College Football Odds and ATS Picks for 40 Bowl Games

College football bowl games are notorious for being incredibly difficult on bettors since there aren’t many games to compare these matchups against. Today though, we’re taking our stab at all 40 of the bowl games against the spread.

(College football odds courtesy of BookMaker.eu)

New Mexico Bowl, December 17

New Mexico ( -7 ) vs. UTSA

The Lobos run this crazy triple-option out of the pistol that is kind of like what Nevada used to do back in the day. The same Nevada team notorious for getting ripped in bowl games. Take the points with the overachieving Roadrunners. UTSA 27, New Mexico 21

Las Vegas Bowl, December 17

Houston ( -3.5 ) vs. San Diego State

Houston’s D-Line had nine really good games this year. And three really bad games this year. You’ll never guess which nine games were won and which three games were lost. Donnel Pumphrey goes out with a 200-yard effort in an Aztecs ‘W’. San Diego State 38, Houston 30

Camellia Bowl, December 17

Appalachian State vs. Toledo ( -1.5 )

A sneaky good bowl game. Toledo had four 500+ yard receivers, two 500+ yard rushers and a QB who is going to get to 4,000 passing yards in this game while throwing 43 TDs. Toledo 36, Appalachian State 27 

Cure Bowl, December 17

UCF ( -6.5 ) vs. Arkansas State

The Knights were 0-12 last year. Arkansas State has lost its last two bowl games 47-28 and 63-44. UCF 45, Arkansas State 20

New Orleans Bowl, December 17

Southern Miss ( -2 ) vs. Louisiana Lafayette

The Ragin’ Cajuns won the New Orleans Bowl four straight years from 2011 through 2014. They’re not the only “home team” here, though. Southern Miss is expected to bring a big contingent as well as a big passing game. Southern Miss 34, Louisiana Lafayette 23 

Miami Beach Bowl, December 19

Central Michigan vs. Tulsa ( -12 )

Double-digit favorites in the bowl season seem to either win by 40 or lose outright. The MAC is highly underrated, and CMU did beat Okie State earlier this year. Central Michigan 33, Tulsa 30 

Boca Raton Bowl, December 20

Memphis vs. Western Kentucky ( -5 )

50, 52, 44, 59, 52, 49, 45, 60, 58. That’s what Western Kentucky has scored in its last eight games. This one could be the highest scoring game of the bowl season. Western Kentucky 52, Memphis 42 

Poinsettia Bowl, December 21

BYU ( -8 ) vs. Wyoming

BYU is the backwards people of the NCAA. The Cougs haven’t played against an even remotely good team since October. Brian Hill is the best running back in the nation you’ve never seen play. Wyoming 27, BYU 26 

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, December 22

Idaho vs. Colorado State ( -13 )

The Vandals are dropping down to the FCS in a couple years, but before they go, they’re playing in just their third ever bowl game. Matt Linehan is a quarterback’s name you’re going to want to remember going forward. He’s legit for the Vandals. Idaho can win this game. Idaho 30, Colorado State 28 

Bahamas Bowl, December 23

Eastern Michigan vs. Old Dominion ( -3.5 )

Old Dominion didn’t even have a football team eight years ago. Now, it’s playing in its first bowl game. The Bahamas Bowl has a history of being cray-cray. Old Dominion 48, Eastern Michigan 41 

Armed Forces Bowl, December 23

Louisiana Tech vs. Navy ( -1.5 )

Without Will Worth, Navy just doesn’t feel like it’s going to be the same team that it was when it was scoring 40+ against everybody. Louisiana Tech 31, Navy 26 

Dollar General Bowl, December 23

Ohio vs. Troy ( -4 )

Ohio nearly beat Tennessee. Troy nearly beat Clemson. Now you tell us which one of those two near misses is more impressive for your football betting. Troy 38, Ohio 30

Hawaii Bowl, December 24

Hawaii vs. Middle Tennessee ( OTB )

The Warriors couldn’t get out of their own way at the end of the year and gave up 487 points this season. MTSU loves running it up against lousy foes. Middle Tennessee 56, Hawaii 27 

St. Petersburg Bowl, December 26

Miami ( OH ) vs. Mississippi State ( -13.5 )

If you’re an SEC team, you shouldn’t be allowed in a bowl game if you finish 5-7. Stupid APR rules allowed MSU to get in. Miami won its last six games after starting 0-6, but this is still a middling MAC team. Even the lousy SEC should pick up a win here. Mississippi State 34, Miami ( OH ) 17

Quick Lane Bowl, December 26

Maryland vs. Boston College ( PK )

The oddsmakers couldn’t figure out what to do with this game between former bottom-feeding ACC rivals who barely reached a high enough level of mediocrity this season to qualify for a second-rate bowl game in Detroit. Consult your Magic 8-Ball for these football odds. Boston College 23, Maryland 17 

Independence Bowl, December 26

N.C. State ( -3.5 ) vs. Vanderbilt

Vandy might seem on one blush to have a sneakier defense than you think. And then you remember that it got to play against SEC East teams all season long. N.C. State 34, Vanderbilt 20 

Heart of Dallas Bowl, December 27

Army ( -9 ) vs. North Texas

The Mean Green went 5-7 and snuck into the bowl season because of the stupid APR rules. Next time, let’s just play fewer bowl games, OK? Army 40, North Texas 24 

Military Bowl, December 27

Temple ( -13 ) vs. Wake Forest

Wake Forest won exactly one game this year against a bowl eligible team. Does Indiana really count anyway? Temple 31, Wake Forest 10 

Holiday Bowl, December 27

Minnesota vs. Washington State ( -5.5 )

Leave it up to the bowls to pit one of the highest flying teams in the nation against a team that makes watching paint dry look exciting when they’re on offense. The Gophers should have lost to Oregon State at the start of the season. Washington State 35, Minnesota 21 

Cactus Bowl, December 27

Boise State ( -8 ) vs. Baylor

Talk about an identity crisis. Baylor is going from a spread offense to hiring Temple’s head coach. Win one for the Air Bear, will ya? Baylor 31, Boise State 28 

Pinstripe Bowl, December 28

Pittsburgh ( -4 ) vs. Northwestern

Pitt beat Penn State and Clemson this year, and this is exactly what the oddsmakers want you to think when betting this game. Don’t do it! It’s a trap! Northwestern 26, Pittsburgh 23 

Russell Athletic Bowl, December 28

West Virginia vs. Miami ( -1.5 )

We hate playing into the whole “ranked team an underdog against an unranked team” thing, but the last time Miami played in the Russell Athletic Bowl, it was run off the field 36-9 by Louisville. The Canes haven’t won a bowl game since 2006. West Virginia 31, Miami 20 

Foster Farms Bowl, December 28

Indiana vs. Utah ( -8 )

Asking the Hoosiers to rally for a close game in the Foster Farms Bowl after the whole Kevin Wilson incident is just too much. The Utes are too good defensively. Utah 27, Indiana 14 

Texas Bowl, December 28

Texas A&M ( -2 ) vs. Kansas State

Does anyone remember when Texas A&M was ranked No. 4 in the CFP rankings? My, does that seem like a long time ago! Kansas State 17, Texas A&M 13 

Birmingham Bowl, December 29

South Florida ( -11 ) vs. South Carolina

How on earth South Carolina got to a bowl game this year is beyond us. That offense is putrid. Oh wait… So are all of the other offenses in the SEC. South Florida 41, South Carolina 10 

Belk Bowl, December 29

Arkansas vs. Virginia Tech ( -6.5 )

Are you starting to get the trend here of betting against most of the SEC teams in the bowl season? Virginia Tech 30, Arkansas 20

Alamo Bowl, December 29

Oklahoma State at Colorado ( -2.5 )

The Buffs didn’t look right this year when they were smothered by good defenses. Fortunately for them, Oklahoma State doesn’t have one of those. Colorado 38, Oklahoma State 30 

Liberty Bowl, December 30

Georgia vs. TCU ( PK )

Give Gary Patterson four weeks to prepare for one of the biggest jokes of an offense in major college football, and he’ll figure out how to shut it down. TCU 24, Georgia 20 

Sun Bowl, December 30

Stanford ( -3 ) vs. North Carolina

Stanford has quietly kicked the teeth in of their last two bowl foes, first Maryland in 2014, then Iowa in last year’s Rose Bowl. Stanford 42, North Carolina 24 

Music City Bowl, December 30

Nebraska vs. Tennessee ( -3.5 )

The Cornhuskers played inspired football this year and probably should be in the Top 25. At least they played against a few real opponents this year, unlike Tennessee, who played Alabama and… the rest of the SEC. Nebraska 33, Tennessee 28 

Arizona Bowl, December 30

South Alabama vs. Air Force ( -12.5 )

Talk about the luckiest team on the face of the earth. South Alabama is only here because it got to play against Presbyterian instead of LSU because of Hurricane Matthew, got paid $1 million to do it, got an extra home game because of it, and reached six wins and got a waiver from the NCAA to play in said bowl game. Of course this team is going to be the one to hit a wild backdoor cover in a game it has no business even being in. Air Force 35, South Alabama 25 

Orange Bowl, December 30

Michigan ( -7 ) vs. Florida State

Did you know that Michigan gave up exactly two rushing touchdowns this year of more than 20 yards? And both of those were to UCF? And did you know that Dalvin Cook has made a career of 20+ yard touchdown runs? Michigan 27, Florida State 23 

Citrus Bowl, December 31

LSU ( -2.5 ) vs. Louisville

We just don’t understand the love for this LSU team whatsoever. With the way this university has handled its coaching situation these last two years, it deserves to have Lamar Jackson go all Lamar Jackson on it in Orlando. Louisville 42, LSU 20 

Taxslayer Bowl, December 31

Georgia Tech ( -4.5 ) vs. Kentucky

With a win over Kentucky, Georgia Tech will have more wins over SEC teams this year than Ole Miss. Go figure. Georgia Tech 31, Kentucky 21 

Peach Bowl, December 31

Washington vs. Alabama ( -14.5 )

Is there any reasonable person out there who would step in front of Alabama at the moment with a team that the oddsmakers would probably consider around the 10th best or so in college football? Alabama 42, Washington 13 

Fiesta Bowl, December 31

Ohio State ( -3.5 ) vs. Clemson

Urban Meyer. In the CFP. Need we say more? Ohio State 30, Clemson 23 

Outback Bowl, January 2

Florida ( -2 ) vs. Iowa

Hide the women and children. This one’s going to be ugly. Iowa 16, Florida 10 

Cotton Bowl, January 2

Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin ( -7 )

Hey, did you know if Western Michigan wins this game, it’ll have more Big Ten wins this year than Michigan State, Rutgers, and Purdue – combined. It’s just too bad that the power of Wisconsin should ultimately shine through in this one. Wisconsin 31, Western Michigan 13 

Rose Bowl, January 2

USC ( -6.5 ) vs. Penn State

Though there’s something completely not-sacred about playing this game on January 2, there is something sacred about the matchup. USC has more wins in the Rose Bowl than any other team has appearances. USC 34, Penn State 14 

Sugar Bowl, January 2

Auburn vs. Oklahoma ( -6 )

Auburn was quietly one of the most beat up teams in the nation this year. That doesn’t mean they actually deserve this New Year’s Six spot, but thanks to contracts and money, we’re stuck watching it play. The least it could do is at least cover against Bob Stoops, who can’t coach his way out of a paper bag in December. Oklahoma 42, Auburn 38

For more college football betting news, check out Alabama Heavy Favorite to Win National Championship