Quick Lane Bowl Betting 2023 Predictions, Odds, Preview

The New Mexico State Aggies defeated the Bowling Green Falcons 24-19 in the 2022 Quick Lane Bowl.

Check out last year's coverage here below and tune back in with us soon for the 2023 Quick Lane Bowl Odds, Picks and Predictions.

This year’s Quick Lane Bowl probably holds the distinction of “worst” bowl game this cycle.

Both the New Mexico State Aggies and the Bowling Green Falcons finished the season 6-6, and neither team was ranked in the top 110 in terms of overall SP+.

They are two of the four worst bowl teams alongside UConn and Rice, and both those teams lost their bowl games by 14 points.

The Quick Lane Bowl will be played on Monday, December 26, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

New Mexico State Aggies vs. Bowling Green Falcons Betting Prediction

New Mexico State was the last team to become bowl eligible. The Aggies had their game against San Jose State on October 22 postponed, so they were 5-6 after going on the road and upsetting Liberty in their scheduled finale.

That led to the administration quickly scheduling a game against an FCS opponent in order to reach six wins, and New Mexico State beat Valparaiso 65-3 on December 3 to get to 6-6.

Their reward is to face the Bowling Green Falcons in the Motor City on Boxing Day, and they will look to make the most of just their fifth bowl appearance ever.

Score Prediction: New Mexico State 26, Bowling Green 20
Best Bet: New Mexico State +3.5 (-110)

New Mexico State Aggies vs. Bowling Green Falcons Betting Odds

Quick Lane Bowl Betting Resources

• Date: Monday, December 26, 2022
• TV-Time: ESPN, 2:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: Ford Field
• Location: Detroit, Michigan
• Expert Picks

Updated on 11/15/2023

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New Mexico State Aggies Betting Analysis

Although starting quarterback Diego Pavia was injured in the win over Valpo three weeks ago, he is expected to play against Bowling Green on Monday. Pavia told reporters that he was 90% last week, and that’s huge considering how much better he has been than backup signal caller Gavin Frakes. Pavia is completing just 52.2% of his passes, but he is averaging 8.0 YPA with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Additionally, Pavia is the second leading rusher on the Aggies with 443 yards (5.5 YPC) and six touchdowns.

Sophomore Star Thomas has been the top running back, picking up 477 yards (4.8 YPC) with five touchdowns. No player has more than 20 receptions for New Mexico State, so the most dangerous threat in the passing game has been Justice Powers with 19 receptions for 398 yards and a touchdown.

This defense ranked 49th in Defensive SP+. New Mexico State had a solid pass defense, surrendering just 6.9 YPA and 193.5 YPG through the air, but the run defense had some issues at times. Lazarus Williams and Chris Ojoh were solid when it came to getting to the quarterback, combining for 12.5 sacks, and that kept this secondary from giving up too many big plays.

Bowling Green Falcons Betting Analysis

Matt McDonald had a nice season under center for Bowling Green. McDonald completed 61.3% of his passes for 2,639 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The senior averaged 7.0 YPA, and although he wasn’t at his best in the season finale against Ohio, he didn’t perform terribly considering he isn’t a real mobile threat.

The top running back on Bowling Green was Jaison Patterson who ran for 560 yards (4.3 YPC) and a touchdown. Patterson wasn’t much of a receiver though (seven catches), making the offense more predictable when Ta’Ron Keith was on the field. Odieu Hiliare was the Falcons’ leading receiver with 54 receptions for 704 yards and six touchdowns, and Tyrone Bolden was the big play threat with 15.8 YPR and six TDs.

Bowling Green had one of the worst defenses in the country, ranking 125th in Defensive SP+. The Falcons struggled to stop both the run and the pass, and the only reason they were a bowl team is because they were fortunate when it came to turnovers. Defensive lineman Karl Brooks is someone to watch after he recorded 10 sacks this year.

• Date: Monday, December 26, 2022
• Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Venue: Ford Field
• Location: Detroit, Michigan

Quick Lane Bowl Best Bets

Quick Lane Bowl History

The Quick Lane Bowl bowl began in 2014, taking the place of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The Little Caesars Bowl began as the Motor City Bowl in 1997 at the Pontiac Silverdome and eventually moved to Ford Field in downtown Detroit in 2002 and pitted schools from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) against a team either from the Big Ten or the Sun Belt Conference. 

The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl eventually went away as the Quick Lane Bowl took its place in 2014 with teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten squaring off. 

Underdogs have done well in Detroit over the years, posting a 10-3 ATS record the last 13 seasons. Eastern Michigan grabbed the cover in 2019 as hefty 13-point 'dogs in a 34-30 defeat to Pittsburgh as MAC schools have lost in nine of the past 10 opportunities.

The 2020 installment of the Quick Lane Bowl was wiped out due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, but the game returned on Dec. 27, 2021 with Western Michigan of the MAC facing Nevada of the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos posted a bowl-record 52 points with 514 total yards of offense, and the Wolf Pack had no answers. NFL prospect QB Carson Strongelected to opt out to prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft, and the offense was hamstrung as a result.