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.
H = High Motivation
MH = Medium High
M = Medium
ML = Medium Low
L = Low
(all times ET)
Saturday, Dec. 16
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Ohio vs Georgia Southern -4 O/U 49
Location: Brooks Stadium Conway, South Carolina
Start Time: 11 a.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Ohio Motivation – Medium Low – I personally would rather party in Myrtle Beach rather than win a meaningless bowl game.
Georgia Southern Motivation – Medium High – Not new for Georgia folks to be by the Ocean. I will say that Clay Helton isn’t good at bowl games being 1-5 ATS.
Home: None
Celebration Bowl: Florida A&M vs. Howard N/A
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Time: 12 p.m.
TV Channel: ABC
Florida A&M Motivation: High – FCS school in a bowl game? Why the hell not?
Howard Motivation: High – FCS school in a bowl game? Why the hell not?
Home: None
New Orleans Bowl: Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana +3 O/U 56.5
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Time: 2:15 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Jacksonville State Motivation: Medium – I would assume the kids want to play their first bowl game but Rich Rodriguez is a horrible 2-9 ATS.
Louisiana Motivation: Medium – Not the best situation staying close to home.
Home: Louisiana is only 138 miles away while Jacksonville State is over 400.
Cure Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Appalachian State -5.5 O/U 47
Location: FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ABC
Miami Ohio’s Motivation: Medium High – Cold weather team in warm weather but Chuck Martin is 4-0 in bowl games.
Appalachian State’s Motivation: Medium Low – I think the Kids will want a vacation from the hillbillies.
Home: None
New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico State vs Fresno State +3.5 O/U 51
Location: University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Time: 5:45 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
New Mexico State’s Motivation: Medium Low – I feel that NMSU wanted a better bowl game rather than having to stay home.
Fresno State’s Motivation: Medium Low – Might be best to go and visit where Breaking Bad was filmed rather than play in this awful destination of a bowl game.
Home: Full advantage for New Mexico State being that Alumni live there.
LA Bowl: UCLA vs. Boise State +2.5 O/U 50
Location: SOFI Stadium, Inglewood, California
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ABC
UCLA’s Motivation: Medium High – No travel but this might be more business and playing at home helps.
Boise State’s Motivation: Medium – They accomplished their goals to win MW and might not care as much to play UCLA.
Home: UCLA is in their city but there will be Boise State folks there. I would say 1.5 points of advantage.
Independence Bowl: Cal vs Texas Tech +3 O/U 58
Location: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana
Time: 9:15 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Cal’s Motivation: High – Cal hasn’t been to a bowl in a while and they should come to play.
Texas Tech’s Motivation: Medium – Hard to tell with this team as they don’t have to travel very far and it doesn’t seem so rewarding.
Home: None – Nobody is driving over 500 miles for this game.
Monday, Dec. 18
Famous Toastery Bowl: Old Dominion vs Western Kentucky +2.5 O/U 55.5
Location: Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Time: 2:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Western Kentucky’s Motivation: Medium – Not a great matchup but I could see motivation.
Old Dominion’s Motivation: High – Western Kentucky is a bigger name to beat.
Home: None
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Frisco Bowl: Marshall vs. UTSA -10 O/U 54.5
Location: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
Time: 9 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Marshall’s Motivation: Medium Low – Not sure what there is to do in Frisco, but It has to be better than West Virginia.
UTSA’s Motivation: Medium High – I think they might want to put one on a former rival like Marshall.
Home: Slight to UTSA yet 300 miles away.
Thursday, Dec. 21
Boca Raton Bowl: USF vs. Syracuse -3 O/U 61
Location: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida
Time: 8 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
USF’s Motivation: High – Get to beat a power 5 school?
Syracuse’s Motivation: Medium – TBD if new coach Fran Brown will be there.
Home: USF should have more fans. However, I doubt the stadium fills up much.
Friday, Dec. 22
Gasparilla Bowl: UCF vs Georgia Tech +4.5 O/U 64.5
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Time: 6:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Georgia Tech’s Motivation: High – They don’t make a lot of bowl games and this is a great opportunity to beat the Big 12.
UCF’s Motivation: Medium High – This team will be about business and close to home.
Home: UCF has a home field advantage being only 100 miles away.
Saturday, Dec. 23
Birmingham Bowl: Duke vs Troy -7.5 O/U 44
Location: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama
Time: 12 p.m.
TV Channel: ABC
Duke’s Motivation: Medium low – I think that Duke had higher aspirations this year and they also lost their coach.
Troy’s Motivation: Medium – Nice to play a Power 5 but it’s Duke so not all that rewarding after winning the Sun Belt.
Home: Troy gets home field being only 145 miles from Birmingham.
Camellia Bowl: Northern Illinois vs Arkansas State +1 O/U 53.5
Location: Crampton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama
Time: 12 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Arkansas State’s Motivation: Medium High – Arkansas State should want to take care of business. Butch Jones is 6-1 ATS in Bowl games.
Northern Illinois Motivation: Medium – Why not beat another group of 5 team?
Home: Slight advantage to Arkansas State yet still 400 miles away.
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. James Madison -3 O/U 41
Location: Amon G Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ABC
Air Force’s Motivation: High – They always want to win the Armed Forces Bowl while coach Calhoun is 8-4 ATS.
James Madison’s Motivation: High – First bowl game? Hell yes!
Home: None: both over 700 miles away.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Utah State vs Georgia State +1 O/U 63.5
Location: Albertson’s Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Utah State’s Motivation: Low – This is not a rewarding place to play. It’s almost like a prison sentence playing at a place you travel to every other year.
Georgia State’s Motivation: Medium Low – They will be on a business trip until they actually land in Boise. Then they will want to leave.
Home: Utah State is only 293 miles away but let’s just home the fans show up. 2 points max.
68 Ventures Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama -16 O/U 47
Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Alabama
Time: 7 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Eastern Michigan’s Motivation: Medium High – Chris Creighton is 4-1 ATS in bowl games and he is a massive dog here. Great location as well.
South Alabama’s Motivation: Medium – This program has been on the rise over the past few years.
Home: This is LITERALLY a home game for South Alabama. There will be a few Eastern Michigan fans there though on vacation.
Las Vegas Bowl: Utah vs Northwestern +7 O/U 41.5
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ABC
Utah’s Motivation: Medium – This team had higher expectations but this is still a cool place to play.
Northwestern’s Motivation: Medium High – What a great bowl ending a great season overcoming expectations for the Wildcats. David Braun will have them fired up.
Home: None – Utah is closer but both teams will show.
Hawai’i Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs San Jose State -9.5 O/U 53.5
Location: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex, Honolulu, Hawai’i
Time: 10:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Coastal Carolina’s Motivation: Low – Great destination and I doubt that these kids ever get to Hawaii that often.
San Jose State’s Motivation: High – This team will be on a business trip and they go here every other year. They should want to win this game and show that they are the true MW Champs.
Tuesday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Minnesota -4 O/U 38
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Time: 2 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Bowling Green’s Motivation: High – Not a great destination but still a good opponent to try and beat.
Minnesota’s Motivation: Low – Ugly opponent to face and a bad destination.
Home: Bowling Green is only 80 miles away. Not sure how many Gophers will show up.
First Responder Bowl: Texas State vs Rice -4.5 O/U 59.5
Location: General J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, Texas
Time: 5:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Texas State’s Motivation: High – Playing an in state rival.
Rice’s Motivation: High – Playing an in state rival.
Home: None as both teams are about 245 miles from Dallas.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: UNLV vs Kansas -12.5 O/U 64.5
Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
Time: 9 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
UNLV’s Motivation: High – Get to play a power 5 team is always nice.
Kansas’s Motivation: Medium – Not a great opponent but we shall see because Lance Leipold is 5-1 ATS in bowl games.
Home: UNLV is only 300 miles away so I think they show up. 1 point advantage.
Wednesday, Dec. 27
Military Bowl: Tulane vs. Virginia Tech -7.5 O/U 58
Location: Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland
Time: 2 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Tulane’s Motivation: Medium – They lost the AAC championship game, but they at least get to play a Power 5 team.
Virginia Tech’s Motivation: Medium – Not a great bowl game but they will be happy to play in one again. It’s been a minute.
Home: A little for Virginia Tech as alumni should be lurking. 1 point.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: West Virginia vs North Carolina +3 O/U 56.5
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Time: 5:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
West Virginia’s Motivation: High – This team did well this year and I expect them to put up a plethora of points.
North Carolina’s Motivation: Medium – Will Drake May even Play? (see what I did there?)
Home: UNC is only 140 Miles from Charlotte compared to 375 for West Virginia.
Holiday Bowl: No. 15 Louisville vs. USC +8 O/U 57.5
Location: Petco Park, San Diego, California
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV Channel: FOX
Louisville’s Motivation: High – Every team wants to beat USC’s ass.
USC’s Motivation: Low – Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This team actually thought they had playoff chances.
Home: USC gets a little bump for home field in San Diego which is about a 2 hour drive south.
Texas Bowl: No. 20 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M -3 O/U 53
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Time: 9 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Oklahoma State’s Motivation: Medium High – I think they want to try and beat an SEC team.
Texas A&M’s Motivation: Medium High – Not a great bowl but they are rebuilding for next year with a new coach in Mike Elko.
Home: Texas A&M is only 95 miles away. Give them the full three.
Thursday, Dec. 28
Fenway Bowl: No. 24 SMU vs. Boston College +11 O/U 51
Location: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Time: 11 a.m.
TV Channel; ESPN
SMU’s motivation: Medium Low – They deserved a much better bowl than this.
Boston College’s Motivation: Medium High – Literally staying at home, but they haven’t went bowling in a while.
Home: Boston College is playing pretty much at home here.
Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers vs. Miami (Fla.) -2.5 O/U 41.5
Location: Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York
Time: 2:15 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Rutger’s motivation: High – Good opponent and and close to home.
Miami’s motivation: Medium Low – When is this team ever motivated?
Home: Rutger’s back yard only 47 miles away!
Pop-Tarts Bowl: No. 18 NC State vs. No. 25 Kansas State -3 O/U 47
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Time: 5:45 p.m.
Channel: ESPN
NC State’s Motivation: High – Great opponent in a great location
Kansas State’s Motivation: Medium – They had higher aspirations this year. Should have not choked against Missouri.
Home: None
Alamo Bowl: No. 14 Arizona vs. No. 12 Oklahoma +3 O/U 47
Location: The Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Time: 9:15 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Arizona’s Motivation: High – Hell yes! Getting to a bowl game and facing Oklahoma is great for this School.
Oklahoma’s Motivation: Low – This team was thinking playoffs until they blew it vs their in state rival.
Home: None
Friday, Dec. 29
Gator Bowl: No. 22 Kentucky vs Clemson -6.5 O/U 46.5
Location: Everbank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Time: 12 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Kentucky’s Motivation: High – Great game selection for this undeserving team.
Clemson’s Motivation: Medium – Dabo gets his guys up for games even if they are not playoffs.
Home: None
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: No. 19 Oregon State vs. No. 16 Notre Dame -8.5 O/U 44
Location: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas
Time: 2 p.m.
Channel: CBS
Oregon State’s Motivation: Medium Low – Coach is gone and this team has no conference.
Notre Dame’s Motivation: Medium – They lost some guys but some will stay and try and ball for next year.
Home: None
Liberty Bowl: Memphis vs. Iowa State -8.5 O/U 57.5
Location: Nissan Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Memphis’s Motivation: High – Nice to play a power 5 team in a nice bowl.
Iowa State’s Motivation: Medium Low – Not sure what to think of the Clones here. I would personally rather checkout Nash-Vegas myself.
Home: Memphis is only 215 miles away. The Tigers get 2 points.
Cotton Bowl: No. 9 Missouri vs. No. 7 Ohio State +2.5 O/U 49
Location: AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas
Time: 8 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Missouri’s Motivation: High – They get a BCS Bowl vs Ohio State. Nice reward for a great season.
Ohio State’s Motivation: Medium – Careful here. Everyone thought Ohio State would not be motivated a few years ago in a Rose Bowl vs Utah. What happened?
Home: None
Saturday, Dec. 30
Peach Bowl: No. 11 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Penn State -3.5 O/U 49.5
Location: Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Time: 12 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Ole Miss’s Motivation: High – Penn State is a good matchup in a great bowl.
Penn State’s Motivation: High – Great bowl for the Bullies of the Big 10.
Home: None
Music City Bowl: Maryland vs. Auburn -2.5 O/U 50
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Time: 2 p.m.
TV Channel: ABC
Maryland’s Motivation: High – Great bowl game for this school.
Auburn’s Motivation: High – Hugh Freeze is 5-1 ATS in bowl games. He will get his kids up.
Home: None
Orange Bowl: No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 5 Florida State +14 O/U 45
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Time: 4 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Georgia’s Motivation: Medium High – They didn’t accomplish their goals but Kirby might want to prove something here. He has a good Bowl ATS at 8-3.
Florida State’s Motivation: High – Ok, hear me out. The only way to save face here to prove the committee wrong is to play your asses off. The biggest concern here for me is that Mike Norvell is 0-5 ATS in bowl games.
Home: None
Arizona Bowl: Wyoming vs. Toledo +3 O/U 44.5
Location: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
Time: 4:30 p.m.
TV Channel: Barstool’s freaking website. OR the CW.
Wyoming’s Motivation: High – Craig Bohl announced his retirement. The kids like him and I think they play hard.
Toledo’s Motivation: Low – Jason Candle is 1-5 ATS in bowl games. I expect a low effort.
Home: None
Monday, Jan. 1, 2024
ReliaQuest Bowl: Wisconsin vs No. 13 LSU -10.5 O/U 56
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Time: 12 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN2
Wisconsin’s Motivation: High – Beating an SEC team would be a great start to the year.
LSU’s Motivation: Medium Low – Good bowl game but this team had higher aspirations.
Home: None
Citrus Bowl: No. 21 Tennessee vs. No. 17 Iowa +8.5 O/U 36.5
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Time: 1 p.m.
TV Channel: ABC
Tennessee’s Motivation: Medium – Not sure what the big need is here for a big performance against a team with no offense.
Iowa’s Motivation: High – This team earned a great bowl game based on punting the ball better than any team in history.
Home: None
Fiesta Bowl: No. 23 Liberty vs. No. 8 Oregon -16 O/U 65.5
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Time: 1 p.m.
Channel: ESPN
Liberty’s Motivation: High – Huge bowl game for an undefeated team. Prove it baby.
Oregon’s Motivation: Medium Low – Maybe try to save further embarrassment, but I expect lots of opt outs.
Home: None
CFB Invitational Semifinal – Rose Bowl: No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan -1.5 O/U 45.5
Location: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California
Time: 5 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Alabama’s Motivation: High – Natty on the line.
Michigan’s Motivation: High – Natty on the line.
Home: None
CFB Invitational Semifinal – Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Washington +4 O/U 64
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Time: 8:45 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Texas’s Motivation: High – Natty on the line.
Washington’s Motivation: High – Natty on the line.
Home: None
Monday, Jan. 8
College Football Final National Invitational Game
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV Channel: ESPN
Motivation will be high for both teams.
Home: None
References:
https://fansided.com/betsided/posts/every-college-football-head-coachs-against-spread-record-bowl-games-01hgtsm2jmen
https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/2023-college-football-news-tracker-bowl-opt-outs-player-injuries-transfer-portal-more
