It’s finally bowl season, and we’re ready for our college football picks. We’ve completed 14 weeks of the regular season, the conference title games have clarified the standings, and now it’s time for the team’s final performance.
Conference championship week didn’t feature many upsets, leaving a definitive 12-team College Football Playoff and numerous bowls to conclude the season.
With a full month of bowl games to look forward to, it’s time to dive into our CFB picks today, including our NCAA football picks against the spread.
College Football Bowl Picks
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
| Memphis vs. West Virginia | Memphis -4.5 (-110) | Memphis -180/West Virginia +190 | 58.5 |
| Cal vs. University of Nevada – Las Vegas | Cal -1.5 (-110) | Cal -120/University of Nevada – Las Vegas +100 | 50.5 |
| Tulane vs. Florida | Florida -14 (-115) | Tulane +450/Florida -600 | 50.5 |
| Indiana vs. Notre Dame | Notre Dame -7.5 (-110) | Indiana +245/Notre Dame -290 | 51.5 |
| SMU vs. Penn State | Penn State -9 (-110) | SMU +275/Penn State -325 | 53.5 |
| Clemson vs. Texas | Texas -11 (-110) | Clemson +350/Texas -450 | 51.5 |
| Tennessee vs. Ohio State | Ohio State -7.5 (-115) | Tennessee +235/Ohio State -280 | 47.5 |
| Oklahoma vs. Navy | Oklahoma -8.5 (-115) | Oklahoma -325/Navy +275 | 43.5 |
| Texas A&M vs. USC | Texas A&M -3 (-110) | Texas A&M -160/USC +140 | 51.5 |
| Iowa State vs. Miami | Miami -4 (-110) | Iowa State +150/Miami -170 | 55.5 |
| BYU vs. Colorado | Colorado -3 (-110) | BYU +125/Colorado -145 | 54.5 |
| Alabama vs. Michigan | Alabama -10 (-110) | Alabama -400/Michigan +325 | 42.5 |
| South Carolina vs. Illinois | South Carolina -9.5 (-115) | South Carolina -350/Illinois +290 | 47.5 |
College Football Bowl Picks Analysis
(No. 17) BYU vs (No. 23) Colorado
- Spread: Colorado -3 (-110)
- Moneyline: BYU +125/Colorado -145
- Over/Under: 54.5
- Time: Saturday, December 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET
After a 9-3 season that saw it end the regular season with the joint-best record in the Big 12, Colorado is in its first bowl game under Deion Sanders. And, fresh off a 52-0 trouncing of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Buffaloes will enter the Valero Alamo Bowl riding high.
An incredibly flat performance against the Kansas Jayhawks in the season’s penultimate week aside, the Buffs have been a consistent, strong team in 2024. Shedeur Sanders settled into a groove as one of the country’s best passers and set himself up to be a top pick in the spring’s NFL draft. Travis Hunter, meanwhile, will look to cap off a season for the ages with a bowl win – and perhaps the Heisman Trophy, too.
BYU appeared to be on track for a successful season before experiencing a late-season collapse. The Cougars started strong, with a record of 9-0, and were on the verge of securing a College Football Playoff berth. However, they suffered two consecutive losses in a crucial stretch of the season, leading them to their current matchup against the spoiler Kansas Jayhawks.
However, after a five-win season a year ago, it feels like BYU has maxed out in 2024. The two-game skid ahead of the season’s final week will have shaken confidence, while Deion and Colorado are all confident. It’s important to what Sanders is building that the Buffs show growth and not only make a bowl appearance but take their first bowl game under Coach Prime.
Pick: Colorado -3 (-110)
(No. 11) Alabama vs (NR) Michigan
- Spread: Alabama -10 (-110)
- Moneyline: Alabama -400/Michigan +325
- Over/Under: 42.5
- Time: Tuesday, December 31 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Just one year after Nick Saban’s Alabama met Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan with a trip to the National Championship on the line, the Crimson Tide and the Wolverines will square off in a matinée game for the ReliaQuest Bowl.
While Michigan sent ‘Bama home in the previous matchup – effectively ending Saban’s career in the process – it’s a vastly different outlook this time around. The 2024 season was hugely disappointing from an Alabama perspective. However, it was still a single loss (the one to Oklahoma in November stands out) away from making the College Football Playoff. Alabama is a good team if not a great one.
Michigan, meanwhile, is not even that. For countless reasons, this year’s Wolverines squad is a deeply forgettable, middling outfit that rediscovered the college football spotlight thanks to a truly wild upset win over the rival Buckeyes. However, that does not change the fact that they’re extremely average and have already won the biggest game of their season.
Michigan’s upset win over Ohio State was “enough” for it, in a sense. On the flip side, after a season underwhelming by Crimson Tide standards, new head coach Kalen DeBoer will be desperate to end his debut year on a high. Expect Alabama to run away from Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Pick: Alabama -10 (-110)
College Football Bowl Picks FAQ
When do the College Football bowl games begin?
The first college football bowl game of 2024 will be on Saturday, December 14, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Jackson State will play South Carolina State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. The first round of the College Football Playoff will be on Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21, with Indiana vs. Notre Dame, SMU vs. Penn State, Clemson vs. Texas, and Tennessee vs. Ohio State.
What is the Best bowl game on this week?
As always, bowl games have brought us numerous highly exciting matchups. Multiple games stand out from the run-of-the-mill bowl games to the College Football Playoff, but one in particular excites. The first-round CFP matchup between Tennessee and Ohio State has stakes and intrigue. Not only is there a progression on the line, but these two teams spent parts of the regular season flirting with a bye and a top-3 ranking in the country before falling back at the end of the season.
How to Make College Football Bowl Picks
Ready to make picks on the college football bowl game schedule? Head over to Sportzino, where you can find every college football game on the schedule this week and so much more!
