Coastal Carolina vs. San José State NCAAF Bowl Betting Picks and Prediction for Dec. 23, 2023

Coastal Carolina vs. San José State NCAAF – The 2023 college football bowl season kicks off this Saturday with an intriguing Hawai’i Bowl matchup between the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and the San José State Spartans. Both teams enter with identical 7-5 records. In our daily NCAAF bowl picks, we break down the odds and provide a betting prediction for this Saturday’s game.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs. San José State Spartans

Date & Time: Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 10:30 PM ET

Location: Clarence T.C. Ching Complex

TV: ESPN

Coastal Carolina vs. San José State NCAAF Betting Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Coastal Carolina+300+10.5 (-110)53.5 over (-110)
San José State-370-10.5 (-11053.5 under (-110

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Analysis

The Chanticleers’ offense runs through quarterback Grayson McCall, who completed 67.4% of his passes for 1,919 yards, 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions this season. While his numbers are down from his first two seasons as the starter, McCall remains capable of carrying the offense. He spreads the ball around to a solid group of receivers led by Sam Pinckney. The senior wideout has reeled in 64 catches for 904 yards and 7 scores while averaging over 14 yards per grab. Tight end Isaiah Likely has also been one of McCall’s top targets in the passing game.

On the ground, Coastal Carolina relies on a running back committee led by Braydon Bennett. The sophomore leads the team with 381 rushing yards on 4.4 yards per carry. However, he missed significant time down the stretch due to injury. In his absence, Reese White emerged with some big performances late in the year. Getting Bennett fully healthy for this bowl game would provide a notable boost. Defensively, the Chanticleers have struggled during their 1-3 finish to the regular season. Over that stretch, they allowed 30+ points in four of five games. Opponents have gashed them both on the ground and through the air. The secondary has been extremely vulnerable against the pass, an area San José State will likely look to exploit. Coastal has generated little pressure up front while tallying just 16 sacks as a team. 

San José State Spartans Analysis

Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro pilots a dangerous San José State offense that averages over 30 points per game. Cordeiro has passed for 2,558 yards, 19 touchdowns and just 4 picks while also making plays with his legs as a dual-threat option. The Hawaii transfer has plenty of weapons at his disposal, most notably receiver Nick Nash. The senior wideout is averaging 15 yards per catch and has 8 touchdown grabs on just 47 receptions. His big-play ability helps stretch opposing defenses. Additionally, running back Kairee Robinson adds balance to the Spartans’ balanced attack. Robinson has enjoyed a breakout year, rumbling for 1,127 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on a robust 7.1 yards per carry. The San José State offense has weaponry all over the field with the ability to beat teams on the ground or through the air.

Defensively, the Spartans have held five straight opponents under 30 points to close the regular season. While the competition was rather weak during that span, the defense appeared to round into form. Linebacker Jordan Cobbs leads the unit with 80 tackles, including 9 for loss. Additionally, the San José State secondary has combined for 10 interceptions on the year. Safety Tre Jenkins has 3 picks himself and poses a ball-hawking threat. 

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs. San José State Spartans Against the Spread

Coastal Carolina is 5-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last 7 games. More recently, they are just 1-2 ATS in their previous 3 contests. San Jose State has been solid for bettors this year, going 5-1 ATS in their last 6 matchups. That includes covers in each of their final 3 regular season games.

Given their explosive offense and stingy defense down the stretch, the trends favor the Spartans. However, the Chanticleers have proven they can hang around as sizable underdogs, making the large 10.5-point spread tempting.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs. San José State Spartans Free Pick

Based on odds, trends, team stats, and key players, here are the picks:

Moneyline: San José State Spartans (-370). The Spartans’ strong home performance and overall consistency make them the favored pick.

Spread: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers +10.5 (-110). Despite being underdogs, the Chanticleers have shown they can cover the spread in challenging games.

Total: Under 53.5 (-110). Both teams have strong defenses, which might lead to a lower-scoring game than anticipated.

Predicted Score: San José State Spartans 27, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 20 

In conclusion, while the Spartans are favored to win, the Chanticleers have the potential to keep the game close, making them a good pick against the spread. With strong defenses on both sides, a lower total score is a plausible outcome. For sports betting enthusiasts, especially those participating in sports betting in Canada, this game presents an exciting opportunity to engage in strategic betting, balancing risk and potential rewards. Happy betting!