If you are a college football fan, a sports bettor, or both, then you know that these college bowl games are based off of motivation, coaching, home field proximity, and player retention more than straight power. I think that it is imperative to know what you are up against if you are trying to bet on these games. In this article, I give you the matchup, the location, the odds, and the ever important speculation on each team’s motivation along with a potential home field advantage that you must factor into your handicaps, and office pools that you will be filling out before the games begin. Keep in mind that my speculation on each team’s motivation is subject to change so please keep checking this article periodically during the month of December.
Friday, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl: Miami vs. UAB -10 O/U 44
UAB: Motivation – Medium High – This team shows up for bowl games and now they have a new coach in Trent Dilfer to try and impress.
Miami (OH) – Medium High – This team usually shows up to bowls, but it took a lot to get bowl eligible.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 11:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Thomas Robinson Stadium — Nassau, Bahamas
Cure Bowl: Troy vs. UTSA +1 O/U 54
Troy: Motivation – Medium Low – They won their conference and should still be partying.
UTSA: Motivation – Medium Low – They won their conference again and are probably Christmas shopping.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Exploria Stadium — Orlando, Fla.
Saturday, Dec. 17
Fenway Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Louisville -2 O/U 45
Cincinnati: Motivation – Medium Low – Coach Fickell being gone puts them in a slight pickle.
Louisville: Motivation – High – Coach Satterfield leaving for Cincinnati should put a fire under their asses.
Home Field: – None
- Start Time: 11:00 a.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Fenway Park — Boston, Mass.
Celebration Bowl: Jackson State vs. N.C. Central +16.5 O/U 56
Jackson State: Motivation – Medium Low – They lost Prime baby!
N.C. Central: Motivation – High – Let’s beat Prime’s team.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ABC
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, Ga.
New Mexico Bowl: BYU vs. SMU -4 O/U 71
BYU: Motivation – Medium – Not a great bowl for them, but what the hell. QB Jaren Hall might not play due to his injury and potential transfer status.
SMU: Motivation – Medium High – End the season on a high note.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 2:15 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: University Stadium — Albuquerque, N.M.
LA Bowl: Fresno State vs. Washington State +1.5 O/U 54.5
Fresno State: Motivation – Medium High – They get to beat Power 5.
Washington State: Motivation – Medium – Good matchup for them.
Home Field: Small edge to Fresno being 220 miles away but WASU will travel.
- Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ABC
- Location: SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, Calif.
LendingTree Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Rice +7 O/U 46.5
Southern Miss: Motivation – High – They wanted to get to a bowl this year.
Rice: Motivation – High – They wanted to get to a bowl this year and were the only 5-7 team to make it. These teams used to be rivals.
Home Field: Southern Miss being only 97 miles away.
- Start Time: 5:45 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium — Mobile, Ala.
Las Vegas Bowl: Florida vs. Oregon State -10.5 O/U 52
Florida: Motivation – Low – Anthony Richardson won’t play the bowl game.
Oregon State: Motivation – High – Beat an SEC team? 11 against a 6? SURE, and may I double down?
Home Field: Slight edge to Oregon State who might travel some.
- Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ABC
- Location: Allegiant Stadium — Las Vegas, Nev.
Frisco Bowl: Boise State vs. North Texas +10.5 O/U 57
Boise State: Motivation – Medium High – Not a power 5 but still will do nice with a young quarterback.
North Texas: Motivation – High – They will want to beat Boise:
Home Field: Huge for North Texas PLAYING PRETTY MUCH AT HOME.
- Start Time: 9:15 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Toyota Stadium — Frisco, Texas
Monday, Dec. 19
Myrtle Beach Bowl: UConn vs. Marshall -10 O/U 40.5
UConn: Motivation – Medium – They finally got to a bowl but it’s fun to party in Myrtle Beach.
Marshall: Motivation – Medium Low – Bad opponent and might go out the night before.
Home Field – None
- Start Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Brooks Stadium — Conway, S.C.
Tuesday, Dec. 20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: San Jose State vs. Eastern Michigan +3.5 O/U 54
San Jose State: Motivation – Low – They go to Boise all the time and probably was robbed or at least assulted while they were there.
Eastern Michigan: Medium Low – These kids got totally screwed. Now they might drink to just block out the fact that they are in Boise Idaho. (Kip)
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Albertsons Stadium — Boise, Idaho
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Liberty +4.5 O/U 54
Toledo: Motivation – Medium Low – They won the Mac and now it’s time to party.
Liberty: Motivation – Medium – This team lost their coach but they at least do get a very good one coming in.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: FAU Stadium — Boca Raton, Fla.
Wednesday, Dec. 21
New Orleans Bowl: South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky +5 O/U 53.5
South Alabama: Motivation – High – They haven’t went bowling in a while.
Western Kentucky: Motivation – Medium – Decent matchup on a disappointing season.
Home Field: South Alabama some at 260 miles way.
- Start Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Caesars Superdome — New Orleans, La.
Thursday, Dec. 22
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. Baylor -6.5 O/U 49.5
Air Force: Motivation – High – Get to play a power 5.
Baylor: Motivation – Medium – Good coach in Aranda.
Home Field: Baylor is only 108 miles away!
- Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium — Fort Worth, Texas
Friday, Dec. 23
Gasparilla Bowl: Missouri vs. Wake Forest -1 O/U 60.5
Wake Forest: Motivation – Medium – They probably wanted bigger and better things but at least they go on vacation.
Missouri: Motivation – Medium High – This team accomplished a lot this year compared to others.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: TBD
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Raymond James Stadium — Tampa, Fla.
Independence Bowl: Houston vs. Louisiana +6.5 O/U 60.5
Houston: Motivation – Medium – Not the season that they hoped for.
Louisiana: Motivation – Medium High – They step up slightly in class.
Home Field: None – Same distance for both schools around 250 miles away.
- Start Time: TBD
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Independence Stadium — Shreveport, La.
Saturday, Dec. 24
Hawai’i Bowl: Middle Tennessee State vs. San Diego State -7 O/U 49.5
Middle Tennessee State: Motivation – Low – I think they have fun in Hawaii.
San Diego State: Motivation – Medium High – They go to Hawaii often enough and will look to do business.
Home Field: Slight edge to San Diego State due to proximity
- Start Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex — Honolulu, Hawaii
Monday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl: New Mexico State vs. Bowling Green -2 O/U 47.5
New Mexico State: Motivation – Medium High – This team hasn’t went bowling in a long time.
Bowling Green: Motivation – Medium – They made a bowl by shopping at wish but all that they got in return was Detroit Michigan.
Home Field: Bowling Green due to being 83 miles away.
- Start Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Ford Field — Detroit, Mich.
Tuesday, Dec. 27
First Responder Bowl: Utah State vs. Memphis -7 O/U 62
Utah State: Motivation – Medium – Not a bad place to go to get away.
Memphis: Motivation – Medium – Medium season with a medium bowl game.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: TBD
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium — Dallas, Texas
Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina +9.5 O/U 59.5
East Carolina: Motivation – High – They get to beat up the talk of the town.
Coastal Carolina: Motivation – Low – They lost their coach and most likely their quarterback Grayson McCall for this game.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: TBD
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Protective Stadium — Birmingham, Ala.
Camellia Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Buffalo +3.5 O/U 67
Georgia Southern: Motivation – Medium High – They haven’t played a bowl game in a while.
Buffalo: Motivation – Medium – Hard to gauge this team who blew their chances to get to the MAC title a few weeks back.
Home Field: Slight lean to Georgia Southern being 300 miles away.
- Start Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Cramton Bowl — Montgomery, Ala.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State +3 O/U 43.5
Wisconsin: Motivation – Medium Low – New coaching, lots of transfers and no quarterbacks.
Oklahoma State: Motivation – Medium High – Why not beat the big 10? Not sure who plays QB for either team
- Start Time: 10:15 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Chase Field — Phoenix, Ariz.
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Military Bowl: Duke vs. UCF PK O/U 62.5
Duke: Motivation – Medium – Making a bowl was impressive for Mike Elko.
UCF: Motivation – Medium Low – Maybe if this was basketball it would be higher.
Home Field: Slight edge to Duke at 300 miles away.
- Start Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium — Annapolis, Md.
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas vs. Kansas +4 O/U 59
Kansas: Motivation – High – SEC and finally made a bowl game after many many years.
Arkansas: Motivation – Medium low – I don’t like the Hogs much here being that they had higher aspirations preseason, but I certainly would not bet the under.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium — Memphis, Tenn.
Holiday Bowl: Oregon vs. North Carolina +11 O/U 72
Oregon: Motivation – Medium Low – I feel this team wanted something better.
North Carolina: Motivation – Medium – This team choked their last 4 games but that doesn’t mean that they don’t finally wake up here.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: FOX
- Location: Petco Park — San Diego, Calif.
Texas Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss -4 O/U 69.5
Texas Tech: Motivation – High – They get an SEC team that plays fast like them.
Ole Miss: Motivation – Medium – Lane Kiffen still there which is nice.
Home Field: None – Texas is huge.
- Start Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: NRG Stadium — Houston, Texas
Thursday, Dec. 29
Pinstripe Bowl: Minnesota vs. Syracuse +7.5 O/U 42
Minnesota: Motivation – Medium High – Why not play in the Big Apple?
Syracuse: Motivation – High – Chance to beat a Big 10 team
Home Field: Syracuse for sure being in NY.
- Start Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Yankee Stadium — Bronx, N.Y.
Cheez-It Bowl: Florida State vs. Oklahoma -7 O/U 65
Florida State: Motivation – Medium – I think they could have done much better this year and they know it.
Oklahoma: Motivation – Medium High – Pending hold outs, I think they rally around Brett Venebles.
Home Field: Florida State but not as much because OU travels well and it’s 250 miles from Tallahassee
- Start Time: 5:30 p.m ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Camping World Stadium — Orlando, Fla.
Alamo Bowl: Washington vs. Texas -6 O/U 68
Washington: Motivation – High – They will want to beat a Big 12 Team like Texas.
Texas: Motivation – Medium High – They get a good program in state.
Home Field: Texas for sure only a few hours away from San Antonio.
- Start Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Alamodome — San Antonio, Texas
Friday, Dec. 30
Orange Bowl: Tennessee vs. Clemson -7 O/U 64
Clemson: Motivation – Medium High – Dabo is a great coach and they have a new life with their young QB in Cade Klubnik.
Tennessee: Motivation – Medium – They still get to play Clemson even after the rough loss to South Carolina and lost Hendon Hooker that took them out of the Playoffs.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: TBD
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Fla.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: N.C. State vs. Maryland -1 O/U 48
Maryland: Motivation – Medium – They should want to give it a go.
North Carolina State: Motivation – Medium Low – Why not give it a go being so close to home but they were not rewarded much having to stay in state. The preseason expectations were so high on the Wolfpack.
Home Field: NC State only 165 miles away.
- Start Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Bank of America Stadium — Charlotte, N.C.
Sun Bowl: Pitt vs. UCLA -7 O/U 58
Pitt: Motivation – Medium – Kedon Slovis entered the transfer portal but Nate Yarnell looked pretty good.
UCLA: Motivation – Medium – Last chance to show off to the NFL for DTR.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: CBS
- Location: Sun Bowl — El Paso, Texas
Gator Bowl: South Carolina vs. Notre Dame -3 O/U 52
South Carolina: Motivation – Medium High – Bad start yet they made a bowl game which is huge.
Notre Dame: Motivation – Medium Low – Their QB Drew Pine is transferring and Notre Dame wanted something bigger in my opinion.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: TIAA Bank Field — Jacksonville, Fla.
Arizona Bowl: Ohio vs. Wyoming +1 O/U 43
Ohio: Motivation – Medium High – Tucson isn’t much different than Tombstone Arizona but at least it’s warmer.
Wyoming: Motivation – Medium – Not sure what these kids will do against a MAC team here.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: Barstool
- Location: Arizona Stadium — Tucson, Ariz.
Saturday, Dec. 31
Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky -2.5 O/U 31.5
Iowa: Motivation – Medium – Fun destination for these kids in Nash-Vegas, but by the way that they play offense, I don’t expect them to close the deal.
Kentucky: Motivation – Medium low – I don’t think Kentuckians like Tennessee. I might be wrong.
Home Field: Kentucky somewhat only going 212 miles away.
- Start Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ABC
- Location: Nissan Stadium — Nashville, Tenn.
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Kansas State +3.5 O/U 54.5
Kansas State: Motivation – High – Playing Nick Saben and Alabama really says it all.
Alabama: Motivaiton – Medium – But Don’t count out Nick Saben here. Same thing happened in 2019 where they put a whooping on Michigan. (phyliss)
Home Field: Alabama should have more fans here 288 miles away from Tuscaloosa.
- Start Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Caesars Superdome — New Orleans, La.
Fiesta Bowl (College Football Playoff Semifinal): Michigan vs. TCU +8 O/U 59
Michigan: Motivation – High – Playoffs
TCU: Motivation – High – Playoffs
Home Field: Michigan has more fans than TCU so slight advantage Blue.
- Start Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: State Farm Stadium — Glendale, Ariz.
Peach Bowl (College Football Playoff Semifinal): Georgia vs. Ohio State +6.5 O/U 61
Ohio State: Motivation – High – Playoffs
Georgia: Motivation – High – Playoffs
Home Field: Slight lean to Georgia being in their own State.
- Start Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, Ga.
Monday, Jan. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl: Illinois vs. Mississippi State -1 O/U 46.5
Mississippi State: Motivation – Medium – Leach doesn’t seem to care about bowls.
Illinois: Medium High – Illinois first bowl game in a while. Getting to play SEC is nice, but Illinois blew their chances to win the Big 10 West. Let’s hope Brett doesn’t hit it too hard in Tampa!
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN2
- Location: Raymond James Stadium — Tampa, Fla.
Citrus Bowl: LSU vs. Purdue +8 O/U 58
LSU: Motivation – Medium Low – Lost chances to get into playoffs and some kids will sit out.
Purdue: Motivation – Medium High – They get to try and beat an overrated SEC team but rumors around Jeff Brohm going to Louisville are swollen.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ABC
- Location: Camping World Stadium — Orlando, Fla.
Cotton Bowl Classic: USC vs. Tulane +2 O/U 62
USC: Motivation – Low – They blew their chances at the playoffs and Pac 12 title in 1 day. Kids are leaving as well.
Tulane: Motivation – Medium High – Keep the good feelings going!
Home Field: None supposedly, but I think the crowd goes for Tulane so there’s that.
- Start Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: AT&T Stadium — Arlington, Texas
Rose Bowl Game: Utah vs. Penn State +2.5 OU 51.5
Utah: Motivation – High – It’s the Rose Bowl.
Penn State: Motivation – High – It’s the Rose Bowl.
Home Field: None
- Start Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Rose Bowl — Pasadena, Calif.
Monday, Jan. 9
College Football Playoff National Championship Game: TBD
- Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, Calif.
