Full Breakdown
2025-26 College Football Bowl Season Overview
12/9/2025, 11:51:00 PM
Key Matchups and Predictions
The 2025-26 college football bowl season is set to commence with 46 FBS bowl games, beginning with the LA Bowl featuring Washington against Boise State on December 13. The College Football Playoff (CFP) First Round will follow, starting on December 19, with Alabama facing Oklahoma as a 1.5-point favorite. Other notable matchups include Oregon, heavily favored by 21.5 points against James Madison, and Penn State, a 3.5-point underdog against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl on December 27.
Betting Insights and Trends
Betting trends indicate that the model used by SportsLine has generated a profit exceeding $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college spread picks. The model predicts that Penn State will cover against Clemson, citing both teams' strong finishes to the season despite underperforming overall. Additionally, Missouri is favored by 6.5 points against Virginia in the Gator Bowl, with Virginia's recent loss in the ACC Title Game raising questions about their motivation for this lesser bowl matchup.
Official Statements & Responses
The SportsLine model emphasizes that Penn State covers nearly 60% of the time, and the "Under" hits in almost 60% of simulations. Missouri's recent bowl performance under Coach Eli Drinkwitz has also been highlighted, as the Tigers have won their last two bowl games and have a strong record against the spread as favorites.
Criticism & Opposition
Some analysts express skepticism regarding Virginia's ability to perform well in bowl games, noting their 1-4 record over the past 19 years. Critics argue that the team's morale may be affected by their recent loss in the ACC Title Game, potentially impacting their performance against Missouri.
Upcoming Bowl Schedule
The bowl season features a variety of matchups leading up to the CFP. Key games include:
- December 16: Veterans Bowl - Troy vs. Jacksonville State
- December 17: Cure Bowl - Old Dominion vs. South Florida
- December 19: Myrtle Beach Bowl - Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan
- December 20: CFP First Round - Miami at Texas A&M
- December 22: Potato Bowl - Washington State vs. Utah State
Verbatim Quotes
- “How to make college football picks for bowl season The model has also made the call on who wins and covers in every 2025-26 college football bowl game, and it's calling for five underdogs to outright win in bowl matchups of power conference teams.” — SportsLine Analyst
- “However, Dabo Swinney has lost four of his last six bowl games, with each defeat coming by at least 14 points.” — College Football Expert
As the bowl season unfolds, bettors and fans alike will be closely monitoring these matchups and predictions, with the potential for significant upsets and compelling performances from both favored and underdog teams.
