Sixteen college football bowl games run Dec. 22–27 with several tight spreads and high-scoring matchups. Bettors should target overs in offensively prolific North Texas and UNLV games, consider a small lean on BYU in the Camping World Bowl after an emotional season, and treat Boise’s Utah State–Washington State as a narrow spread tease — small-unit wagers or teasers recommended for close lines.
College Football Bowl Guide: Dec. 22–27 — Schedule, Matchups and Betting Angles
The holiday week brings 16 bowl games across the country, from Boise to Orlando. Expect a mix of low-scoring defensive tussles and shootouts driven by freshman playmakers, Heisman-caliber rushers and edge rushers who can flip games. Below are the top matchups, player notes and betting takeaways for each key game day.
Monday — Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Albertsons Stadium, Boise)
Utah State (6-6) vs. Washington State (6-6) Line note: a near pick’em; Utah State opened as a slight favorite while predictive models lean Washington State by a score. Key players: Utah State QB Bryson Barnes (efficient downfield passer); Washington State DE Isaac Terrell (team sack leader). Game shape: High-altitude conditions and a visually distinctive blue field. Expect a close contest; consider small spread bets or a teaser if you want to mitigate a one-score outcome.
Tuesday — Frisco Bowl (Ford Center at The Star)
UNLV (10-2) vs. Ohio (8-4) Line note: market pricing implies a high-scoring affair. Key players: UNLV QB Anthony Colandrea (dynamic passer); Ohio RB Sieh Bangura (rushing threat after coaching shakeup). Game shape: Offensive fireworks likely. The betting lean here is toward the over in total points — both offenses create scoring opportunities.
Wednesday — Hawai‘i Bowl (Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu)
Cal vs. Hawai‘i Key players: Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (promising freshman); Hawai‘i HC and former quarterback brings a home-field feel. Game shape: Hawai‘i’s local fan energy can be impactful. Expect a crowd-driven atmosphere that could give Hawai‘i swing-game momentum.
Friday — Matchups to Watch (Chase Field and others)
New Mexico vs. Minnesota (Phoenix) Line note: neutral projection in some predictive models. Key players: New Mexico’s Keyshawn James-Newby (sack leader); Minnesota’s Anthony Smith (edge rusher). Game shape: Pass-rush matchups could decide this one; prop bettors should monitor sack markets and QB pressure stats.
Saturday — High-Profile Bowls
Camping World Bowl (Orlando) — BYU (11-2) vs. Georgia Tech Line note: BYU enters with national attention after an 11-win season and a playoff snub. Key players: BYU freshman QB Bear Bachmeier; Georgia Tech QB Haynes King. Game shape: Expect BYU to draw public backing. Emotional spot for BYU suggests public-money lean; consider fading or fading with caution depending on line movement.
University Stadium (Albuquerque) — North Texas vs. San Diego State Key players: North Texas freshman QB Drew Mestemaker (31 TDs); SDSU’s stingy defense and CB Chris Johnson. Game shape: Classic offense-vs-defense clash — North Texas averages high scoring, while SDSU defends elite. Betting the total could be game-dependent; props on turnovers and QB efficiency are valuable here.
Gator Bowl (EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville) — Virginia vs. Missouri Key players: Virginia QB Chandler Morris (playmaking); Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy (nation-leading rushing average). Game shape: Hardy’s rushing upside makes the ground game a focal point. Market reactions to quarterback availability could swing lines; check injury reports and starter confirmations.
Overall Betting Takeaways
- Overs to consider: games featuring UNLV, North Texas and other high-output offenses. - Close spreads: Boise’s Utah State–Washington State and several neutral-site matchups suggest small-unit spread or teaser plays. - Emotional/spot bets: BYU’s Camping World Bowl spot could attract public money; line drift may create value in alternate spreads. - Props and situational markets: sack/pressure props in games with dominant edge rushers (e.g., New Mexico vs. Minnesota) and rushing-yard props for backs like Ahmad Hardy are strong targets. - Bankroll management: with many one-score games, favor smaller units or correlated parlays with clear rationale.
What to Monitor Before Betting
- Final injury reports and confirmed starters. - Line movement — heavy public action can create contrarian value. - Weather and venue conditions for outdoor games. - Matchup-driven statistics: sack rates, third-down defense, turnover margin and red-zone efficiency.
This slate offers a mix of narrative-driven matchups and purely tactical games. Focus on matchups and game script expectations, use small units on close spreads, and exploit prop markets where player usage is predictable.
The holiday week ahead brings us 16 college football bowl games. Be on the lookout for accounting alligators and anthropomorphic pastries.
Theathleticuk
