College Football Bowl Game Picks Against the Spread for Every Bowl Game

'Tis the season to go bowling for over 80 college football programs, with more than 40 bowl and College Football Playoff games between Dec. 14 and Jan. 20.

• With the college bowl game odds available for every matchup, our college football bowl game picks against the spread look at all 36 bowls and the four first-round College Football Playoff matchups
• Given how precarious roster movement is during bowl season, staying up to date with our college football bowl game opt-out tracker is a must before betting
• In the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, two of the four favorites by the college football championship odds play in the first round

The odds across our college football betting sites are likely to change as more opt-outs, transfer portal decisions, and coaching changes take place over the next month.

College football ATS picks: 2024-25 Bowl games

College football picks via DraftKings and subject to change; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

My ATS picks for college bowl season

College football picks as of Dec. 12. Our NEW college football player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Celebration Bowl: Jackson State (+1.5) vs. South Carolina State

• Both teams are dealing with injuries to their QBs, Jackson State running back Irv Mulligan will be the difference

Best odds:  | Implied probability: 53.49%

Salute to Veterans Bowl: Western Michigan (+8) vs. South Alabama

• Fluff Bothwell is in the portal and Gio Lopez is dealing with an injury, while Western Michigan has Jaden Nixon and Jalen Buckley to lean on

Best odds:  | Implied probability: 52.38%

Frisco Bowl: Memphis (-3.5) vs. West Virginia

• West Virginia is in one of the most dire transfer portal situations in the country, and Memphis looks like it might be at full strength with Mario Anderson and Roc Taylor likely to play

Best odds: -118 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 54.13%

Boca Raton Bowl: James Madison (-8.5) vs. Western Kentucky

• Both teams have QB issues, but Western Kentucky is down its top two while JMU has an experienced backup in Dylan Morris if Alonza Barnett can't play

Best odds: -106 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 51.46%

LA Bowl: UNLV (+1.5) vs. California 

• There's a lot of changes for both team with UNLV head coach Barry Odom leaving for Purdue and Cal's top QB (Fernando Mendoza) and top WR (Nyziah Hunter) in the portal, but the Rebels should still have Ricky White and Jackson Woodard leading the charge

Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

New Orleans Bowl: Georgia Southern (-6) vs. Sam Houston

• Sam Houston is dealing with plenty of roster attrition with head coach K.C. Keeler leaving for Temple, while Georgia Southern should have most its key pieces, including Jalen White

Best odds:  | Implied probability: 52.38%

Cure Bowl: Jacksonville State (+3.5) vs. Ohio

• Both of these conference champs are without their head coaches - Tim Albin left Ohio for Charlotte and Rich Rodriguez departed Jacksonville State for West Virginia - but the Gamecocks still have one of the best rushing tandems in the country in Tyler Huff and Tre Stewart

Best odds: -110 via bet365 | Implied probability: 52.38%

Gasparilla Bowl: Florida (-12.5) vs. Tulane

• Jon Sumrall is staying at Tulane, but he won't have his top two QBs against a Florida team that was feistier than a starving gator down the stretch and has a budding star in QB DJ Lagway

Best odds: -112 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 52.83%

College Football Playoff first-round game: Notre Dame (-7.5) vs. Indiana 

• The battle for the Hoosier State should be fun, but Notre Dame's run game and defense were among the best in the country following that upset loss to Northern Illinois

Best odds:  | Implied probability: 51.22%

College Football Playoff first-round game: SMU (+8.5) vs. Penn State 

• Penn State should ultimately win this game, however, SMU has more than a few NFL-level players that can keep it close against a Nittany Lions team that's been inconsistent on offense for most of the season

Best odds:  | Implied probability: 51.22%

College Football Playoff first-round game: Clemson (+11.5) vs. Texas 

• The Texas offensive line has been a little shakier than expected and left tackle Kelvin Banks is dealing with an injury, so I think Quinn Ewers could continue to struggle against a Clemson defense that has a few young studs like T.J. Parker and Sammy Brown

Best odds: -115 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.49%

College Football Playoff first-round game: Tennessee (+7.5) vs. Ohio State 

• This game is going to come down to whether or not Ohio State's banged up offensive line can keep it together against one of the best defensive lines in the country, and while I think the Buckeyes win, James Pearce Jr. and Co. will keep it close

Best odds: -110 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 52.38%

Myrtle Beach Bowl: UTSA (-7.5) vs. Coastal Carolina

• Coastal Carolina is down its top two QBs and two best defensive players - all in the transfer portal - while Jeff Traylor's team will have the vast majority of its starters, including AAC Defensive Player of the Year Jimmori Robinson

Best odds: -105 via Caesars | Implied probability: 51.22%

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Northern Illinois (-2.5) vs. Fresno State

• Both teams' starting QBs are in the transfer portal, but Fresno State is dealing with slightly more roster attrition than Northern Illinois as former North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz prepares to take over

Best odds: -115 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 53.49%

Hawaii Bowl: San Jose State (-3.5) vs. South Florida

• If South Florida QB Byrum Brown is healthy enough to play, that changes things, but it seems unlikely he will be while San Jose State has two star receivers in Nick Nash and Justin Lockhart that Ken Niumatalolo's team can lean on

Best odds: -110 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 52.38%

GameAbove Sports Bowl: Pittsburgh (-8.5) vs. Toledo

• The health of Pittsburgh QB Eli Holstein is up in the air, but Pat Narduzzi cryptically implied he should have a chance to play, so if the Panthers have both him and Desmond Reid they should get after a struggling Toledo defense

Best odds: -110 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 52.38%

Rate Bowl: Kansas State (-6.5) vs. Rutgers

• I'd expect Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai to opt-out, and if he does, the Scarlet Knights will be in trouble against a Kansas State team that will have Avery Johnson and potentially DJ Giddens

Best odds: -118 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 54.13%

68 Ventures Bowl: Arkansas State (+7) vs. Bowling Green

• Bowling Green is expected to have Harold Fannin Jr., but will be without star running back Terion Stewart and All-MAC offensive lineman Alex Wollschlaeger, while the Red Wolves will have most of their key players

Best odds: -110 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 52.38%

Armed Forces Bowl: Navy (+9.5) vs. Oklahoma

• Stopping the triple option is never fun, especially if your offense has lost its starting QB and most its receivers to the transfer portal, so I'm banking on Blake Horvath being healthy enough to keep this one close for the Midshipmen

Best odds: -108 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 51.92%

Birmingham Bowl: Vanderbilt (+2.5) vs. Georgia Tech

• Vanderbilt should be favored in this game, the Commodores have most of their top players - including star QB Diego Pavia - while Georgia Tech is losing several key pieces to the portal, including receiver Eric Singleton Jr.

Best odds: -105 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 51.22%

Liberty Bowl: Texas Tech (+1.5) vs. Arkansas

• An old Southwest Conference showdown where the outcome could depend on which future NFL players opt out, Arkansas has been hit hard with portal departures while the Red Raiders will have most of their top players, even if running back Tahj Brooks opts out

Best odds: -110 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 52.38%

Holiday Bowl: Syracuse (-7) vs. Washington State

• Syracuse head coach Fran Brown has stated he doesn't expect any opt outs and Washington State could be in trouble with OC Ben Arbuckle departing for Oklahoma and rumors swirling that QB John Mateer could exit next

Best odds: -115 via Caesars | Implied probability: 53.49%

Las Vegas Bowl: Texas A&M (-3) vs. USC

• Both these teams could be down a ton of players between opt-outs and portal departures, but Texas A&M is set to be in slightly better shape with QB Marcel Reed and depth on both sides of the line

Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

Fenway Bowl: North Carolina (-2.5) vs. UConn

• Bill Belichick won't be coaching just yet, but two other former NFL head coaches will be with Freddie Kitchens leading North Carolina against Jim Mora Jr. and UConn, and even if Omarion Hampton doesn't play, the Tar Heels have more talent

Best odds: -120 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 54.55%

Pinstripe Bowl: Nebraska (-2.5) vs. Boston College

• Dylan Raiola's up and down freshman season could end on a high note with Dana Holgorsen now the full-time OC and taking on a Boston College team that's likely to be without game-wrecker Donovan Ezeiruaku

Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

New Mexico Bowl: TCU (-12.5) vs. Louisiana

• If Ben Wooldridge can't suit up at QB for Louisiana, the Ragin' Cajun are in trouble against a TCU squad that's not expecting any opt outs and could have both its star receivers in Jack Bech and Savion Williams

Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

Pop-Tarts Bowl: Iowa State (+3.5) vs. Miami 

• Although Miami QB Cam Ward has said he'll play, I expect the Hurricanes to have several other opt outs, and Iowa State's top players are all expecting to play, which includes future NFL players like Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Darien Porter

Best odds: -105 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 51.22%

Arizona Bowl: Colorado State (+3) vs. Miami (OH)

• Chuck Martin's team is getting raided in the transfer portal for the second straight season, and Colorado State looks like it's going to be in decent shape with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Avery Morrow, even with a few defensive starters departing

Best odds: -115 via bet365 | Implied probability: 53.49%

Military Bowl: NC State (-5) vs. East Carolina

• Losing wide receiver KC Concepcion to the portal is tough, but NC State has a future star in QB CJ Bailey while East Carolina's defense is hurting due to injuries and transfers

Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

Alamo Bowl: Colorado (-2.5) vs. BYU

• There's a chance this ends up being one of the best bowl games thanks to how evenly matched these squads are, and Deion Sanders has already said that he expects Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and the Buffaloes' other NFL prospects to play

Best odds: -121 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 54.75%

Independence Bowl: Army (-14.5) vs. Marshall

• This could get ugly with Charles Huff's departure for Southern Miss leading a massive chunk of Marshall's roster to hit the portal, which means star Army QB Bryson Daily should add to his already jaw-dropping numbers

Best odds: -105 via bet365 | Implied probability: 51.22%

Music City Bowl: Missouri (-3) vs. Iowa

Best odds: -110 via bet365 | Implied probability: 52.38%

• Missouri won't have Luther Burden, but it will have Brady Cook and most of its offensive playmakers while Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson has been the Hawkeyes entire offense and he's already opted out of the game

ReliaQuest Bowl: Alabama (-9.5) vs. Michigan

• Kalen DeBoer has made it seem like Jalen Milroe might play, but even if he doesn't, Alabama's offensive depth should help it against a Michigan team that's going to be down more than just Mason Graham and Will Johnson

Best odds: -112 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 52.83%

Sun Bowl: Louisville (-2.5) vs. Washington 

• None of Louisville's key players have departed, which means Tyler Shough, Ja'Corey Brooks, Ashton Gillotte, and Quincy Riley could all play and walk on a Washington team that's been inconsistent on both sides of the ball this season

Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

Citrus Bowl: South Carolina (-9.5) vs. Illinois

• Even if Kyle Kennard and Nick Emmanwori don't play for South Carolina, this defense should be all over an Illinois offense that's down its best pass catcher in Pat Bryant (opt-out) and expose the Illini's poor run defense with QB LaNorris Sellers

Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

Texas Bowl: LSU (-1.5) vs. Baylor

• There's a good chance LSU will be without a few of its top players, but it will have QB Garrett Nussmeier, who is poised to show why he's considered a future top QB prospect against a Baylor defense that's struggled this season

Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

Gator Bowl: Ole Miss (-14.5) vs. Duke

• Manny Diaz already has his replacement for Maalik Murphy in Darian Mensah, but the Blue Devils QB situation is going to be sketchy for the bowl game, and Ole Miss is expecting to have Jaxson Dart slinging the rock

Best odds: -108 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 51.92%

First Responder Bowl: Texas State (-9.5) vs. North Texas

• North Texas is in trouble with portal departures that include Chandler Morris and DT Sheffield, so Texas State should be shredding on offense with Jordan McLoud set to go, even with running back Ismail Mahdi leaving via the portal

Best odds: -115 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.49%

Duke's Mayo Bowl: Minnesota (-5.5) vs. Virginia Tech

• Things have gone from bad to worse for Virginia Tech due to massive portal losses, on top of the fact the Hokies' top two QBs are dealing with injuries, so Minnesota is in good shape even if a few of its top prospects opt-out

Best odds: -109 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 52.15%

Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo (+2.5) vs. Liberty

• Liberty is in rough shape with QB Kaidon Salter and three starting offensive linemen in the transfer portal, which gives Buffalo a huge edge with a talented running back in Al-Jay Henderson and two stud linebackers in Shaun Dolac and Khalil Murdock

Best odds: -110 via bet365 | Implied probability: 52.38%

College bowl game expert picks

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