Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Houston vs. Florida State Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
The Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl could turn into a defensive struggle today when Houston takes on Florida State at 12:00PM ET.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Mybookie.ag, the Seminoles opened as 6.5-point favorites for today's game but the line has jumped to FSU -7. As for the total, it opened at 54.5 but has climbed up to 56 points ahead of today's Noon ET kickoff.
Bettors are currently split on today's side, as only 52% of public wagers are on Florida State to cover the 7-points. The Cougars were 12-1 straight up this season and 8-5 against the spread, while the Seminoles were 10-2 SU and 8-4 at the betting window.
The Pick
Over bettors have been cashing this bowl season as 17 of the 28 games played thus far have gone over the posted total. But we should start to see a regression to the mean starting with today's bowl action.
Florida State held each regular-season opponent to fewer than 25 points and ranked fifth in scoring defense while surrendering just 15.8 points per game this season. While running back Dalvin Cook presents a challenge they haven't endured yet, Houston's defense is no sieve either. The Cougars ranked 19th in scoring defense while allowing just 20.5 points per game and was 12th in rushing defense, holding opponents to 116 yards per contest.
The Seminoles will give the Cougars trouble up front. For as talented as he is, Greg Ward Jr. will have some issues moving the ball against the Seminoles' front seven and as long as Houston can limit the number of long runs that Cook produces, this game should fall under the total.
CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL FREE PICK: FLORIDA STATE/HOUSTON UNDER 56