NCAAF Picks: Colorado Heads 5 Best Non-CFP Bowl Bets
- Get the best college football bowl odds at BetUS.
- Can a star-studded Colorado team finish the season with a bowl win?
- The Michigan vs Alabama betting line could land over.
Most of the focus during the college football bowl season will be on the 11 games in the College Football Playoff as a new national champion will be crowned on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. However, there are plenty of other bowl games to consider.
It could be a buyer beware situation with some players hitting the transfer portal and others opting out to prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft. It could result in some movement in the college football spread.
The best bowl games in 2023-24 included Clemson winning a 38-35 thriller in the Gator Bowl against Kentucky with 42 points being scored in the fourth quarter. Also, LSU topped Wisconsin 35-31 in the Reliaquest Bowl and Wyoming defeated Toledo 16-15 with a late field goal in the Arizona Bowl.
The only overtime games came in the Famous Toastery Bowl, when Western Kentucky outscored Old Dominion 38-35, and in the New Orleans Bowl with Jacksonville State coming away with the 34-31 victory.
When looking at the college football betting trends, the underdogs won 10 of the first 14 games involving FBS teams. By the time of the final non-CFP game, 20 of the 39 favorites won outright while 23 underdogs covered. It was nearly a 50-50 split with 20 of the games landing over.
Let’s take a look at some games and college football picks to consider with the bowl season upon us. For those who can’t wait to get started, South Alabama is favored by eight points against Western Michigan in the Salute to Veterans Bowl on Saturday.
5 Best Non-CFP Bowl Picks
1. Coach Prime and Colorado(-145) Top Bet
We’re not a big fan of teams from the same conference meeting in a bowl game. Since BYU and Colorado didn’t meet in the regular season, it could be fine to make an exception.
Colorado features receiver/defenseman back Travis Hunter, who is listed as the overwhelming Heisman Trophy odds favorite, and quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Sanders and Hunter are first and second in the odds of going first in the 2025 NFL Draft. Will this be the final game for Deion Sanders as the Colorado head coach?
the college football player of the year
T R A V I S H U N T E R. 👑
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE
12 is also the first player in Walter Camp Award history to be named 1st team All-American on Offense & Defense@TravisHunterJr x #HE12MAN pic.twitter.com/KlbDvit399
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) December 13, 2024
Go with favored Colorado at -145 to win the Alamo Bowl and finish the season with a 10-3 record.
2. Michigan vs Alabama Over 43.5
When the season started, some might have thought that a late-December matchup between Alabama and Michigan would come in the College Football Playoff.
Alabama lost out on a CFP spot when Clemson defeated SMU in the ACC title game. Now it is set for a noon ET kickoff on Dec. 31 in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Kalen DeBoer and Sherrone Moore in Tampa ahead of the ReliaQuest Bowl between Alabama vs. Michigan. pic.twitter.com/vuTNUAqUsx
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) December 12, 2024
This is one of those games that could be impacted by NFL Draft hopefuls opting out of the game so monitor college football news and be very careful when picking an outright winner or picking against the spread.
A better option would be to go with this game to land over 43.5 points even if new faces might step into the spotlight in this matchup.
Bet on the Michigan-Alabama Game to Land Over 43.5
3. Washington vs Louisville to Go Over in Sun Bowl
Another intriguing matchup on Dec. 31 will feature Louisville and Washington.
A season after Washington made a surprising run into the CFP title game, the Huskies allowed at least 30 points in each of its last four losses. Three of those games did come against teams playing in the College Football Playoff, per Washington vs Louisville betting tips.
Now the Huskies get to meet up with a Louisville team that scored 35, 37 and 41 points in its last three games.
Don’t be surprised to see both teams let it rip in the Sun Bowl with the game landing over the sports betting odds total of 49.5.
Bet on the Washington-Louisville Game to Land Over 49.5
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4. Bet Texas A&M (-165) to Top USC
Both USC and Texas A&M were hoping for a bowl matchup with more on the line than meeting up in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Will the USC team that threw a scare into Penn State before falling in overtime show up or will it be the one with losses to Minnesota and Maryland?
We’ll go with a more grounded Texas A&M team to find a way to win in our online bet. Take the Aggies at -165 to pick up the victory in one of five games being played on Dec. 27.
Bet on favored Texas A&M (-165) to Take Down the USC Trojans
5. Virginia Tech (+6½) a Best Bet to Cover Spread
Minnesota has won its last seven bowl games and there are those who bet online who can’t wait to drop money on the Gophers to win once the annual bowl matchups are set. However, we’re not feeling it with Minnesota this year even though the Golden Gophers nearly upset Penn State and then beat Wisconsin in the final two games of the regular season.
Virginia Tech was 0-4 in one-score games and this just feels like another one of those games involving the Hokies that could be decided in the final drive or two.
When making college football bowl picks, take Virginia Tech to cover as a 6.5-point underdog in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Bet on Virginia Tech (+6.5) to Cover Against Minnesota
Questions of the Day
Which bowl team is the heaviest favorite?
Ole Miss is favored by 15 points against Duke in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2.
Which non-College Football Playoff bowl game has the highest total?
The First Responder Bowl between North Texas and Texas State has a Texas-sized total of 67.5.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
