Coastal Carolina vs UTSA Picks: Bet on Runaway for Roadrunners December 23

Welcome to the Myrtle Beach Bowl, where Coastal Carolina will try to cobble together a football team from transfer portal leftovers and UTSA will aim to cap its late-season surge with a win on Monday morning.

The Chanticleers will play on their home turf, but their top two quarterbacks and several key defensive players are MIA – either off to greener pastures or Auburn (looking at you, Clev Lubin). Meanwhile, UTSA rides into this matchup as -10½ favorites, with a functional roster and quarterback Owen McCown leading a high-flying offense.

Let’s discuss why the Roadrunners are poised to dominate and cash our NCAAF predictions.

Myrtle Beach Bowl Game Information

• Game: Coastal Carolina (6-6) vs UTSA (6–6)
• Location: Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
• Day/Time: Monday, Dec 23, 11:00 a.m. ET
• Coastal Carolina vs UTSA Live Stream: Fubo.tv

2 Reasons to Bet Coastal Carolina vs UTSA

1. QB Mess at Coastal Carolina

Coastal Carolina is walking into the Myrtle Beach Bowl with a quarterback situation that’s gone from questionable to downright tragic. In recent NCAAF news both of their top quarterbacks, Ethan Vasko and Noah Kim, have entered the transfer portal, leaving head coach Tim Beck to roll the dice with Tad Hudson, a player with zero collegiate snaps to his name.

While Hudson showed promise in high school, he’s untested at the college level and now faces one of the best defensive lines in the Group of Five.

Schools with most players in the portal (247):
Arizona – 31
Charlotte – 31
Coastal Carolina – 31
Marshall – 31
New Mexico – 29
Purdue – 26

— Bowen Smith (@bosmitty18) December 19, 2024

Per Coastal Carolina vs UTSA stats, the Roadrunners’ defensive line ranks in the top 10 nationally in tackles for loss and EPA/Rush allowed, meaning they thrive at pressuring quarterbacks and stuffing the run.

This is a nightmare scenario for Hudson, who will have to navigate a relentless pass rush without the benefit of a solid offensive line or experienced teammates. Coastal’s offensive unit is further weakened by injuries and the loss of star running back Clev Lubin to Auburn.

Coastal Carolina’s offense has struggled in games where they couldn’t establish the run even at full strength. Without reliable quarterback play or a strong ground game, it’s hard to see the Chanticleers keeping pace with a UTSA team clicking on all cylinders when making NCAAF picks.

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2. UTSA is Rolling

UTSA’s offense has been a revelation in the second half of the season, and it’s largely thanks to quarterback Owen McCown. After a slow start to the year, the Roadrunners’ offense has found another gear, averaging over 41 points per game in their last four contests, per NCAAF betting trends.

McCown has transformed into a true dual-threat quarterback, rushing for 241 yards in that span — more than double his rushing output in the first 12 games of his college career.

This newfound versatility has made the UTSA offense nearly impossible to stop. McCown’s ability to keep defenses guessing opens up the passing game, where UTSA has consistently pushed for 300 yards.

Coastal Carolina’s defense, already suspect, is now down multiple starters due to injuries and opt-outs. Among those missing are cornerback Matthew McDoom and linebacker Clev Lubin, two of the team’s most impactful players.

UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor talks about the transfer portal, recruiting calendar, academic calendar, and bowl game: “This is not the kids fault, this is the adults fault” pic.twitter.com/nMXvBbVK78

— JJ Perez (@theJJPerez) December 15, 2024

With UTSA’s balanced attack and Coastal Carolina’s depleted defense, the Roadrunners have a clear path to dominate this game in online betting. McCown’s chemistry with his receivers and his ability to extend plays with his legs will be too much for the Chanticleers to handle, especially with their lack of depth and experience on both sides of the ball.

The Bet:

The Chanticleers are limping into this game with a patchwork offense and depleted defense while UTSA has momentum and a clear edge at quarterback. Coastal Carolina will struggle to score, while UTSA should have no trouble piling up points. Expect the Roadrunners to run away with this one — literally. Take UTSA to cover the -10.5 in college football picks ATS.

Bet on UTSA ATS -10.5 (-110)

Questions of the Day

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.