College Football Bowl Previews and Predictions

The college football bowl season kicked off Dec. 14, and there are 11 bowl games before Christmas Day plus four College Football Playoff games Dec. 20-21. I'm chipping in updated odds and bowl Picks and Opinions on select games, and updating this page through Christmas and then adding more bowl game updates on a separate piece for the 21 bowl games Dec. 26-Dec. 31. 

That does not including the Fiesta Bowl Dec. 31 that kicks off the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, and the three other CFP quarterfinals Jan. 1 in the Peach, Rose and Sugar Bowls. 

There are four more bowl games Jan. 2-4 before the CFP national semi's Jan. 9-10 for the Orange and Cotton bowls and National Championship Game Monday, Jan. 20 in Atlanta. 

Select stats and ATS info from the Playbook Sports College Football Bowl Guide, where you can check out Mark Lawrence and other handicappers picks and NCAA football bowls insight at Gamblers World and note the line moves on some early bowl games and do your best to find the best odds.

College Bowls Tips And Strategies

Be sure to check out my update from recent seasons on betting strategies and tips on betting the bowls. I'll be updating more games and information you can bet on as the 2024 bowl season progresses into the New Year and the national championship game.

Here are some Fairway factors and comments heading into the bowl season. With more than more than 1,500 FBS scholarship players, and nearly 2,000 total FBS players now in the transfer portal, it's clear that the game has changed in college football. That includes for bowl games, as some of these players will still play on their current teams for a final bowl game, and others will sit out to prepare for the NFL draft and not risk injury (and let their teammates down). Injuries and game day news will affect betting lines with many market moves early after the bowl games are announced. Many head coaching and coordinator changes only adds to the considerations and complexities of handicapping the bowl games, along with NIL money and recruiting of portal players. Did I mention final exams, holidays and travel and bowl festivities among the other distractions of preparations, practice and performance as players try to stay motivated on the move? Building a program has changed to creativity in finding players to fit into a team. It's free agency. Bet the bowls wisely. (The first year of the portal era, there were 1,561 players who transfered).    

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College Football Bowl Matchups, Odds And Picks

Picks and Opinions will be added daily along with select game analysis and information you can bet on. 

College football odds from BetOnline and leading online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. All times Eastern (ET) and betting favorites (-) listed. For bettors interested in reduced juice sportsbook options, checkout BetAnySports and Heritage Sports, which also offers cash back bonuses getting the 'most squeeze for your juice." 

Tuesday, Dec. 17

Frisco Bowl - No. 25 Memphis (-4.5) vs. West Virginia, O/U 58.5
Toyota Stadium - Frisco, Texas, 9 p.m. on ESPN

Pick: Memphis

This line flipped from West Virginia (-1.5) a slight favorite to Memphis now -4.5 on game day after reaching -5. West Virginia fired head coach Neal Brown on Dec. 1 following a 6-6 season, and offensive coordinator Chad Scott will run the team for the Bowl game. Memphis (10-2) averaged 35 points per game vs. FBS opponents this season and finished 3rd in the American Athletic Conference. The Tigers offense was top-10 in the country with a stronger, balanced offense averaging 449 yards per game (184 rush) with more efficiency in passing (265) as top QB Seth Henigan passed for 3,208 yards in 12 games with 64% completions and a 23-6 TD-to-INT ratio. Four other offensive players earned first-team All-AAC (OL, TE) including RB Mario Anderson, Jr. (1,202 yards, 17 rush TDs) and WR Roc Taylor (834) along with three defensive players. West Virginia has a bottom 15 pass defense and their 'stop' unit allowed 37 points and 466 yards per game over their last four contests. Memphis has a solid net yards per play differential edge in this matchup while also boasting a top-tier run defense that allows just 107 rushing yards per game to slow what the Mountaineers do best. 

Wednesday, Dec. 18

Boca Raton Bowl- James Madison (-7) vs. Western Kentucky, 51.5
FAU Stadium - Boca Raton, Florida, 5:30 p.m. on ESPN

Pick/Opinion: None, Lean Western Kentucky

This game total is down to 49, and the line had been bet up above current number before dropping back down. First bowl game for 1st year JMU head coach Chesney, whose team led the nation with a +17 turnover differential. But recent news reported the Dukes will play without QB Alonz Barnett (leg). The Dukes will clearly rely on their stronger running game (195/game), which should have success  against a WKY run defense that allowed 5.1 yards per rush and 225 rushing yards per game - among the worst in the nation (No. 128). Another example of uncertainty and the transfer portal, noted above in the Fairway factors, as over 20 Hilltopper players have entered the portal. It's still to be determined how many will play in this bowl game. Quarterback Caden Veltkamp is in the portal, but he will still start.  

LA Bowl - No. 24 UNLV vs. Cal (pk), 47
SoFi Stadium - Inglewood, CA, 9 p.m. on ESPN 

Opinion: Cal

You can compare college football opening bowl lines and totals, and then know that Cal opened -4.5, went to pick 'em Dec. 15 and now UNLV is now a -3.5 point favorite at BetOnline in another major line move and total down to 45.5. Coaching changes at UNLV, as head coach Barry Odom turned the Rebels longtime losing program into a big winner the past two years, and he's off to Purdue and the Big Ten. Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion is poised to be the next head coach at Sacramento State after UNLV made a big slash with the hiring of HC Dan Mullen, former SEC HC at Mississippi State and Florida. So UNLV will be coached by WR coach Del Alexander for the bowl game. If coaching and prep matters as it should, than Cal has a significant edge with HC Justin Wilcox. But Bears star QB Fernando Mendoza has entered the portal along with top WR Nyziah Hunter, and they won't play. Cal played one of the toughest schedules in the nation, and UNLV missed out on the CFP losing to Boise State (again) in the Mountain West Championship game. One of the 10 most intriguing NFL prospects to watch in non-Playoff bowl games is UNLV senior WR Ricky White. But Black and white here with superior coaching, quarterback and sharp line move on UNLV that we fade. 

Thursday, Dec. 19 

New Orleans Bowl - Sam Houston vs. Georgia Southern (-6), 48
Caesars Superdome - New Orleans, LA, 7 p.m. on ESPN2 

Lean: Sam Houston and Opinion Over game total 

This line has dipped to -4.5 on game day favoring Georgia Southern (8-4) in this Sun Belt vs. Conference USA matchup. Sam Houston (9-3) head coach KC Keeler left for the Temple job, and the Bearkats offensive coordinator will call the plays and serve as interim HC. Tons of opt-out and transfer portal news for this bowl game as well. Some players will still compete and play, but follow the developments and news noting Sam Houston's depleated defense. Still lean SHS way with the dreadful Georgia Southern defense that allowed 454 yards per game. Money support on Sam Houston and the game total has dipped slightly, but looks like more scoring with Bearkats improved QB Hunter Watson off one of his best games in victory against better Liberty team.  

Friday Dec. 20 

Cure Bowl - Ohio (-3.5) vs. Jacksonville State, 54.5
Camping World Stadium - Orlando, FL, 12 p.m. on ESPN 

Pick/Opinion: None, Lean Jacksonville State

Game day post with line now up to Ohio -6.5, and both head coaches have left the program. Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodriguez has returned to take the head coaching job at West Virginia, and Ohio's Tim Albin to Charlotte to be the 49ers head coach. Ohio (10-3) offensive coordinator Brian Smith takes over as interim head coach for a Bobcats team that is on a 6-0 SU/ATS run into this bowl game after routing rival Miami, Ohio in the MAC Championship Game, 38-3. Ohio's average margin of victory in those six games was nearly 30 pionts per game. That has the Bobcats stock surging even higher. Jacksonville State started the season 0-3 SU/ATS and finished 9-1 SU scoring 40 points or more six times this season including a Conference USA title game win over Western Kentucky 52-12 after losing to WKY the week before by 2-points. Ohio's run defense is stronger allowing less than 100 rushing yards per game, and JSU has more players in the transfer portal which has this line surging up to Ohio -6.5 

Gasparilla Bowl - Florida (-14) vs. Tulane, 49.5
Raymond James Stadium - Tampa, FL, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN

Pick/Opinion: None, Lean Tulane and Over

Another major move with Florida down to -10 or -10.5 on game day. Tulane (9-4) lost their last two games as favorite, and both by double-digits to conference foes Memphis and then Army in the AAC Championship Game. But Tulane has a better net yards per play (+1.4) differential over Florida (+0.9), who finished the season 7-5 including a 3-0 SU/ATS run with wins over LSU and Ole Miss as 'Dogs and 20-point win over Florida State scoring 24+ points in all three contests. Once Gators QB DJ Lagway took over, he showed more promise and poise, especially down the stretch. Tulane starting QB Darian Mensah left for Duke. So Ty Thompson will get the start, and note he's in the transfer portal. Still, Tulane's more balanced offense this season included 202 rushing yards per game vs. FBS foes (215 passing) and RB Makhi Hughes ran for 1,372 yards with 15 scores.  

College Football Playoff First Round Game
No. 8 Indiana at No. 5 Notre Dame (-7.5), 50.5
South Bend, IN - 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPN

Pick: Indiana

The opening CFP game is in South Bend, home of Notre Dame (11-1), who lost their only game on this field as a 28-point favorite to No. Illinois. Prefer the sideline and prep edge to Big Ten Coach of the Year Cignetti, who has Indiana (11-1) in the College Football Playoff with their only loss at Ohio State, the No. 1 scoring defense in the country. Both teams were defensive dominators this season, and Indiana has the No. 1 run defense in the country by stats allowing just 76 yards per game. Notre Dame allowed 177 rushing yards per game over their last three contests (139/yr), yes facing Army, but the Irish allowed 557 total yards to USC in a misleading 49-35 last game win. Hoosiers QB Kurtis Rourke completed 70% of his passes for more than 2,800 yards and 9 yards per attempt and 27 TD's to just 4 INTs, and Indiana may balance the attack with 160 rushing YPG. Tech trends from Playbook Sports shows Notre Dame just 1-13 SU and 3-11 ATS the last 30 years against Bowl teams .666 or greater. Not as meaningful when evaluating this year's matchup, but Indiana is off a big blowout win over rival Purdue. Bowl underdogs who scoreed 56 or more in their final regular season game are 5-1 SU/ATS since 1990, including 5-0 SU/ATS if they gave up 27 points or fewer on the season (Indiana 15.7/ No. 6 in country). Live 'Dog.  

Saturday, Dec. 21

College Football Playoff First Round Game
No. 10 SMU at No. 4 Penn State (-8.5), 54
University Park, PA - 12 p.m. on TNT/MAX

Pick: Penn State

College Football Playoff First Round Game
No. 16 Clemson at No. 3 Texas (-11.5), 51.5
Austin, TX - 4 p.m. on TNT/MAX

Opinion: Texas

College Football Playoff First Round Game
No. 7 Tennessee at No. 6 Ohio State (-7.5), 47
Columbus, OH - 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPN

Pick: Tennessee and Under

College Football Playoff game analysis, stats and information you can bet on is in my CFP coverage in Forbes. 

Monday, Dec. 23 

Myrtle Beach Bowl - Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA (-9), 55.5
11 a.m. | ESPN
Brooks Stadium - Conway, South Carolina, 11 a.m. on ESPN

Passed. Huge line move of more than a TD from opener with Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) up to -13.5. Coastal Carolina had more than 2 dozen players enter the transfer portal, including 2 QB's who played this season. 

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - Northern Illinois (-3) vs. Fresno State, 40.5
Albertson's Stadium - Boise, Idaho, 2:30 p.m. on ESPN

Passed: Many players in the transfer portal for both teams, including both starting quarterbacks. Fresno interium head coach Skipper coaches his last game as Fresno State as the Bulldogs hired Matt Entz, a recent defensive coach for USC Trojans who won two FCS national titles as head coach at North Dakota State. 

Tuesday, Dec. 24

Hawaii Bowl - South Florida vs. San Jose State (-4.5), 62
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complet - Honolulu, HI, 8 p.m. on ESPN 

Pick: San Jose State 

This line is now SJST -3, and we step in with the Spartans from the Mountain West. Aware that SJST All-American WR Nick Nash opted-out and will not play, along with a few defenders. But South Florida (6-6) went 0-5 SU against bowl teams allowing 40+ points to Alabama, Miami and Tulane. The USF Bulls went 5-1 vs. softer FBS teams. Good matchup for San Jose State (7-5), who turned to a passing attack offense this season and averaged 325 passing yards per game to rank top-5 in the country. The Spartans posted nearly 500 yards offense (446 passing) in a misleading loss to Boise State while out-gaining the Broncos and leading in the 3rd quarter before a number of mistakes led to its demise in defeat. Junior QB Walker Eget took over as starter in October and flourished with only UNLV's stronger defense able to slow him down. Eget averaged 39 pass attempts in six other starts and passed for 385 yards and 4 TD's in the regular season finale vs. Stanford, 446 vs. Boise State, 395 at Oregon State, 318 vs. Wyoming and 256 at Colorado State in October taking over in relief. How do you think Eget and the Broncos offense is going to do against a South Florida pass defense that ranks second-to-last in FBS allowing 293 passing yards per game and 460 total yards per game? San Jose State returns to the Hawaii Bowl for second-straight season after losing last year. But first year Spartans head coach Ken Nuimatalolo will have his players fired up to play in his home state. Aloha. 

More updates, picks, stats and information you can bet on each game day. Check back here for updates throughout bowl season.

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FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.