On Thursday night, the Arkansas State Red Wolves (7-5) face the Bowling Green Falcons (7-5) as 7.5-point underdogs at FanDuel in the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
The Falcons are looking for their first bowl win since 2014, while the Red Wolves seek their first bowl win since 2019. Which team can emerge with the win in Mobile? Let’s dive into the matchup and find out.
68 Ventures Bowl - Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green Odds
Arkansas State vs Bowling Green, Dec. 26, 9:00 pm ET
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State Red Wolves | +7.5 (-110) | +240 | O52.5 (-114) |
| Bowling Green Falcons | -7.5 (-110) | -300 | U52.5 (-106) |
Odds as of Dec. 23 at FanDuel
68 Ventures Bowl - Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green Picks
OVER 52.5 Points (-114) at FanDuel
Bowling Green will be without a few key players in this game, who have committed to other schools via the transfer portal. Three first-team All-MAC talents have committed elsewhere, including right tackle Alex Wollschlaeger (Kentucky), linebacker Joseph Sipp (Kansas), and running back Terion Stewart (Virginia Tech).
One player who will be suiting up for the Falcons is star tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who enters the game with 100 catches for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s 11 yards away from the single-season record for tight ends, while 12 catches would earn him the single-season receptions record.
Fannin and the rest of the Bowling Green offense have an awesome opportunity for success against a dreadful Arkansas State defense. The Red Wolves rank 133rd in overall success rate allowed, ceding 32.3 points and 460.7 yards per game. Arkansas State ranks 126th in early downs EPA/play allowed, while Bowling Green ranks 29th on offense.
Arkansas State should have offensive success, as well, in this game. Jaylen Raynor had a strong season with over 2,500 passing yards and nine interceptions, while Zak Wallace led a multi-faceted run game with 622 yards and 10 touchdowns. Bowling Green’s run defense takes a significant hit without Sipp, who led the team with 46 run stops per PFF.
Both offenses have a clear path to production in Mobile, and the Red Wolves will push the tempo, ranking top-20 in pace of play this season. My top bet is on the OVER in the 68 Ventures Bowl, with both offenses expected to score points in bunches.
Arkansas State vs Bowling Green Prop Pick
Jaison Patterson rushing yards over (not available)
One of Bowling Green’s standout players this year was running back Terion Stewart, who led the team with 890 rushing yards and six touchdowns. However, he is transferring to Virginia Tech and is not expected to play in this game.
Senior back Jaison Patterson will likely lead the rushing attack against a vulnerable Red Wolves run defense. Arkansas State ranks dead last in the FBS in both EPA/play and success rate against the run and 126th in PFF’s tackling metrics. Look for Patterson to rip off some chunk runs on his way to a big performance.
68 Ventures Bowl - Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green Betting Trends
- Arkansas State head coach Butch Jones is 4-3 in bowl games
- Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler is 0-2 in bowl games
- Arkansas state has allowed four of its last six opponents to score 28+ points
