Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, NFL/CFB Picks, NFL/CFB Free Picks, NFL/CFB Predictions 12/26/24

Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, NFL/CFB Picks, NFL/CFB Free Picks, NFL/CFB Predictions 12/26/24

GAME ABOVE SPORTS BOWL

PITTSBURGH vs. TOLEDO (PIT -7, 50)

UNDER (1H) 24.5

Coach Rick typically goes to downtown Detroit to catch this game but not this year. Like many of this year's bowl games, this one features a ton of opt outs and injuries. Those will affect Pitt more than Toledo today. Pitt starting QB Eli Holstein is out with an injury. So is the Panthers leading rusher Des Reid. Top WR Konata Mumfield opted out. That means two freshman QBs and a bunch of backups will run the Pitt offense.

Toledo is actually a pretty good defense. They finished in the top 30 in scoring, allowing 21.3 points per game this season. Pitt started the season 7-0 then lost 5 straight to finish the season. In those last 5 games, the Panthers averaged just 19.2 points per game and a little over 6 points in the first half. I expect they will struggle early in today's game as they try and figure things out on offense.

GUARANTEED RATE BOWL

KANSAS STATE vs. RUTGERS (KSU -7, 51.5)

KANSAS STATE -7

This one is pretty simple. No Kyle Monangai. No offense for Rutgers. Monangai rushed for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns in Rutgers' run-heavy offense this season. Kansas State is actually very good against the run - 27th in rushing yards allowed per game and 29th in yards per carry.

Without Monangai, Rutgers may have to rely more on QB Athan Kaliakmanis. He ranks 121st in the nation in completion percentage (54.8%) and 95th in yards per attempt. K-State is 18th in Rushing Offense and the Scarlet Knights defense ranks 117th in Rush Success Rate. This game is a mismatch.

SEATTLE @ CHICAGO (SEA -3.5, 42.5)

SEAHAWKS -3.5

Da Bears have lost nine consecutive games. Things aren't getting any better any time soon. Chicago will be down two starting offensive linemen tonight. Coach Rick has preached the value of offensive linemen all season long. Chicago was bad enough with their five starters up front. Plus, Seattle is in a must-win situation to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Seattle won 4 straight before running into Green Bay (11-4) and Minnesota (13-2) the last two weeks. That makes the Seahawks 4-2 SU and ATS over their last 6 games. Seattle has also won 7 of its last 8 games on the road. Chicago is just 2-6-1 ATS in its last 9 games and the Bears are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games at home.

Ylose expert Coach Rick Bowe delivers his daily Quick Picks. The Coach continues to roll up big wins in MLB, college football, the NFL, 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.