With the NCAAF regular season all wrapped up, the time has come for the most exciting few weeks in all of college football: Bowl season! It’s that special time of the year when the best of the best collide, vying for gridiron supremacy and the chance to etch their names into the annals of college football history.
Bowl season is a golden opportunity for teams to cap off the year on a high note, leaving an indelible mark on fans and foes alike. Whether it’s a powerhouse looking to assert dominance or an underdog eager to defy the odds, each team is filled with dreams of glory, ready to leave it all out there on the field.
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Beyond the gridiron battles, college football’s bowl season serves as a playground for sports bettors. With a myriad of matchups featuring teams from across the nation, bowl games present a tantalizing array of opportunities to score big wins before the curtain falls on the college football season. Every game is a puzzle waiting to be solved, with odds and spreads adding an extra layer of excitement for those looking to cash in on the action.
This year’s bowl season gets underway on December 16 and runs all the way to New Year’s Day, with over 40 bowl games being played out over that time. If you’re planning to bet on these bowl games, a little handicapping homework can go a long way. With so many games to be played and countless teams in the mix, doing a little research before betting on bowl season can greatly increase your chances of success.
In this article from Bovada Sportsbook, we’ll help you prepare for bowl season by taking a look at just some of the intriguing betting matchups on the schedule. So dig in and get ready for the bowl bonanza – where dreams are realized, legacies are forged and the spirit of college football reaches its peak!
L.A. Bowl – UCLA (-4) vs. Boise State (+4)
UCLA will get to play close to home as they take on Boise State at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. After starting 6-2, UCLA petered out to a 7-5 finish and will look for redemption in what will essentially be a home game for the Bruins. Standing in their way will be a Boise State squad that, despite a disappointing campaign, ended the regular season with three straight wins and a Mountain West Championship.
Independence Bowl – California (+3) vs. Texas Tech (-3)
Cal currently sits at 6-6 but this team is on a three-game winning streak, including an impressive 33-7 blowout over UCLA to cap off the regular season. Their final test will come against 6-6 Texas Tech, as the Red Raiders look to end the year on a high note as three-point betting favorites.
Birmingham Bowl – Duke (+8.5) vs Troy (-8.5)
Both of these teams had decent campaigns, with Duke finishing 7-5 in the ACC while Troy finished 11-2 in the Sun Bel Conference. The big news here is that Duke will be missing their head coach, quarterback and running back to the transfer portal, which could make it very tough for the Blue Devils versus Troy’s stout defense.
Armed Forces Bowl – James Madison (-2.5) vs. Air Force (+2.5)
It was an impressive campaign for James Madison, as the program sits at 11-1 heading into this bowl game matchup. Air Force is coming off a loss to Boise State but still own a solid record of 8-4 and would love to pull off the upset. It won’t be easy versus James Madison, as the team has gone 8-3 against the spread (ATS) this year, including 7 wins on the road.
Alamo Bowl – Arizona (-3) vs Oklahoma (+3)
Arizona (9-3) seemed to get better as the season rolled along and finished No. 14 in the nation, with much of that success is due to freshman QB Noah Fifita. Oklahoma is ranked No. 12 with a 10-2 record and will be led by talented QB Dillon Gabriel, who finished the year with 3,660 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes.
Sun Bowl – Oregon State (+6.5) vs Notre Dame (-6.5)
Oregon State (8-4) is ranked 19th in the country and will look to end the year on a positive note after losing their last two games to Washington and Oregon. They’ll have their work cut out for them against 16th ranked Notre Dame (9-3), led by senior QB Sam Hartman. The Beavers will be without their top quarterback and leading tackler in this game, which is why Oregon State is such a big underdog.
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Cotton Bowl – Missouri (-2.5) vs Ohio State (+2.5)
After narrowly missing out on this year’s College Football Playoffs, No. 7 Ohio State (11-1) will take on No. 9 Missouri (10-2). With QB Kyle McCord entering the transfer portal, the Buckeyes will turn to backup Devin Brown under center. Missouri will be playing for their first top 10 finish in a decade and should be fired up with most starters ready to play in this bowl game.
Peach Bowl – Ole Miss (+4) vs Penn State (-4)
QB Jaxson Dart will be under center for No. 11 Ole Miss (10-2) and will need a strong showing in order to survive against Penn State’s vaunted defense. The 10th ranked Nittany Lions limited 9 of 12 opponents to 15 or fewer points this year, an impressive feat regardless of the conference. The game will likely be determined by the play of Penn State QB Drew Allar, who managed just 203 passing yards per game this year.
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Orange Bowl – Georgia (-14) vs Florida State (+14)
After suffering their first defeat in three years at the hands of Alabama, No. 6 Georgia (12-1) look for some form of consolation with an Orange Bowl victory. The Bulldogs will have starting quarterback Carson Beck in this one and you can be sure they don’t want to end the year with back to back losses. Florida State fans got a raw deal as the 5th ranked Seminoles finished the year undefeated at 13-0. Yet without injured QB Jordan Travis, it will be tough for this ACC program to put up points on Georgia elite defense.