Factoring in all of the College Football Playoff matchups, which begin on Friday, Dec. 20, there are 45 more postseason games unfolding in the coming weeks, culminating on Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta, which will crown the first ever winner of the 12-team CFP. Much of the betting attention will be on the playoff matchups, particularly the first four on Dec. 20 and 21. Those games are on campus, with the higher seeds hosting, bringing in the home-field element.
The latest college football odds from the SportsLine Consensus list No. 8 Ohio State as a 7.5-point favorite against No. 9 Tennessee, No. 5 Texas (-12) vs. No. 12 Clemson, No. 7 Notre Dame (-7) vs. No. 10 Indiana, and No. 6 Penn State (-8.5) vs. No. 11 SMU.
College football bowl bettors need to consider a variety of factors, including which players are in the transfer portal, who is opting out, injuries and coaching changes. They all can move college football bowl lines. Considering each team's motivation is also critical, especially in the non-playoff bowls, since some major programs have varying interest in playing in these matchups after falling short of the CFP.
We'll guide you through each of the remaining postseason games, providing everything that you need to know before you lock in your bets, including sportsbook promos and best odds along with college football expert picks, props, trends, opt outs, coaching changes and injury updates. Check back in this space throughout bowl season for updates around upcoming bowls.
Sportsbook betting promos for college football bowl season
With the arrival of bowl season comes some of the final chances to bet on college football this year. For those who have yet to register at the following sportsbooks, you can claim these welcome bonuses by following the individual promo details.
New Orleans Bowl (Thursday, Dec. 19)
Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston
- Kickoff time 7 p.m. ET
- Injuries to watch None
- Key player news Georgia Southern: safety Deontre Morris (transfer portal); Sam Houston: safety Caleb Weaver (transfer portal), running back Jay Ducker (transfer portal); quarterback Jase Bauer (transfer portal)
Best betting odds and lines
| Money line | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Southern | -222 (BetMGM) | N/A | O 48.5 (-105, FanDuel) |
| Sam Houston | +180 (BetMGM) | N/A | U 49 (-110, Caesars) |
Picks and more to know
The Bearkats went 9-3 this season (6-2 in Conference USA) but lost coach K.C. Keeler to Temple. They also have had a plethora of players hit the transfer portal. Those include safety Caleb Weaver, who was the centerpiece of a unit that led Conference USA in scoring defense (20.0 points per game) and passing defense (174.1 yards per game), and running back Jay Ducker, who led the team in rushing (59.9 yards per game) and tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns (seven). The Sam Houston team that takes the Caesars Superdome field on Thursday may have little resemblance to the one that took the field all season.
While the Bearkats are undergoing a period of "uncertainty," according to offensive coordinator and interim coach Brad Cornelsen, the Eagles (8-4) have been relatively unscathed since ending the regular season. The only significant contributor in the portal is starting safety Deontre Morris.
The Georgia Southern defense, however, will still have linebacker Marques Watson-Trent. A sideline-to-sideline playmaker, Watson-Trent ranks eighth in the country in tackles per game (10.0). For his efforts this season he was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
SportsLine expert Eric Cohen, who is 67-44 in his last 111 college football picks, is on one side of the total in this matchup, and the SportsLine Projection Model says one team covers in 60% of simulations.
LA Bowl (Wednesday, Dec. 18)
Cal vs. UNLV
- Kickoff time 9 p.m. ET
- Injuries to watch Cal: quarterback Chandler Rogers questionable
- Key player news Cal: quarterback Fernando Mendoza (transfer portal); UNLV: cornerback Tony Grimes (transfer portal), running back Greg Burrell (transfer portal)
Best betting odds and lines
| Money line | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cal | -105 (Caesars) | +1 (-115, DraftKings) | O 47.5 (-115, BetMGM) |
| UNLV | -106 (FanDuel) | +1.5 (-118, FanDuel) | U 48.5 (-115, multiple) |
Picks and more to know
Both teams enter the game undergoing massive change. Barry Odom, the architect of the Rebels' turnaround, is now off to Purdue, and receivers coach Del Alexander will serve as interim coach for the bowl game. Meanwhile, Mike Bloesch is out as offensive coordinator at Cal, and Bears coach Justin Wilcox said the play calling for the bowl game will be a "collaborative effort."
More significantly at Cal, starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza has entered the transfer portal and will be highly coveted by Power Four conference teams. The redshirt sophomore ranks third in the ACC this season with 3,004 passing yards while competing 68.7% of his passes for 18 total touchdowns and six interceptions. The Bears may also be without backup Chandler Rogers, who is battling an injury he suffered in the regular season finale against SMU.
At UNLV, Odom's departure did not set off a massive wave of players entering the transfer portal as often is the case when a head coach leaves a program. Starting cornerback Tony Grimes, who has entered the portal, is the biggest loss.
SportsLine expert Josh Nagel, who is 9-4 in his last 13 UNLV ATS picks, is on one side of the spread in this matchup, and the SportsLine Projection Model says one team covers in almost 60% of simulations.
Boca Raton Bowl (Wednesday, Dec. 18)
Western Kentucky vs. James Madison
- Kickoff time 5:30 p.m. ET
- Injuries to watch James Madison: quarterbacks Alonza Barnett and Dylan Morris out
- Key player news James Madison: defensive lineman Darold DeNgohe (transfer portal), left tackle Jesse Ramil (transfer portal)
Best betting odds and lines
| Money line | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky | +205 (Caesars) | +6.5 (-105, multiple) | O 51.5 (-110, multiple) |
| James Madison | -230 (DraftKings) | -6.5 (-114, FanDuel) | U 51.5 (-110, multiple) |
Picks and more to know
The Hilltoppers are a bit of a mystery heading into the bowl game. More than 30 players have entered the transfer portal, including quarterback Caden Veltkamp and linebacker Darius Thomas, but coach Tyson Helton's policy allows players in the portal to play in the bowl game. One of those will be Veltkamp, who accounted for 30 touchdowns this season en route to being named Conference USA's Offensive Player of the Year. However, what Western Kentucky players will opt out remains uncertain; Helton says "the bulk" of his team is in Boca Raton.
Even with a full lineup on offense, Veltkamp will face one of the top defenses in the country. James Madison has a big-play defense that forced 26 turnovers this season (tied for sixth in the country). The Dukes also rank sixth in the nation in passing efficiency defense (108.02) and seventh in sacks per game (3.17) but will be without 6-foot-2, 290-pound lineman Darold DeNgohe, an improving player who has entered the transfer portal.
On the other side of the ball, James Madison will be without its top two quarterbacks. Both Alonza Barnett and Dylan Morris are out because of injury, meaning Billy Atkins, a redshirt junior who has attempted just three passes over the last two seasons, will start. The Dukes are likely to rely on their running game, which averages 189.8 rushing yards per game (30th in the country). They have a favorable matchup against a Hilltoppers defense that is one of the worst in the nation against the run, allowing 221.9 yards per game (129th in the FBS).
SportsLine expert Mike Tierney is on one side of the spread in this matchup, and the SportsLine Projection Model says one team covers in more than 60% of simulations.
Frisco Bowl (Tuesday, Dec. 17)
Final Memphis 42, West Virginia 37
Pregame info:
Memphis vs. West Virginia
- Kickoff time 9 p.m. ET
- Injuries to watch West Virginia: safety Aubrey Burks (out)
- Key player news West Virginia: linebacker Josiah Trotter (transfer portal), cornerback TJ Crandall (transfer portal)
Best betting odds and lines
| Money line | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | -192 (DraftKings) | -4.5 (-112, Fanduel) | Over 58.5 (-115, multiple) |
| West Virginia | +178 (Caesars) | +5 (-105, Caesars) | U59 (-110, Caesars) |
Picks and more to know
After the Mountaineers were blown out by Texas Tech, 52-15, to close out a 6-6 regular season, West Virginia fired coach Neal Brown, who went 37-35 in six seasons in Morgantown. The school replaced Brown with a familiar face, former Mountaineers Rich Rodriguez, to spend a second stint in Morgantown, but he will not coach the bowl game. Offensive coordinator Chad Scott has taken over as interim coach and will coach in Frisco. During this transition phase, the Mountaineers lost only one key player to the transfer portal, linebacker Josiah Trotter, who was the Big 12's Defensive Freshman of the Year this season after racking up 92 tackles, two pass breakups, one interception and half a sack.
Trotter's absence is a significant loss for a defense that has struggled this season. West Virginia ranks 124th in the country against the pass (268.9 yards per game) and gives up 31.1 points per game (106th in the country). That bodes well for prolific Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan, who has thrown 102 career touchdown passes and needs just three more to break the American Athletic Conference's record of 104. Henigan, who will be closing out his college career mere miles away from where he grew up in Denton, Texas, leads an offense that ranks second in the AAC and 19th in the country in scoring (35.2 points per game).
SportsLine expert Jeff Hochman is on one side of the spread in this matchup, and the SportsLine Projection Model says one team covers in almost 60% of simulations.
Salute to Veterans Bowl (Saturday, Dec. 14)
Final South Alabama 30, Western Michigan 23
Pregame info:
South Alabama Jaguars vs. Western Michigan Broncos
- Kickoff time 9 p.m. ET
- Injuries to watch South Alabama: quarterback Gio Lopez (various)
- Key player news South Alabama: running back Fluff Bothwell (transfer portal); Western Michigan: defensive linemen Corey Walker, Anterio Thompson and Blake Bosma (transfer portal)
Best betting odds and lines
| Money line | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Alabama | -312 (BetMGM) | -7.5 (-110, BetMGM) | Over 57.5 (-110, multiple) |
| Western Michigan | +260 (DraftKings) | +8 (-110, Caesars) | Under 57.5 (-108, multiple) |
Picks and more to know
The Jaguars (6-6), who finished in a three-way tie for second in the West division of the Sun Belt this season, will be without star freshman running back Fluff Bothwell, who entered the transfer portal after leading the team with 832 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. However they are expected to have quarterback Gio Lopez, who was that triggerman of an offense that averaged 34.8 points per game this season (20th in the country) and dropped 87 on Northwestern State earlier this year. Lopez, who is dealing with several injuries, ranks second in the Sun Belt and 21st in the nation in total offense (274.7 yards per game).
He and the Jaguars will have a plus matchup against a Broncos defense that gives up 31.4 points per game, which ranks 108th in the country. Western Michigan also will not have two starting defensive linemen, Corey Walker (team-high 5.5 sacks) and Anterio Thompson (29 total tackles), who have entered the transfer portal.
The Broncos (6-6), who will be looking to earn just the third bowl victory in program history, were also hit hard by the transfer portal on the other side of the ball. Starting tight end Blake Bosma, who led the team in receptions (37) and receiving touchdowns (six) and was second in receiving yards (403), also is transferring.
The SportsLine Projection Model says one side of the spread covers in almost 60% of simulations. Get updated lines and picks on SportsLine's game forecast page for this matchup.
Celebration Bowl (Saturday, Dec. 14)
Final Jackson State 23, South Carolina State 7
Pregame info:
Jackson State Tigers vs. South Carolina State Gamecocks
- Kickoff time Noon ET
- Injuries to watch Jackson State: quarterback Jacobian Morgan (ankle)
- Key player news None
Best betting odds and lines
| Money line | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
Jackson State | +110 (multiple) | +2.5 (-110, multiple) | Over 53 (-110, Caesars) |
South Carolina State | -120 (FanDuel) | -2.5 (-110, multiple) | Under 53.5 (-110, multiple) |
Picks and more to know
Bowl season kicks off with a matchup between SWAC champion Jackson State (11-2) and MEAC champion South Carolina State (9-2). The Gamecocks will face the question of rust vs. rest. They have not played since routing Norfolk State, 53-21, in the regular season finale on Nov. 23. Meanwhile the Tigers are coming off a 41-13 blowout of Southern on Dec. 7.
In that win, starting quarterback Jacobian Morgan left the game with an ankle injury and did not return. On Sunday, Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor did not have an update on Morgan's injury. If he's unable to go, that would be a significant loss for a team that ranks fifth in the FCS in scoring offense (37.1 points per game).
The bowl game will feature the HBCU+ National Player of the Year in South Carolina State quarterback Eric Phoenix. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Phoenix leads all HBCU FCS quarterbacks in passing efficiency (164.2) and ranks third in touchdown passes (20) and fourth in passing yards (2,460). He won the award over Jackson State running back Irv Mulligan, who broke Walter Payton's single-season rushing yards record at Jackson State this season, with 1,139 yards.
SportsLine experts Jimmie Kaylor and Eric Cohen are both on the same side of the spread in this matchup, but there is no SportsLine model projection for the game as it's between FCS teams.