Quick Lane Bowl – Falcons vs Golden Gophers Free Picks

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the only 5-7 team in a bowl game this year. Minnesota can’t even earn a record of .500 this season. However, they can still earn a bowl victory in the Quick Lane Bowl against the Bowling Green Falcons.

The Golden Gophers didn’t lose many players to the transfer portal. However, they’ll be without their starting and backup quarterbacks. Therefore, No. 3 quarterback Cole Kramer is expected to get the start.

Meanwhile, Bowling Green watched a couple of its elite players enter the transfer portal, including CB Jalen Huskey and RB Ta’Ron Keith.

Ta’Ron Keith led the team in receptions as a running back. Huskey earned first-team All-MAC honors. His loss stings almost as much as losing a starting quarterback.

But while Minnesota opened as a 5.5-point favorite, the Golden Gophers dropped to -4 due to the Minnesota quarterback situation. The moneyline dropped from -225 to -190. However, the total increased a couple of points. That’s likely due to Bowling Green being without Jalen Huskey.

It could also have to do with motivation. There were legitimate reports that Cole Kramer accepted $30,000 to remain with the Golden Gophers and not transfer. Kramer apparently intended to transfer, but Minnesota desperately needed a quarterback for this game.

These rumors aren’t confirmed, but multiple outlets have reported these rumors.

Let’s look at the 2023 Quick Lane Bowl preview for Tuesday, December 26.

Quick Lane Bowl

Cole Kramer’s Getting Paid To Play?

Minnesota’s starting quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis, and backup quarterback, Drew Viotto, both entered the transfer portal at the end of the season.

Therefore, Cole Kramer was the only quarterback on the roster for Minnesota. But he was about to transfer, too.

Kramer wasn’t planning on sticking around until the end of December. Minnesotasportsfan.com reported that Kramer has a house ready in Arizona and a fiance he wants to marry officially.

With that, PJ Fleck found $30,000 to keep Kramer around for the Quick Lane Bowl. This $30,000 is expected to help Kramer with his wedding in February.

This proves that Minnesota will take this game seriously despite having a losing record.

Bowling Green’s Chemistry

The Bowling Green Falcons are confident that they can maintain most of their roster during the offseason. After finishing 7-5 in the regular season, the Falcons will improve more if they can hold on to most of their roster.

The Falcons should only have three significant NCAAF players out for this game against Minnesota. The rest of the team should play. Those with eligibility are likely to stay put.

That’s big news, especially with the transfer portal and NIL being so big now. A win against Minnesota in the Quick Lane Bowl would really give Bowling Green confidence headed into their season next year.

Bowling Green’s Defense Is Still Elite

The Bowling Green Falcons won’t have stud cornerback Jalen Huskey. He’s entered the transfer portal after being added to the first team All-MAC.

But the Falcons are more on defense than just Jalen Huskey.

Bowling Green allowed only 172.25 yards per game in the air. The Falcons also gave up 137.17 yards on the ground. It’s more likely that Minnesota looks to run the football against Bowling Green. After all, they’ve got a backup quarterback under center in Kramer.

While Kramer is a senior, he doesn’t have enough game experience. That doesn’t give us enough confidence in him.

Meanwhile, Minnesota running back Darius Taylor is injured and could be out for this game. His status is unclear. But Taylor added 591 yards and led the team in rushing with 5.7 yards a carry. His absence would hurt as many college football injuries as they already have in this college bowl season.

Conversely, Bowling Green averaged just 171 yards in the air and 142.17 yards on the ground. The Falcons should have the same success on the ground. However, Minnesota’s secondary held opponents to 206.75 yards in the air.

Both NCAA football teams are significantly better against the pass. Therefore, we can expect both teams to run the football. By doing that, the clock will tick away quickly in this one.

Bowling Green and Minnesota won’t see their names next to the NCAAF National Championship odds. But while this game isn’t very significant, these scores and odds still matter.

The 2023 Quick Lane Bowl should still be an exciting NCAAF matchup. The Under 38.5 is our favorite play despite the line movement from 36.5 to 38.5. Meanwhile, we still like Minnesota at -3.5 and believe the Golden Gophers at -180 is still valuable. After all, Minnesota is a Big Ten school, while Bowling Green is coming out of the MAC.

The talent gap is still very wide between these two teams.

For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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