Current trophy replaced a Slab of Bacon
• Six-foot long handle
• Second-edition axe debuted in 2000

College football’s most-played rivalry, naturally, comes with its share of history. Minnesota won the first-ever meeting between the two sides, 63-0, kicking off a long and continuous feud that didn’t have an official prize for 50 years. The first trophy? A Slab of Bacon, first handed out in 1930. However, the slab vanished in 1943, only to re-emerge with updated scores into the 1970s. In the interim, the two schools decided to create the Paul Bunyan Axe in 1948, which has an inscription of a capital M or W depending on how it’s held.

The axe is named after fabled hero Paul Bunyan, a giant lumberjack who, according to myth, created the Grand Canyon, the Black Hills and the Puget Sound.

A legendary figure deserves a tool that bears the same stature, and that tool comes with its own tales. In 2019, the year Minnesota ended a 14-game losing streak to Wisconsin and regained the axe, the Badgers held a gripe with the Gophers over how they handled the axe. In 2018, Minnesota was hosting, “everybody can touch it” events at the stadium and State Fair. Then-Wisconsin linebacker Chris Orr said Minnesota “didn’t honor the players before,” calling Minnesota’s handling of the trophy, disrespectful. Wisconsin currently holds a two-game winning streak and it’ll be interesting to see what happens should the axe change hands again.

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The Old Oaken Bucket

Indiana at Purdue: Saturday, 3 p.m., FS1

• Number of meetings: 122 (Purdue leads 74-42-6)
• First awarded in 1925
• Named after a poem by Samuel Woodworth

“The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket; the moss-covered bucket which hung in the well.”

That is the end of the poem that served as inspiration for the trophy awarded to the winner of the Indiana vs. Purdue football game. Its author, Samuel Woodworth, was not from Indiana, but the poem showcases the sentiment that residents feel toward their home state. The poem has been set to music a few times, including by G. F. Kiallmark and Bing Crosby.

Oaken Bucket games have had their share of memorable moments. From the teams battling the elements in 1952 to the 2007 thriller, ranked by the Big Ten Network as the seventh-best trophy game of the 2000s, Memorial Stadium has history within its history.

Lee Corso of ESPN’s College Gameday is entrenched in this rivalry. In 1980, under the largest crowd to witness the game at the time, then-Indiana coach Corso’s son Steve scored a touchdown with under a minute to play. Corso decided to go for two, but stalwart Purdue linebacker Mike Marks stopped the attempt. Indiana was able to recover the onside kick and set up for a potential game-winning 59-yard field goal. Marks deflected the attempt, preserving the Boilermakers’ win.

The IndyStar wrote this about Corso: “The Indiana football coach first risked the life of his son, then his own neck Saturday in an effort to emerge victorious in the annual ado that decides who’s going to laugh and who’s going to cry in our state for a year.”

The Bucket is college football’s second-oldest trophy, eclipsed only by the Little Brown Jug, awarded to the winner of the game between Minnesota and Michigan. Purdue has already played “Spoiler-Maker” to Michigan and Michigan State this year, and will look to end the regular season with its fifth win in six games. The Hoosiers are losers of seven in a row and come in as heavy underdogs. The six-pound bucket seems likely to change hands, as the Hoosiers won the last meeting between the two, but rivalries are littered with upsets. Nothing is guaranteed.

The post College Football Relics: Paul Bunyan’s Axe vs. The Old Oaken Bucket appeared first on Boardroom.