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. Also keep in mind that when players enter the transfer portal, sometimes they are just trying to go shopping or force the hand of their current team to fess up some money. It doesn’t always mean that they are opting out of the bowl game. 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)
College Football Bowl & Playoff schedule
First-round games (at campus sites)
Friday, Dec. 19
No. 9 Alabama vs No. 8 Oklahoma +1.5 O/U 40.5
Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, Oklahoma)
Time: 8 p.m.
TV Network ABC, ESPN
All Motivated:
Home: Oklahoma
Saturday, Dec. 20
No. 10 Miami vs. No. 7 Texas A&M -4 O/U 51.5
Location: Kyle Field (College Station, Texas)
Time: Noon
TV Network: ABC, ESPN
All Motivated
Home: Texas A&M
No. 11 Tulane vs. No. 6 Ole Miss -17.5 O/U 56.5
Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, Mississippi)
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV Network: TNT
All Motivated
Home: Ole Miss
No. 12 James Madison vs. No. 5 Oregon -21 O/U 50.5
Location: Autzen Stadium (Eugene, Oregon)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV Network: TNT
All Motivated
Home: Oregon
CFP quarterfinals
Wednesday, Dec. 31
CFP Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic – Miami-Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
All Motivated.
Home: Slight home field if A&M wins against Miami. 1 pt.
Thursday, Jan. 1
CFP Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl – James Madison-Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Time: Noon
TV Network: ESPN
All Motivated.
Home: None
CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential – Alabama-Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana
Location: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Time; 4 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
All Motivated:
Home: None
CFP Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl – Tulane-Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Georgia
Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
Time: 8 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
All Motivated:
Home: None
CFP semifinals, national championship game
Thursday, Jan. 8
CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Location: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
All Motivated.
Home: None
Friday, Jan. 9
CFP Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
All Motivated.
Home: None.
Monday, Jan. 19
CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
All Motivated.
Home: None
Complete bowl season schedule
Saturday, Dec. 13
Cricket Celebration Bowl – South Carolina State vs. Prairie View A&M
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Time: Noon,
Network: ABC
Motivation: Both teams motivated.
Home: South Carolina State is only 225 miles away. Give them 2 points.
Bucked Up LA Bowl – Boise State vs. Washington -9.5 O/U 51.5
Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
Time: 8 p.m.
TV Network: ABC
Boise State’s Motivation: High – They get to play a Big 10 school in the same recruiting grounds.
Washington’s Motivation: Medium – They know how good Boise is and that they were a playoff team in 2024.
Home: None
Tuesday, Dec. 16
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl – Troy vs. Jacksonville State +3.5 O/U 46.5
Location: Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
Time: 9 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Troy’s Motivation: Medium Low – You do not get much for beating a conference USA team.
Jacksonville State’s Motivation: – Medium High – This team is still happy to be in the FBS.
Home: None – Both teams less than 125 miles away.
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Staff DNA Cure Bowl – Old Dominion vs. South Florida -6 O/U 56.5
Location: Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Time: 5 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Old Dominion’s Motivation: High – They get a chance to beat an AAC team that beat Florida.
South Florida’s Motivation: Low – They lost their shot at the playoffs and they lost their coach to Auburn.
Home: South Florida’s campus only 91 miles away so give the 2.5 points for that.
68 Ventures Bowl – Louisiana vs. Delaware +2.5 O/U 57.5
Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Louisiana’s Motivation: Medium Low – Probably just happy to make a bowl game.
Delaware’s Motivation: High – Their first bowl game in their first year of FBS football.
Home: Semi-home for Louisiana at 255 miles away, but just .5 as Delaware should travel for this.
Thursday, Dec. 18
Xbox Bowl – Missouri State vs. Arkansas State -2.5 O/U 56.5
Location: Ford Center at The Star (Frisco, Texas)
Time: 9 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN2
Missouri State’s Motivation: High – They made a bowl game in their first year of FBS play.
Arkansas State’s Motivation: Medium Low – Probably just happy to be there.
Home: I could see Missouri State fans showing up here so I give them 1 point.
Friday, Dec. 19
Myrtle Beach Bowl Presented by Engine – Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan -4 O/U 49.5
Location: Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
Time: 11 a.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Kennesaw State’s Motivation: High – Won the conference in their second year and they get to play in their first bowl game.
Western Michigan’s Motivation: Medium Low – They won the MAC and probably will just use this to celebrate.
Home: None, as I could see a few fans from both. Conway still over 350 miles away from Atlanta.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl – Memphis vs. NC State -5.5 O/U 57.5
Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Time: 2:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Memphis Motivation: Low – They lost their coach to Arkansas, and had higher hopes of playoffs.
NC State’s Motivation: Medium – This team got better as the season went on. They will show up here.
Home: None
Monday, Dec. 22
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Washington State vs. Utah State -3.5 O/U 52.5
Location: Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
time: 2 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Washington State’s motivation: Medium Low – Not the greatest destination, but they will want to win against a NEW Pac-12 conference opponent. Interim coach Ben Arbuckle will try and get them going.
Utah State’s Motivation: Medium – Shitty location, yet they get get a new Pac-12 opponent.
Home: None
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl – Toledo vs. Louisville -8.5 O/U 44.5
Location: Flagler Credit Union Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
Time: 2 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Toledo’s Motivation: Medium Low – This team at least gets a power four school, but no coach yet and a lot of question marks.
Louisville’s Motivation: Low – As a former college student, I vote to party over prepping for this weak ass bowl game.
New Orleans Bowl
Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss +4 O/U 55.5
Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Western Kentucky’s Motivation: Medium – Maybe better to hit Bourbon Street, but these kids from bourbon-land can play on a hangover.
Southern Miss’s Motivation: Medium Low – They just lost their coach, but might try and show up anyways.
Home: Southern Miss is only 111 miles away. Give them 2.5 points here.
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl – UNLV vs. Ohio +4.5 O/U 62.5
Location: Ford Center at The Star (Frisco, Texas)
Time: 9 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
UNLV’s Motivation: Medium – This team probably wanted more, but they will be about business in Frisco.
Ohio’s Motivation: Medium – No real reason to not try as coach is on leave. I think Ohio shows up tough for the interim coach John Hauser.
Home: None
Wednesday, Dec. 24
Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl – California vs. Hawaii +2.5 O/U 55.5
Location: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
Time: 8 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Hawaii’s Motivation: High – They will be happy to play a power 4 team at home.
Cal’s Motivation: Medium High – Cal’s quarterback JKS is from Hawaii, so I think the team rallies behind him.
Home: Hawaii’s home stadium, give them 3 full points.
Friday, Dec. 26
GameAbove Sports Bowl – Central Michigan vs. Northwestern -10.5 O/U 43.5
Location: Ford Field (Detroit)
Time: 1 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Central Michigan’s Motivation: High – They get a Big 10 school however bad it may be.
Northwestern’s Motivation: Low – Terrible opponent and terrible venue to have to go to Detroit.
Home: None
Rate Bowl – New Mexico vs. Minnesota -2.5 O/U 47.5
Location: Chase Field (Phoenix)
Time: 4:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
New Mexico’s Motivation: High – Get to beat a power 4 school close to home.
Minnesota’s Motivation: Medium Low – Best to use this as a warm vacation in Phoenix.
Home: New Mexico for the 3 points.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl – Florida International vs. UTSA -8.5 O/U 59.5
Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
Time: 8 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Florida International’s Motivation: Medium High – They already live in good weather, they will be on business here.
UTSA’s Motivation: Medium – Former rival but not the greatest reward playing here. Will be fine.
Home: UTSA gets 1.5 points for being 290 miles away.
Saturday, Dec. 27
Go Bowling Military Bowl – Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina +6.5 O/U 59.5
Location: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
Time: 11 a.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Pittsburgh’s Motivation: Low – The Panther’s would rather stay home and watch re-runs of the wire than actually travel to Maryland to play the AAC.
East Carolina’s Motivation: High – Get to beat an ACC team is a good Christmas gift.
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl – Penn State vs. Clemson -3 O/U 48.5
Location: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York)
Time: Noon
TV Network: ABC
Penn State’s Motivation: High – They actually get a very good opponent here.
Clemson’s Motivation: High – Also a very good opponent.
Home: Maybe a little for Penn State, but nothing more than .5 being in the Northeast.
Wasabi Fenway Bowl – UConn vs. Army
Location: Fenway Park (Boston)
Time: 2:15 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
UConn’s Motivation: Medium High – They are close by, but a cool venue.
Army’s Motivation: High – Military will always fight, and this is a very cool place to play.
Home: Both are within 212 Miles away, so no home advantage.
Pop-Tarts Bowl – Georgia Tech vs. BYU -4.5 O/U 56.5
Location: Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV Network: ABC
Georgia Tech’s Motivation: Low – They had a shot at the Playoffs and blew it.
BYU’s Motivation: Low – They also had a shot at the playoffs even more recently and blew it.
Home: Give Georgia Tech .5 points for being in Atlanta, but it’s not that close at 436 miles away.
Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl – Miami (OH) vs. Fresno State -3.5 O/U 42.5
Location: Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
Time: 4:30 p.m.
TV Network: CW Network
Miami Ohio’s Motivation: Medium – Finish the season on a good note in Tucson.
Fresno State’s Motivation: Medium Low – Not a great opponent or destination, yet they will still try and win.
Home: None
Isleta New Mexico Bowl – North Texas vs. San Diego State +3.5 O/U 55.5
Location: University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Time: 5:45 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
North Texas’s Motivation: Medium Low – Hopes and dreams crushed and they maybe questioning their ability while a new coach situation looms.
San Diego State’s Motivation: High – Great season and this team is just getting started with Sean Lewis as coach.
Home: None, as both teams are a bit over 600 miles away from Albuquerque.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl – Virginia vs. Missouri -7 O/U 48.5
Location: EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
Time: 7:30 p.m
TV Network: ABC
Virginia’s Motivation: Medium Low – They blew their playoff chances against Duke, but coach Bennett will get them back up.
Missouri’s Motivation: Medium – Why not beat up an ACC opponent with the change to meet Trevor Lawrence?
Home: None
Kinder’s Texas Bowl – LSU vs. Houston -3 O/U 41.5
Location: NRG Stadium (Houston)
Time: 9:15 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
LSU’s Motivation: Medium – They might want to try and impress Lane.
Houston’s Motivation: High – Get to play an SEC team.
Home: Houston gets a home game here, but only 2 points of advantage down in SEC country.
Monday, Dec. 29
JLAB Birmingham Bowl – Georgia Southern vs. App State +2.5 O/U 59.5
Location: Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Time: 2 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Georgia Southern’s Motivation: Medium Low – At least they got an opponent even though it’s in the Sun Belt, not a great venue.
App State’s Motivation: Medium – Lucky to get a revenge spot against a Sun Belt opponent who beat them.
Home: None
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl – Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech -7 O/U 50.5
Location: Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
Time: 2 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Coastal Carolina’s Motivation: Medium Low – Fired coach and not the greatest bowl game or opponent.
Louisiana Tech’s Motivation: Medium – Basically a home game in their state.
Home: LA Tech is only 65 miles away. Give them 3 points.
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl – Tennessee vs. Illinois +5.5 O/U 61.5
Location: Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Tennessee’s Motivation: Medium – Get to play close to home in Nash-Vegas.
Illinois Motivation: Medium High – Solid bowl game for this team in a fun destination.
Home: Only 180 miles to Knoxville gives Tennessee the 2.5 points.
Valero Alamo Bowl – USC vs. TCU +6 O/U 59.5
Location: Alamodome (San Antonio)
Time: 9 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
USC’s Motivation: Medium High – They have been out of the playoffs for a while now and need to build up.
TCU’s Motivation: High – Getting a chance to beat USC should be fun.
Home: Definitely for TCU only 278 miles away. Give them 2.5 points.
Wednesday, Dec. 31
ReliaQuest Bowl – Iowa vs. Vanderbilt -6 O/U 49.5
Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Time: Noon
TV Network: ESPN
Iowa’s Motivation: High – Kirk Ferentz loves to win bowl games.
Vanderbilt’s Motivation: Medium High – I think that this team knew that their conference will continue to treat them like a red-headed step child.
Home: None
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl – Arizona State vs. Duke -1.5 O/U 49.5
Location: Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
Time: 2 p.m.
TV Network: CBS
Arizona State’s Motivation: Medium High – Kenny Dillingham is a fantastic motivator.
Duke’s Motivation: High – They will want to prove that they should have been in the playoffs.
Home: Even at 430 miles away, this is a home game for the Sun Devils as the drive isn’t too bad. I’ve done it. Give them 2 points.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl – Michigan vs. Texas -4.5 O/U 45.5
Location: Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Time: 3 p.m.
TV Network: ABC
Michigan’s Motivation: High – They are keeping their coaches and the young quarterback will want to beat an SEC team.
Texas’s Motivation: Medium – They felt they deserved the playoffs, but Arch was more starch this year.
Home: None
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl – Nebraska vs. Utah -15.5 O/U 50.5
Location: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
Time; 3:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Nebraska’s Motivation: Medium – May be more fun to party out in Vegas than play this game.
Utah’s Motivation: Medium High – I think they show up against the big 10 even though they missed the playoffs.
Home: None
Friday, Jan. 2
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl – Rice vs. Texas State -10 O/U 59.5
Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
Time: 1 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Rice’s Motivation: High – This team was terrible and somehow they get to play in a bowl game.
Texas State’s Motivation: Medium – This team was better than their record, but still may show up here.
Home: None – both teams about 270 miles away in the Houston area.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl – Navy vs. Cincinnati +2.5 O/U 55.5
Location: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
Time: 4:30 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Navy’s Motivation: High – Military always shows up.
Cincinnati’s Motivation: Low – QB Brendan Sorsby may not even play, while the Bearcats for a minute thought they could win the Big 12.
Home: None
Duke’s Mayo Bowl – Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State -2.5 O/U 56.5
Location: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Time: 8 p.m.
TV Network: ESPN
Wake Forest’s Motivation: High – Get to beat an SEC team close to home.
Mississippi State’s Motivation: Medium High – They haven’t went bowling in a while.
Home: Definitely Wake Forest as they are only 85 miles away. Give them 2.5 points.
Trust & Will Holiday Bowl – Arizona vs. SMU +3 O/U 51.5
Location: Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
Time: 8 p.m.
TV Network: Fox
Arizona’s Motivation: Medium High – Good bowl game and showcase for QB Noah Fifita if he plays.
SMU’s Motivation: Low – Missed their chance at the playoffs at the end of the season by losing to Cal.
Home: This is more old Pac 12 country and U of A will have more fans. 1 point home field advantage for U of A.
Free Play! San Diego State +3.5 – 2 stars – I like this down to PK!
