Non-CFP College Football Betting Picks for Monday 1/1/24

If you've not hopped on December's bowl-season train already, fret not! The college postseason action is about to hit its pinnacle.

With games firing off all throughout the week, Monday offers both legs of the CFP Semifinal. Of the pair, I am most thrilled for a clash between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan Wolverines at the Rose Bowl.

Still, aside from the College Football Playoff games, FanDuel Sportsbook is booking three additional bowl games on Monday's slate. At the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, we could be in store for a lopsided affair between the Oregon Ducks and Liberty Flames.

There is quite a bit to unpack here, and I know you value your time. Prior to New Year's Day, let's dive into the odds and lines for the upcoming bowl slate, emphasizing the most valuable of the traditional betting markets where applicable. Also, be sure to check out our piece for the CFP Semifinal, as well.

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

College Football Betting Picks (non-CFP) for 1/1/24

Monday's Full Slate

Fiesta Bowl

Liberty vs. Oregon

• Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
• Time: 5 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Spread: ORE -16.5
• Moneyline: LIB +500/ORE -720
• Total: 66.5 (-115/-105)

Embarking on the "Grand Canyon State," Oregon (11-2) and Liberty (13-0) will fight it out in this year's Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Notably, the Ducks blew through their competition in 2023 despite losing to the rival Washington Huskies twice (including once in the Pac-12 Championship). Across the field, the Flames scorched through Conference USA and others for an undefeated record.

With many of Oregon's key contributors electing to play in this bid at State Farm Stadium, the Ducks will look to drown the Flames.

Superstar quarterback Bo Nix is looking to end his collegiate career with a bang after leading the nation in both completion percentage (77.2%) and touchdown passes (40) all while committing only 3 interceptions.

Also, Oregon tailback Bucky Irving will be on the field this Monday -- the dual-threat produced a dozen scores and 112.2 total yards per game in 2023.

Like UO, Liberty also scored an absurd amount of points this season. In head coach Jamey Chadwell's first year at the helm, the Flames averaged 40.8 points per game (PPG). However, LU has yet to play a single Power 5 school in the current campaign.

From there, Liberty has been competing at the FBS level for only six seasons to this point.

Best Bet: Oregon -16.5 (-110)

At numberFire, Oregon (29.05 nERD) is viewed as the second-best team in the country. On that same scale, we do not see undefeated Liberty (6.6 nERD) until 43rd overall. Naturally, the Flames will see their toughest defense yet when they meet the Ducks in the desert.

Speaking of defense, UO was quite stifling in 2023, holding opponents to only 17.3 PPG (11th in FBS). When you consider Oregon's high level of competition, especially on offense, that aforementioned clip is paramountly impressive.

Genuinely, I do not mind laying 16 with a hook on the Ducks at the Fiesta Bowl. Through the season, Oregon has played to a profitable 9-3-1 record against the spread. When taking on spreads larger than two touchdowns in 2023, the Ducks have covered in seven of nine opportunities.

Citrus Bowl

Iowa vs. Tennessee

• Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
• Time: 8:45 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Spread: TENN -6.5
• Moneyline: IOWA +202/TENN -250
• Total: 35.5 (-105/-115)

The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl is a tradition of Central Florida dating all the way back to 1947 (when it was still known as the Tangerine Bowl). In this year's rendition, we will see the Tennessee Volunteers (8-4) take on the Iowa Hawkeyes (10-3).

The Vols are attempting to notch bowl wins in back-to-back campaigns under head coach Josh Heupel. For the Hawkeyes, they have been dominant in the postseason with head coach Kirk Ferentz, showing 10 bowl victories through his 25-year tenure. So, with one youthful coaching regime and one well seasoned, who has the edge in Orlando?

Once again, Iowa showcased one of the most dominant defenses in all of FBS, allowing only 13.2 PPG (fourth-best).

Still, Tennessee is a side that can certainly move the ball; the Volunteers averaged a whopping 453.5 total yards per game. Oh yes, get ready for a clash of styles.

Best Bet: Under 35.5 (-115)

At the Citrus Bowl, overall points may be tough to come by. I highlighted the fact that the Hawkeyes are rather tough to score on. Conversely, Iowa does not light up any scoreboards themselves. The Hawkeyes produced only 16.6 PPG in the current campaign.

For Tennessee, they were also very good on defense in 2023; the Vols surrendered just 22.0 PPG through a dozen contests. Utilizing a fierce front seven, three Tennessee starters had more than 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage: James Pearce Jr. (13.0 TFL), Aaron Beasley (11.5 TFL) and Tyler Baron (10.5 TFL).

Volunteer quarterback Joe Milton is a quality player, but he will have a tough time versus Iowa's 4-3 defense. Behind many dynamic athletes like linebacker Jay Higgins (155 tackles) and safety Sebastian Castro (3 INT), I feel safest going with the under here.

Although 35.5 total points is not very many, if you've seen Hawkeye games this year, it is certainly possible.

Looking for the latest college football odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the college football betting options.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.