- Finish off your Christmas Eve with the 2024 Hawaii Bowl as South Florida (6-6) takes on San Jose State (7-5) at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
- Despite star WR Nick Nash opting out, the Spartans are field goal favorite.
- Check out our full preview on the Hawaii Bowl, including a look at the best odds, things to watch and a prediction to make your Christmas merry and bright.
South Florida (6-6, 6-6 ATS) makes the 4,700-mile plane trip to Hawaii to face San Jose State (7-5, 6-6 ATS) at the Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu for the 2024 Hawaii Bowl.
It’s the first time in school history that the Spartans have played in three straight bowl games, but they haven’t won a bowl game since 2015.
There’s a big quarterback storyline for South Florida in this one, read on for our full preview and prediction.
South Florida vs San Jose State Odds
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida | +3.0 (-110) | +130 | O 63.0 (-110) |
| San Jose State | -3.0 (-110) | -155 | U 63.0 (-110) |
Odds as of Dec. 23 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Be sure to check the top DraftKings Sportsbook promos before making a bet on any college football playoff or bowl game action.
San Jose State is 3.5-point favorites at FanDuel, but three-point favorites at all of our other favorite sportsbooks. The Spartans are just 2-2 this season against the spread as favorites.
South Florida is 1-4 against the spread as underdogs this season.
The total is a whopping 62.5 to 63.5. The Bulls are 6-5-1 over/under this season, but their last three games have all mashed the over. San Jose State is 5-7 over/under this season, but two of its last three games also went over.
The best moneyline bet for South Florida is +135 at BetMGM and -144 for San Jose State at FanDuel.
Kelley Joiner showing off his speed🌬️🌬️#AmericanWay x @USFFootball pic.twitter.com/jFvJqGQnfk
— The American (@American_Conf) November 16, 2024
To QB or not QB
The biggest storyline entering the game will be who lines up behind center for South Florida.
Bulls QB Brent Brennan was getting a lot of pre-season hype after going for over 4,000 yards of total offense in 2023. Last year he threw for 3,292 and ran for 809. This season, he was off to a bit of a slow start, and then suffered a leg injury in a loss to Tulane Sept. 28.
Bryce Archie has filled in and been, well, solid. The Bulls are 4-3 with him as a starter.
But Brennan has been a full go in practice this week and Bulls coach Alex Golesh has a decision to make whether to bring back Brennan or go with Archie.
Either way, South Florida will look to run the ball. Kelley Joiner averages almost seven yards a carry.
Helmet drip for the @HawaiiBowl 🤙@HabbasLaw | @CEFCU #ThisIsSparta | #AllSpartans pic.twitter.com/QhpwcAD1ex
— San José State Football (@SanJoseStateFB) December 18, 2024
Aloha My Friend
San Jose State is back in the Hawaii Bowl for the second straight season (they lost last year), the easy storyline is new Spartans coach Ken Niumatalolo, a Hawaii native and former University of Hawaii QB.
The Spartans finished with the best record of any FBS school in California. Read that line again. They were the best major college team in California.
All-American WR Nick Nash has opted out of the bowl game to get ready for the NFL Draft. The Spartans also lost a pair of defensive standouts to the portal in DJ Harvey and Michael Dansby.
Senior defensive tackle Soane Toia was All-Mountain West after a season where he posted 55 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He makes it hard for anyone to run on the Spartans.
South Florida vs San Jose State Prediction
- San Jose State -3.5 at FanDuel
- Under 63.5 at FanDuel
These are a couple of teams who won the bowl game lottery and get to play in Hawaii. There are questions on both sides. For San Jose State, it’s how do they replace the production of Nash. For South Florida, who plays QB?
We think San Jose State still has plenty of firepower to score. Justin Lockhart had 52 catches for 973 yards this season for the Spartans, and now he becomes WR1. And while Brennan is an interesting story, he didn’t look great early in the season. Also, the long trip worries us for South Florida. They may not get off to a good start.
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As Christmas Eve approaches, football fans are gearing up for an exciting matchup between South Florida and San Jose State. Both teams have had their fair share of ups and downs this season, making this game a must-watch for any college football enthusiast.
When it comes to predictions, it’s always a tough call to make. South Florida has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, with a strong offense led by quarterback Jordan McCloud. On the other hand, San Jose State has also had some impressive moments, particularly on defense.
In terms of odds, South Florida is currently favored to win this matchup. However, San Jose State shouldn’t be counted out just yet. They have a solid defense that could give South Florida’s offense some trouble. It will be interesting to see how these two teams match up on the field.
As for the spread, it’s currently set at -3.5 in favor of South Florida. This means that they are expected to win by at least 4 points. However, anything can happen in college football, so it’s important to keep an eye on how the game unfolds.
Overall, this Christmas Eve matchup between South Florida and San Jose State is sure to be an exciting one. Both teams have something to prove and will be looking to end their season on a high note. So grab some eggnog, settle in front of the TV, and get ready for some thrilling football action.