The 2022-23 college football bowl games officially kick off on Friday and it's time to get those CFB DFS lineups in! We have UAB vs Miami (OH) getting us started at 11:30 am ET in the Bahamas Bowl on Friday, December 16th. Then it's the Cure Bowl with UTSA taking on Troy at 3 pm ET. You can build college football DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel for the 2-game slate. Check out all the CFB DFS top picks, lineup strategies, teams to target, and value plays to lock in for these college football bowl games. Remember, you can access all of our College Football DFS coverage with a Fantasy Alarm All-Pro Subscription. If you have any questions about CFB daily fantasy lineup strategy, ask away in the Fantasy Alarm Discord chat. Plus, check out our college football daily projections and the CFB DFS lineup generator for more winning picks. Now, let's jump into the CFB DFS top plays and lineup picks for the College Football bowls on Friday, December 16th.

 

College Football Bowl Game Betting Odds – Friday, December 16

(via DraftKings Sportsbook)

  • 11:30 am ET – Miami OH vs. UAB (-11) – 45 O/U (Bahamas Bowl in Nassau, Bahamas)
  • 3 pm ET – UTSA (-2.5) vs. Troy – 56.5 O/U (Cure Bowl in Orlando, FL)

 

College Football CFB DFS Picks – Friday 12/16 Bowl Games

CFB DFS Quarterbacks 

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Frank HarrisUTSATROY820031.821150028.82
On this two-game slate, Harris is the clear QB1 and should be close to 100% rostered in cash lineups. The UTSA dual-threat is coming off a dominant five-TD, 44 DK performance in the C-USA title game and he boasts a 31-7 TD:INT ratio with nine rushing scores this season. Harris announced he’s returning to UTSA next season and should be motivated to put on a show in this bowl.
Aveon SmithMIAOHUAB670018.53900017.22
It’s a bit unclear whether it’ll be Brett Gabbert or Aveon Smith starting this bowl game. Gabbert was in the transfer portal but announced he’s returning to Miami (OH), though he’s also been hurt and didn’t finish the regular season. Smith has been Miami’s QB in Gabbert’s and he likely gets the starting nod. If so, the dual-threat ability puts him firmly on our radar. Smith had 189 rushing yards and three TDs over his final two games combined and put up 26 and 35 DK in those outings. He’s a real candidate to go for 100+ rush yards and 20+ DFS points if starting.
Gunnar WatsonTROYUTSA630013.78840011.39
Watson hasn’t been a great DFS play for much of this season, but he’s definitely an option at QB or Super-Flex for GPPs with only four passers to choose from. At least Watson and Troy get a good passing matchup here against an inconsistent UTSA defense that ranked 101st nationally in pass yards allowed per game. Watson just had 318 yards, three TDs, and 26 DK in the Sun Belt title game vs. Coastal Carolina and can carry that success over.

Also Consider:

  • Dylan Hopkins – UAB (GPP)

CFB DFS Running Backs

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Jermaine Brown Jr.UABMIAOH630013.2700010.7
UAB lead back DeWayne McBride is reportedly out for this bowl game. That pushes Brown into the starting RB role and makes him a great value on both DK and FD. This is a weak slate for RBs and Brown likely takes on a big workload now. He's already been working in a secondary role to McBride and getting plenty of touches in a run-heavy UAB offense. Brown just had 22 carries for 119 yards and two TDs in the regular-season finale. He's racked up 832 rushing yards while averaging 5.9 ypc this season, so this isn't just any backup RB becoming a starter.
Kimani VidalTROYUTSA590015.78830014.95
DK Billinglsey scored three times in the Sun Belt title game, but it was Vidal who saw 20 carries in the game. He’s still Troy’s lead RB and getting a healthy workload of touches with 20+ carries in four of the last five games. Vidal is very affordable on both sites for cash compared to other RBs on the slate. At least we can count on him getting a ton of work.
Kevorian BarnesUTSATROY520015.22910015.10
Barnes is coming off a monster performance in the C-USA championship with Brenden Brady and Trelon Smith sidelined. He went off for 175 rushing yards and 28 DK on 28 carries while taking full advantage of the starter role. We should see Barnes as UTSA’s lead back again with Brady and Smith both likely out again. He’s a great value on DK but is more in the GPP range on FD since Troy's rush defense is solid.

Also Consider:

  • DK Billingsley – Troy (GPP)

CFB DFS Wide Receivers

PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Zakhari FranklinUTSATROY740022.621000018.44
Without many top receivers on the slate, Franklin is in a tier by himself. He just went off for 45 DK in the C-USA title game with 10 receptions, 144 yards, and three TDs. Franklin now has 1,100 yards and 14 TDs this season as a favorite target for Frank Harris. We have to assume the senior is playing rather than sitting out ahead of the NFL Draft, but still keep an eye on his pregame status because you never know.
Joshua CephusUTSATROY690018.23880013.80
Cephus is the 1B in the UTSA passing attack to Franklin and both are capable of having huge games when Frank Harris is at his best. Cephus had 11 receptions for 84 yards in the conference championship game and he’s now racked up 87 catches across 13 games this season. Playing Franklin, Harris, and Cephus in the same lineup could be a popular stack on this small slate. Cephus' discount on FD compared to Franklin is pretty attractive too.
Mac HippenhammerMIAOHUAB650014.88710011.58
Miami doesn’t have a great passing attack if Smith is under center instead of Gabbert, but Hippenhammer has been putting up numbers no matter who’s at QB. He has double-digit DK points in four straight games coming into this bowl and is Miami’s clear top pass-catcher. That role is valuable on this slate considering Miami is a double-digit underdog to UAB. He's better suited for GPPs though.
Rajae' JohnsonTROYUTSA530011.9377009.47
Tez Johnson is a good play from Troy’s receiving corps too, but Rajae’ is cheaper on both sites for possibly similar or better DFS production. Rajae’ has 235 receiving yards and three TDs over the past two games combined while being a big-play threat. Troy’s passing game gets a favorable matchup here with UTSA being a bottom-tier pass defense in the country.
Tykee Ogle-KelloggUTSATROY35008.0254006.52
UTSA has a couple of secondary receivers worth looking at on this small slate once we get past Franklin and Cephus. You can play the tight end Oscar Cardenas, but a cheaper play for GPPs is Ogle-Kellogg. He’s been the third wideout in UTSA’s formations and has filled the void of De’Corian Clark at times. Ogle-Kellogg went off for 142 yards and 27 DK two games ago and has the ceiling this week.

Also Consider:

  • Tez Johnson – Troy (GPP)
  • Trea Shropshire – UAB (Cash/GPP)
  • Oscar Cardenas – UTSA (Cash/GPP)

 

CFB DFS Core Plays

DraftKings Cash:

  • Frank Harris – UTSA
  • Jermaine Brown Jr. – UAB
  • Kevorian Barnes – UTSA

FanDuel Cash:

  • Frank Harris – UTSA
  • Jermaine Brown Jr. – UAB
  • Zakhari Franklin – UTSA

DraftKings GPP:

  • Aveon Smith – Miami OH
  • Kimani Vidal – Troy
  • Tykee Ogle-Kellogg – UTSA

FanDuel GPP:

  • Joshua Cephus – UTSA
  • Kevorian Barnes – UTSA
  • Mac Hippenhammer – Miami OH
 

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