2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl Betting Odds, Predictions, Preview

2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl Betting Odds, Predictions, Preview

The Guaranteed Rate Bowl wrapped up on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 and bettors saw Kansas cruise past UNLV, 49-36 as 7.5-point favorites.

Recap all the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl Betting Odds, Picks, Predictions and History below and be sure to check back for the 2024 installment.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl Betting Odds

KANSAS @ UNLV Odds

  • Opening point spread: Kansas -10.5
  • Opening moneyline: Kansas -550/UNLV +400
  • Opening total: Over/Under 64.5 points scored
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, Dec. 26 (ESPN)

UPDATE 1 P.M. ET TUESDAY, DEC. 26: BetMGM opened Kansas as 12.5-point chalk in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, back on Dec. 3. The line backed up to Jayhawks -11.5 Dec. 4, then returned to -12.5 Dec. 5.

Sunday saw Kansas (8-4 SU/7-5 ATS) hit its peak of -13.5, but this morning saw a notable drop. The Jayhawks made stops at -12/-11.5/-11 on the way to the current -10.5.

Kansas is taking 59% of spread tickets/53% of spread money. Moneyline splits are interesting: UNLV (9-4 SU/10-3 ATS) is getting 53% of tickets, but 86% of cash is on Kansas.

The total opened at 63.5 and got to 65.5 within a couple days, then went to 64.5 Dec. 12. There's been a steady rise the past few days, peaking at 68.5 late this morning. It's now at 67.5, with the Over landing 62% of tickets/56% of money.

Click here for Vegas Insider senior reporter Patrick Everson's full College Football Bowl Odds: Spreads, Lines, Trends for Every Bowl Game.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl Pick, Prediction

Action Network college football betting expert Collin Wilson offers this prediction:

here was a potential chance for an upset with Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki taking the same position at Penn State. However, head coach Lance Leipold immediately scooped one of the best coordinators in the nation in Jeff Grimes, stating there would be no changes in terminology, philosophy or scheme.

Grimes is already on the ground contributing to bowl preparations, softening the blow of losing Kotelnicki.

Jason Bean should return under center with full health, taking advantage of a UNLV defense that could not create Havoc or stop any Mountain West passing attack. The Rebels' coaches have received plenty of interest from other programs with head coach Barry Odom rumored for Mississippi State and Brennan Marion for every offensive coordinator position in the country.

The GoGo offense is similar to Kansas, utilizing multiple personnel and heavy motion, but the inability to create explosives in passing downs will be the difference in this game.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava struggled down the stretch against tougher defenses, producing seven turnover-worthy plays and four interceptions against Air Force, San Jose State and Boise State.

Pick: Kansas -12.5

For more college football picks, check out Action Network's College Football Bowl Confidence Pool Rankings: Collin Wilson’s Picks for All 2023 Bowl Games.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl Betting Resources

  • Date: Tuesday, December 26, 2023
  • TV-Time: ESPN, 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Venue: Chase Field
  • Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Guaranteed Rate Bowl History

Guaranteed Rate Bowl Logo

The Guaranteed Rate Bowl began in 1989 when it was known as the Copper Bowl. The matchup currently features schools from the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences. The game takes place at Chase Field from Phoenix, Arizona.

This bowl has also been known as the Cheez It Bowl, the Cactus Bowl, the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, the Insight Bowl, and the Insight.com Bowl. Originally, the game was played in Tucson from 1989-99 before moving to Chase Field in Phoenix, then a few years at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe from 2006-15, and then finally back to Phoenix at Chase Field again.

The second Cactus Bowl was played on Saturday Jan. 2, 2016, and it was a wild one. West Virginia posted a 43-42 win over Arizona State, as QB Skyler Howard of the Mountaineers set school and bowl records in passing yardage. The Big 12 won once again in December 2016, as Baylor dominated Boise State, 31-12. And in the final installment, the Big 12 won again, as Kansas State outscored UCLA 28-0 in the second half en route to a 35-17 win.

The 2018 installment of the renamed Cheez It Bowl was memorable and forgettable at the same time, as TCU and California combined to throw nine interceptions. The Horned Frogs edged the Golden Bears in overtime, 10-7, as TCU grabbed the cover as a short favorite.

In 2019, it was a big contrast between the triple-option rushing attack of Air Force against the Air Raid offense of head coach Mike Leach and Washington State. The run game won out. The Falcons couldn't be stopped, and their defense came up with two huge stops in the red zone to turn the tide.

The 2020 installment was wiped out with an insufficient number of teams able to participate in the postseason due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The game returned on Dec. 28, 2021 at Chase Field in Phoenix, and Minnesota of the Big Ten pushed around West Virginia of the Big 12 in a lower-scoring affair, cashing as the favorite in an 18-6 victory.

The favorite is actually 6-0 ATS in the previous six bowl games at this venue. The 'under' hit in the five straight Cactus/Guaranteed Rate Bowls before Kansas outlasted UNLV, 49-36 to hit the Over in 2023.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl Betting History

YearMatchupLine, TotalATS Result
2023Kansas 49 UNLV 36Kansas -7.5, 65.5Favorite, Over
2022Wisconsin 24 Oklahoma State 17Wisconsin -5, 45Favorite, Under
2021Minnesota 18 West Virginia 6Minnesota -6.5, 45Favorite, Under
2020---
2019Air Force 31 Washington State 21Air Force -2.5, 71.5Favorite, Under
2018TCU 10 California 7 (OT) TCU -1.5, 38.5Favorite, Under
2017Kansas State 35 UCLA 17Kansas State -6.5, 59Favorite, Under
2016Baylor 31 Boise State 12Boise State -7.5, 71Underdog, Under
2015West Virginia 43 Arizona State 42West Virginia -3, 62.5Underdog, Over
2014Oklahoma State 30 Washington 22Washington -6.5, 57Underdog, Under
2013Kansas State 31 Michigan 14Kansas State -7, 52Favorite, Under
2012Michigan State 17 TCU 16TCU -2, 40Underdog, Under
2011Oklahoma 31 Iowa 14Oklahoma -13.5, 58Favorite, Under
2010Iowa 27 Missouri 24Missouri -3, 45.5Underdog, Over
2009Iowa State 14 Minnesota 13Minnesota -1.5, 48.5Underdog, Under
2008Kansas 42 Minnesota 21Kansas -7.5, 60Favorite, Over
2007Oklahoma State 49 Indiana 33Oklahoma State -6, 70Favorite, Over
2006Texas Tech 44 Minnesota 41Texas Tech -8, 63Underdog, Over
2005Arizona State 45 Rutgers 40Arizona State -9, 64.5Underdog, Over
2004Oregon State 38 Notre Dame 21Oregon State -3, 49.5Favorite, Over
2003California 52 Virginia Tech 49Virginia Tech -3, 55.5Underdog, Over
2002Pittsburgh 38 Oregon State 13Oregon State -1.5, 44.5Underdog, Over
2001Syracuse 26 Kansas State 3Kansas State -6, 44.5Underdog, Under
2000Iowa State 37 Pittsburgh 29Iowa State -3, 53Favorite, Over
1999Colorado 62 Boston College 28Colorado -9, 55.5Favorite, Over
1998Missouri 34 West Virginia 31Missouri -2, 56.5Favorite, Over
1997Arizona 20 New Mexico 14Arizona -9, 51Underdog, Under
1996Wisconsin 38 Utah 10--
1995Texas Tech 55 Air Force 41--
1994BYU 31 Oklahoma 6--
1993Kansas State 52 Wyoming 17--
1992Washington State 31 Utah 28--
1991Indiana 24 Baylor 0--
1990California 17 Wyoming 15--
1989Arizona 17 NC State 10--

College Football Bowl Betting Resources

College Football Playoff Odds: Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends for Semifinal Games

College Football Playoff odds for the semifinals are on the board and getting attention, even as debate rages over the four participants. Michigan nabbed the No. 1 ranking and a meeting with No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. No. 2 Washington then faces No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl.

Here’s everything you need to know about College Football Playoff odds for the semis: opening lines, spreads and betting trends for each game, as multiple oddsmakers provide insights on CFP odds and action. Check back regularly for updates and use our new ESPN BET bonus code VIBONUS to get the most out of your action.

College Football Playoff Odds for Semifinals

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