Free College Football Picks Today: Holiday Bowl 2022

The No. 15 University of Oregon Ducks (9-3, 4-2 Away) travel to face the University of North Carolina Tar Heels (9-4, 3-4 Home) at Petco Park on Wednesday. The Ducks are 14.5-point favorites, and the total is 73.5.Oregon is coming off a 38-34 loss at the hands of No. 22 Oregon State at Reser Stadium on November 26.

Bo Nix threw for 327 yards and two touchdowns. Noah Whittington ran 16 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. Chase Cota caught nine passes for 136 yards and a touchdown.

North Carolina dropped a third straight game on December 3, falling 39-10 to No. 10 Clemson at Bank of America Stadium. Drake Maye was 26 of 42 for 273 yards and two interceptions. Elijah Green carried 21 times for 65 yards. Josh Downs hauled in 11 receptions for 100 yards.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Ducks are averaging 39.7 points per game for the season, eighth in FBS, and they are facing a Tar Heels defense that has surrendered 31.0 PPG (107th). Meanwhile, North Carolina has scored 35.0 points a game this season, 23rd in the country, and Oregon is allowing 27.4 PPG (77th).

The Ducks rank as one of the nation’s top teams in both passing (291.4, 16th) and rushing (216.3, 14th) yards per game. They have an advantageous matchup through the air, as the Tar Heels are 122nd in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (276.4). Against the run, North Carolina is 83rd (161.9).

North Carolina has been one of the nation’s top passing teams, averaging 317.2 passing yards per game (10th), while ranking 64th in rushing yards (156.4). The Ducks are allowing 260.6 passing yards (107th) and 125.5 rushing yards per game (31st).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through 12 games, Bo Nix has thrown for 27 touchdowns (6 INT) and 282.3 yards per game to lead Oregon in passing. In six games away from home this season, he has 10 TDs (5 INT) and an average of 313.2 yards passing.

Bucky Irving leads the team in rushing with an average of 75.8 yards a game over 12 games. He has three touchdowns on the ground and three through the air. Troy Franklin is the Ducks’ leading receiver with 72.2 yards a game and eight TDs.

Drake Maye has 35 passing touchdowns (7 INT) with 316.5 yards per game through 13 games to lead North Carolina. Drake Maye also leads the team in rushing with an average of 50.2 yards per game.

He has seven touchdowns on the ground. Josh Downs has been the primary target in the Tar Heels’ passing game. He has 11 touchdowns and a 93.5 yard per game average through 11 appearances.