Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CFB Picks, CFB Free Picks, CFB Predictions 1/2/26

Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CFB Picks, CFB Free Picks, CFB Predictions 1/2/26

2025 TRUST & WILL HOLIDAY BOWL

ARIZONA vs. SMU (SMU -1.5, 51.5)

No. 17 Arizona and SMU don't have a huge number of opt-outs. Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan wouldn't announce his team's opt-outs, so we'll find out when the teams take the field tonight in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

With 283.5 yards per game, SMU (8-4) has the 11th best passing offense in the FBS, paced by Kevin Jennings' 3,363 yards and 26 touchdowns. Arizona (9-3) has the fourth-best pass defense in the country, allowing only 155.9 yards per game and nine passing touchdowns overall.

Jennings, a multi-year starter, has declared that he would return to SMU for his fifth and final year of eligibility in 2026. Last season, he was the quarterback for the Mustangs as they advanced to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game and were granted a spot in the College Football Playoff.

With the transfer portal set to open, Jennings is a prime example of the current situation at SMU.

"Opt-outs haven't been a problem yet," SMU coach Rhett Lashlee stated. Players are unlikely to join us for the game if they choose to transfer now, even though the portal is closed. However, I don't anticipate opt-outs."

Coach Brent Brennan of Arizona was evasive when he said that Lashlee and SMU would learn which Wildcats would not participate in the game on Friday night. Right now, the only known opt-outs are DJ Warner, an edge rusher for SMU, and Michael Wooten, an offensive lineman for Arizona, who intend to use the transfer portal.

With a five-game winning streak at the end of the regular season, including victories over ranked opponents Arizona State and Cincinnati on the road, Arizona is the hotter team. The Wildcats would have their second 10-win season in three years and their fifth in program history with one more win.

"Since we got bowl-eligible we've been talking about this extra life that this team gets by getting to go to a bowl game," said Brennan. "And that implies that this unique set of people will have more time to spend together. Every football squad has a lifetime, which is something we always discuss at the start of the year, such as in January. It could be eleven months, ten months, or nine months, but the longer the better, isn't that right? They've done a fantastic job of savoring those moments, in my opinion.

With 2,963 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and just five interceptions, Noah Fifita is the Wildcats' own seasoned quarterback. In addition, he has ran for three touchdowns. Along with defensive backs Dalton Johnson and Treydan Stukes (four interceptions apiece), who support Arizona's stout pass defense, Fifita was selected to the All-Big 12 first team.

Ahmaad Moses, a safety for SMU, led his team with 91 tackles and five interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. He was named to the All-ACC first team along with offensive guard Logan Parr.

The Mustangs have lost their last five bowl games and haven't won one since the Hawaii Bowl in 2012. After losing to BYU in 1980, this is the program's second trip to the Holiday Bowl.

After defeating the Cornhuskers in 2009 after defeating Nebraska in 1998, Arizona is returning to the Holiday Bowl for the third time.

FREE PICK: NOAH FIFITA 225+ PASSING YARDS/2+ PASSING TDS PARLAY

Fifita threw for 2,963 yards and 26 TDs this season. He had a stretch this season where he threw for at least 2 TDs in six straight games. He finished the season having thrown at least 2 TDs in 7 of 12 games. Fifita threw for 225 yards or more in 6 of the 12 games, including 2 of the last 3. The weak spot in SMU's defense is the passing game. The Mustangs allowed teams to throw for 284.7 yards per game.

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Ylose expert Coach Rick Bowe delivers his daily Quick Picks. The Coach continues to roll up big wins in college basketball, college football, the NFL, MLB and much more. Coach Rick offers a unique perspective to handicapping. Check out his daily free picks right here and jump on his daily Best Bets, which you can find right here at Ylose.com/coach.