RADIO
We end 2021 with four bowl games. The Arizona Bowl was canceled because of COVID, but I'm still glad we have four out of five. DraftKings starts the main slate early today to keep all four games in one place. I for one appreciate that!
We start bright and early in Jacksonville with Wake Forest taking on Rutgers in the Gator Bowl. Rutgers got the invite after A&M had to back out. Why not get Memphis, who had the Hawaii Bowl canceled on them? That makes more sense to me, but that's why I'm not part of the NCAA. I have too much common sense. The afternoon brings Central Michigan, who was released from the Arizona Bowl after Boise got COVIDed, taking on Wazzu in the Sun Bowl. Then come the big ones. We have Michigan and Georgia in the Orange Bowl in Miami. We end the night with Cincinnati and Alabama at Jerry World. This is going to be a great way to end 2021!
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy college football lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/31/21 locking at 11 am eastern. I’ll be providing multiple player suggestions for players at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, aiming to highlight one option apiece at the high, middle, and lower end of the salary scale. Good luck, RotoBallers. But first, we start with the betting picks!
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CFB Betting Picks 12/31:
(17)Wake Forest(-16.5) vs. Rutgers at Jacksonville, FL
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 2
Ouch. That's a lot of points for a team that gives up 32.8 a game to cover by. Still, Rutgers only scored 140 combined points in 10 games against power five opponents. They scored 106 against Delaware and Temple. I'm not impressed. Give me Wake.
Washington State(-6.5) vs. Central Michigan at El Paso, TX
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
I liked the Cougars over Miami in this game, but the Chippewas might be fired up to be taking on a power five team that basically has no running backs. Lew Nichols will be a problem for the Cougars, but this team only averaged about 78 rushing yards per game anyway. The Cougars throw and throw a lot. I'm still going Washington State here.
(4)Cincinnati vs. (1)Alabama(-13.5) at Jerry World
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
This feels like too many with the way the Bearcats played down the stretch. I'm a bit concerned with what Alabama did to Georgia, but Desmond Ridder is better than any quarterback on the Georgia roster. I could also make a case for Jerome Ford being every bit as good as any back Georgia has. Cincinnati is living the dream of every underdog here. They finally got a seat at the table. They're not going to blow it. I don't think the Bearcats win, but I think it says competitive. I'll take Cincinnati and the points.
(3)Georgia(-7.5) vs. (2)Michigan at Miami, FL
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 4
Nope. Even if Georgia is better than Michigan, which I already have doubts about, they're not more than a touchdown better. This is essentially a free bet for me since I like the Michigan money line anyway. Harbaugh's gonna screw me because that's what he does, but Michigan's body of work is a lot better than Georgia's. I tend to think the wrong team is favored.
DraftKings CFB DFS Quarterbacks
Sam Hartman, Wake Forest ($8,500)
Look, I know Bryce Young won the Heisman and deservedly so, but his matchup is so much worse. Young is likely matchup-proof, but Hartman's numbers were outstanding as well and his ceiling is huge here against the replacements, AKA Rutgers. I had Wake taking out A&M anyway, but I also was planning on using Young instead of Hartman against the Aggies. This is a much better matchup for Hartman and his teammates. The prices have been adjusted accordingly, but I'm still going to be heavy on Wake here.
Jayden de Laura, Washington State ($7,100)
Again, I was a bit apprehensive about using de Laura against Miami, but I really like this matchup with Central Michigan. Even though the overall numbers aren't bad, the Chippewas only picked off five passes all season. Washington State has reverted back to more of the air raid here, which means a lot of shorter passes with a few deep shots here and there. The ceiling on de Laura isn't huge, but the floor is great.
Noah Vedral, Rutgers ($5,000)
No part of Vedral was good this year. He threw only seven touchdowns in 12 games to six interceptions. While he is touted as somewhat of a runner, the 280 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the season aren't turning any heads either. That said, Wake was arguably the worst defense in the ACC this year. They are worse against the run, but with Vedral having the ability to take off here and there, that raises his upside a little. He's a great dart throw against a bad defense if you need to go cheap.
Also consider: Bryce Young, Alabama ($9,000); Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati ($7,700); Cade McNamara, Michigan ($5,500)
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DraftKings CFB DFS Running Backs
Lew Nichols III, Central Michigan ($9,500)
I'm really glad that the Sun Bowl picked up Central Michigan so Lew Nichols is featured on a national stage. He's one of the best backs in college regardless of conference. Washington State gave up 162.2 rushing yards per game and 19 rushing touchdowns on the season. Nichols has at least 130 rushing yards in seven straight games, going over 190 in four of those. He scored 14 touchdowns in those seven games. Nichols has the best floor of anyone and the upside isn't too shabby either.
Aaron Young, Rutgers ($5,300)
Isaih Pacheco declared for the NFL Draft before Rutgers got the invite to the Gator Bowl, but it is still presumed that he will not play. That leaves Young as the lead back against a team that allowed 202.1 rushing yards per game and 24 rushing touchdowns on the season. There is a chance that Wake runs off with this and forces Rutgers to pass, but Young's price isn't so high that it would destroy your lineup if that were to happen. There is a lot of upside on a guy priced just above the value tier here.
James Cook, Georgia ($5,000)
This Michigan defense borders on elite. That's why I want Cook. Zamir White will get plenty of carries against Michigan, but Cook is the better receiver of the two. He has done a lot of his damage this year on passes out of the backfield and third down runs. Cook likely wont break the slate, but he's the big play threat that Georgia needs in this game.
Nakia Watson, Washington State ($3,500)
Max Borghi opted out to prepare for the draft and Deon McIntosh didn't make the trip to El Paso, so the Cougars are down to Watson and Jouvensly Bazil to carry the rushing load. The Cougars don't run much, but they do throw a lot of short passes to running backs. The Cougars are likely to go with the hot hand here, but Watson should get first crack since he is the only other back to record a rush this year for the Cougars. He looks like a superb value play today.
Also consider: Hassan Haskins, Michigan ($8,100); Brian Robinson, Alabama ($6,800); Christian Beal-Smith, Wake Forest ($4,500); Blake Corum, Michigan ($4,400)
DraftKings CFB DFS Wide Receivers
Jameson Williams, Alabama ($8,800)
The Cincinnati corners against the Bama receivers is going to be must-see TV tonight. However, considering that Georgia and that heavily lauded defense had no answer for Williams, I tend to think that he can have another big game here. Williams has at least 35 DraftKings points in four of the last five games. Sure, there is a chance of a clunker like the Auburn game, but it's not a great one. I'll bet on the 80% chance of a stat line that can change the slate.
A.T. Perry, Wake Forest ($6,600)
Jaquarii Roberson is entering the draft, so that leaves Perry as the go-to receiver for Hartman today. Perry put up really good numbers alongside Roberson this year and was basically option 1-A for much of the season anyway. Rutgers is going to have a hard time covering Perry and company in this one. They were 5-7 for a reason. We saw Wake drop 70 on Army this year. I'm not saying it will happen again, but I wouldn't totally rule it out either.
JaCorey Sullivan, Central Michigan ($5,700)
Sullivan outdid Kalil Pimpleton down the stretch in large part because teams started keying on Pimpleton. Sullivan was the model of consistency this season, posting double-digit DraftKings points in every single game. How many receivers can say that? It's not a stretch to think Sullivan will do it again. He's a lock in cash games and has ample upside in GPP's since the Chippewas will most likely be playing from behind.
Taylor Morin, Wake Forest ($4,900)
Morin still almost averaged double-digit DraftKings points per game as the third receiver for Wake this year. Now that he has graduated to second seat, he feels cheap here. Morin led Wake in receiving yards in the loss to Pitt in the ACC Championship Game. That could just be a warmup for the Gator Bowl. Morin has a high ceiling for the price.
Also consider: Travell Harris, Washington State ($6,500); Kalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan ($6,300); Slade Bolden, Alabama ($5,100); George Pickens, Georgia ($3,900); Michael Young, Cincinnati ($3,700)
