The Old Dominion Monarchs battle the South Florida Bulls Wednesday in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Kickoff at Camping World Stadium is at 5 p.m. (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA football odds around the Old Dominion vs. South Florida odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
Old Dominion closed the regular season riding a 5-game winning streak, finishing with a 27-10 win over the Georgia State Panthers in the 75th edition of the Oyster Bowl. The Monarchs failed to cover as 28.5-point home favorites as the Under (58) cashed. RB Devin Roche powered the offense with 137 rushing yards and 2 TDs, and QB Colton Joseph, who has entered the transfer portal, rushed for 108 yards and a score and completed 9-of-22 passes for 106 yards. Old Dominion secured second place in the Sun Belt East, behind the James Madison Dukes.
The Monarchs now turn their attention to bowl season, earning a postseason berth for the third time under coach Ricky Rahne. Old Dominion last appeared in a bowl game in 2023, falling 38-35 in overtime to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the Famous Toastery Bowl.
South Florida closed the regular season in dominant fashion, rolling past the Rice Owls 52-3 at home. The Bulls covered as 28-point favorites while the under (57.5) cashed. QB Byrum Brown accounted for 5 TDs, throwing for 275 yards and 4 scores while rushing for 104 rushing yards and another TD. Brown, who had 28 total TDs and marked his second straight year eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards, also has entered the transfer portal and will not play. WR Keshaun Singleton delivered his second 100-yard game of the season with 6 catches for 125 yards and 2 TDs.
The win secured an undefeated home slate, just the fourth in USF’s history and the first since 2002, with all 6 home victories coming by at least 27 points. South Florida finished with 9 wins for just the sixth time in the program’s 25-year history and earned 6 conference wins for only the fourth time since 2000. The Bulls now head to their third straight bowl game, aiming for a third consecutive postseason victory.
This will be the first time these 2 teams have met on the football field.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
Watch NCAA football on Fubo!
Old Dominion at South Florida odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:12 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Old Dominion +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | South Florida -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Old Dominion +2.5 (-105) | South Florida -2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 52.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Old Dominion at South Florida picks and predictions
Prediction
South Florida 24, Old Dominion 23
PASS.
I don’t mind taking Old Dominion (+115) to win this game outright, but I’ll take my wager to the spread.
BET OLD DOMINION +2.5 (-105).
I’m backing Old Dominion to keep this one close, if not win it outright. Once the opt-out news hit, this matchup changed fast. Both teams are without their starting quarterbacks, but the Monarchs at least turn to a backup who’s taken real snaps. South Florida is starting a walk-on, and that’s a tough ask in a bowl game with limited prep time.
The other piece I keep coming back to is stability. Old Dominion still has its head coach, its system, and a clear identity built around the run game. That matters when timing and reps are limited. South Florida, meanwhile, is also without its head coach, and that combo — new QB and interim staff — is hard to trust when laying points.
Motivation favors Old Dominion, too. The Monarchs haven’t won a bowl game under Rahne, and this feels like a real chance to change that narrative. South Florida had bigger goals earlier in the season and now lands in a spot that’s clearly not ideal after a breakout year.
With both offenses likely scaled back, points should be at a premium. I trust Old Dominion’s preparation, continuity, and run-heavy approach to hang around for four quarters. Give me the Monarchs and the points.
BET UNDER 52.5 (-110).
Both teams are without the engines that made their offenses go all season. Old Dominion won’t have Joseph, and South Florida is also without Brown, 2 quarterbacks who did a lot of damage with both their arms and legs. That’s not easy production to replace on short notice. I expect simplified game plans, heavier reliance on the run and plenty of stalled drives early. Old Dominion has been winning with defense during its late-season surge, and South Florida’s staff is also navigating major changes. With both teams trending Under down the stretch and the total sitting in the low 50s, this sets up as a slower, grind-it-out bowl game.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
