Arkansas State vs Bowling Green prediction & betting tips - Dec. 26 - 68 Ventures Bowl

The Arkansas State Red Wolves play the Bowling Green Falcons on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET in the 68 Ventures Bowl. The game can be seen on ESPN.

Arkansas State (7-5) is coming off a 40-32 loss to Old Dominion to end the year. Bowling Green (7-5) ended the year with a 28-12 loss to Miami (OH).

Arkansas State vs Bowling Green: Preview

Arkansas State is a 7.5-point underdog while the over/under is set at 53 points.

The Red Wolves had a good year, but despite that, Arkansas State has some key players in the transfer portal. The full list of Arkansas State players in the portal is as follows:

• Timmy McClain, QB (transfer portal)
• Cedric Hawkins, RB (injured)
• Reginald Harden Jr., WR (transfer portal)
• Miller McCrumby, TE (transfer portal)
• Jayden Jones, DL (transfer portal)
• Jourdyn Burruss, LB (transfer portal)

The Red Wolves will be led by Jaylen Raynor, who has thrown for 2,562 yards, 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Zak Wallace is the team's starting running back and has rushed for 622 yards and 10 touchdowns. Corey Rucker is the team's starting receiver with 946 receptions for 5 touchdowns.

Bowling Green, meanwhile, has several players in the portal, but luckily, they will have its starting QB, starting RB and one of the best tight ends in the country all playing. The full list of Bowling Green players not playing in the 68 Ventures Bowl Game is as follows:

• Jalen Burton, CB (transfer portal)
• Jaylon Tillman, WR (transfer portal)
• Chris Edmonds, RB (transfer portal)
• Alijah Williams, LB (transfer portal)
• Camden Orth, QB (transfer portal)
• PaSean Wimberly, RB (injured)
• Terion Stewart, RB (transfer portal)
• Alex Wollschlaeger, OL (transfer portal)
• Nick Reimer, OL (transfer portal)
• Dierre Kelly, DL (transfer portal)
• Joseph Sipp Jr., LB (transfer portal)
• Edward Rhambo, CB (transfer portal)
• Darius Lorfils, S (injury - questionable)

The Falcons are led by Connor Bazelak, who has thrown for 2,654 yards, 15 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Terrion Stewart leads the team with 890 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, while Harold Fannin Jr., one of the top tight ends in college football, had 100 receptions for 1,342 yards and 9 touchdowns.

The Falcons' offense should be able to have a ton of success here as Arkansas State's defense struggled down the stretch.

Arkansas State will have a hard time stopping Fannin Jr., one of the best pass catchers in college football. Bowling Green should get out to an early lead and cruise to a lopsided win here.

Prediction: Bowling Green 35, Arkansas State 27

Arkansas State vs Bowling Green: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Bowling Green -7.5 (-112)

Tip 2: Over 53 points (-110)

Tip 3: Bowling Green -4.5 first half (-102)