If I were to use 18S subscription money to bet on games I’m pleased to announce I wouldn’t have lost money against the spread in 2024. That’s right, I clawed back to .500 after a successful conference championship weekend. Can I get things across the line and make a profit with the upcoming post-season picks today?

2024 Betting Record

ATS: 59-59-1
SU: 77-36

Jacksonville State, Arizona State, Georgia, Marshall, Oregon, and Clemson all covered to give me a healthy 6-3-0 weekend against the spread. I thought UNLV and Tulane would keep it close in losses (they did not) while Miami [OH] straight up lost as a favorite.

I went 8-1 straight up with that Chuck Martin loss being the only blemish.

Postseason Games to Watch

All times are Eastern. Rankings are from the CFP Committee.

Saturday, December 21st

Playoff First Round
#11 SMU [+8.5] at #6 Penn State
12:00 PM, TNT

A Noon eastern kickoff from Beaver Stadium and Fox Big Noon Kickoff won’t be in town? Nope, via the Warner Brothers Discovery conglomerate we’re getting this game broadcast on TNT. Plus, the following playoff game this Saturday will stay on TNT, as well. The moment feels too big for SMU and their nice season will be coming to an end. With their easy bracket, I have Penn State breezing into the national semifinals.

Penn State 29
SMU 16

Playoff First Round
#12 Clemson [+11] at #5 Texas
4:00 PM, TNT

Clemson opened their season getting blasted by a SEC team, couldn’t beat Louisville, and lost their rivalry game to South Carolina. Yet, here they are! It’s an early Christmas gift from the ACC for their auto-bid. It’s 9 conference titles for Dabo Swinney now.

That face.

Clemson does have some nice pieces to make some noise, although I don’t think they have it this year to be a true title contender. This is far more interesting of a game for Texas. So far, they’ve only lost twice to Georgia but to drop this game against Clemson kind of sets the Horns’ season on fire as a disappointment. I don’t love the stuff going on with the Ewers transfer rumors (again) and bet this one is super close.

Texas 27
Clemson 23

Playoff First Round
#9 Tennessee [+7] at #8 Ohio State
8:00 PM, ABC

The powers did a good job putting this in the primetime slot at night on Saturday to see if this will be Ryan Day’s last game coaching at Ohio State. It should be noted that Day’s contract does run for 4 more seasons and according to reports he’d be owed over $35 million for being fired. This should be a defensive battle and I give the edge to the Buckeyes at home in cold conditions. I think Day will be safe for another 10 days until the Rose Bowl.

Ohio State 19
Tennessee 17

Friday, December 27th

Birmingham Bowl
Georgia Tech [-2.5] vs. Vanderbilt
3:30 PM, ESPN

Both quarterbacks on each side are playing in this game and Tech and Vanderbilt are going to spend 60 minutes absolutely smashing each other to bits in what should be one of the more passionate bowl games of the post-season. If Clark Lea can get to 7-6 it’ll be a super impressive season.

Vanderbilt 34
Georgia Tech 28

Las Vegas Bowl
Texas A&M [-1] vs. USC
10:30 PM, ESPN

USC will probably bring 49 rostered players to this bowl game. I am including this game because the Irish faced both of these teams in the regular season and A&M has a chance at 9 wins while the Trojans might lose their 7th game—the 3rd time in 7 seasons they’ve at least hit that many defeats.

Texas A&M 37
USC 18

Saturday, December 28th

Pop-Tarts Bowl 
#18 Iowa State [-2.5] vs. #13 Miami
3:30 PM, ABC

While doing “research” I learned that Kellogg’s is now called Kellanova? That is a very stupid corporate decision. Anyway, what wasn’t stupid was re-branding this bowl game from Cheez-It to Pop-Tarts.

What do they have planned for 2024?

Pound for pound this might be the best bowl game of the season, as well. Two vastly different teams in culture and playing style will come together in Orlando with the chance to pick which flavor of mascot they will want to rip open and gorge themselves on. I bet those Iowa State boys are more eager.

Iowa State 30
Miami 24

Alamo Bowl
#17 BYU [+3] vs. #23 Colorado
7:30 PM, ABC

It’s an end of an era at Colorado as Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter will be off to the NFL after this game. A win for the Buffaloes would make it 10 victories on the season, something that haven’t achieved seemingly in 20 years but let’s not forget the immortal Mike MacIntyre’s 2016 campaign that finished 10-4! MacIntyre was just fired by FIU after going 12-24. So, I expect the Heisman winner to go out with a bang and a solid win.

Colorado 43
BYU 29

Tuesday, December 31st

ReliaQuest Bowl
#11 Alabama [-10] vs. Michigan 
12:00 PM, ESPN

I’m not sure how much bowl games matter to fans anymore but if you’re Alabama you have to win this game to get to 10-3 and not lose to this offensively challenged Michigan team. Don’t pull an Ohio State.

Alabama 28
Michigan 10

Citrus Bowl 
#15 South Carolina [-10.5] vs. #20 Illinois
3:00 PM, ABC

Do you trust the Gamecocks with such a large spread in the modern weirdness that is a bowl game? I checked out the FEI rankings disparity here (Illinois is 9-3 but my goodness they fell off the national radar a long time ago) and South Carolina sits 26 spots higher. LaNorris Sellers should pick up the win here but look out for some chaos.

South Carolina 33
Illinois 29