The 2023-24 college football bowl schedule is set and there are eight matchups outside of the College Football Playoff between ranked opponents this season. That includes No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 11 Ole Miss in the 2023 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 30 at noon ET in Atlanta. Both teams suffered two losses on the season that left them on the outskirts of the CFP discussion but would love a season-ending victory to reach 11 wins and finish ranked inside the top 10.
The Nittany Lions are 3.5-point favorites in the college football bowl odds via the SportsLine consensus. Meanwhile, No. 9 Missouri is a 2.5-point favorite over No. 7 Ohio State in another SEC vs. Big Ten matchup. Which side should you be backing in those games and what other college football bowl lines should you be targeting? Before making any college football bowl picks on that game or others, be sure to see the college football betting guide from legendary Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall.
For years Vegas-based Marshall was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter. With a background in play-by-play work and sports information while in college, Marshall joined TGS in 1981 when hired by the legendary Mort Olshan and served as executive editor for many years. He now supplies his unique and colorful brand of football and basketball analysis to SportsLine members.
An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Bruce’s vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects.
Now, using his Tech Corner technique, Marshall has turned his attention to the latest college football odds for bowl season and evaluated each matchup. Head here to see every pick.
Top college football predictions for bowl season
One of the top college football picks Marshall is recommending for bowl season: He’s backing South Florida (+3) to cover the spread against Syracuse in the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET. Marshall also likes the Over (61).
Both teams went 6-6 this season but South Florida seemed to embrace the role of underdog, going 5-2 against the spread as a dog and covering in all three games where it was listed as a short underdog (+1 to +5).
Meanwhile, Syracuse underachieved to the extent that long-time head coach Dino Babers was fired after a Nov. 18 loss to Georgia Tech. The Orange were 2-4 against the spread away from home this season and they’re only 5-11 against the spread in their last 16 games against AAC members. Look for a South Florida offense that averaged 30.8 points and 455.3 yards per game this season to challenge a Syracuse defense that gave up at least 30 points to six of its final eight opponents. That’s a big reason why Marshall is laying the points with the Bulls and also leaning towards over 61 points being scored. See which other picks to make here.
How to make college football picks for bowl season
Marshall has evaluated every other matchup and he’s backing a team on a 17-4 roll against the spread. Get betting analysis for each matchup at SportsLine.
So what college football bowl picks can you make with confidence, and what team on a 17-4 spread run should you back? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams to back, all from the legendary Vegas expert who has won multiple handicapping titles, and find out.
College football odds for bowl season
See more college football bowl picks at SportsLine.
Monday, Dec. 18
Famous Toastery Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion (-3.5, 54)
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Frisco Bowl: Marshall vs. UTSA (-12, 52.5)
Thursday, Dec. 21
Boca Raton Bowl: USF vs. Syracuse (-3, 61)
Friday, Dec. 22
Gasparilla Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. UCF (-4.5, 66.5)
Saturday, Dec. 23
Camellia Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State (-1, 53.5)
Birmingham Bowl: Duke vs. Troy (-7.5, 44)
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. James Madison (-2.5, 41)
Idaho Potato Bowl: Utah State vs. Georgia State (-1, 62.5)
68 Ventures Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama (-15.5, 47)
Las Vegas Bowl: Northwestern vs. Utah (-6.5, 42)
Hawaii Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State (-10, 54)
Tuesday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Minnesota (-5.5, 37.5)
First Responder Bowl: Rice vs. Texas State (-4.5, 60.5)
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: UNLV vs. Kansas (-11.5, 63.5)
Wednesday, Dec. 27
Military Bowl: Tulane vs. Virginia Tech (-7.5, 47.5)
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: North Carolina vs. West Virginia (-3.5, 56.5)
Holiday Bowl: USC vs. Louisville (-7.5, 57.5)
Texas Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M (-3.5, 53.5)
Thursday, Dec. 28
Fenway Bowl: Boston College vs. SMU (-10.5, 50.5)
Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers vs. Miami (-3.5, 42.5)
Pop-Tarts Bowl: North Carolina State vs. Kansas State (-3.5, 47.5)
Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Arizona (-3.5, 62.5)
Friday, Dec. 29
Gator Bowl: Kentucky vs. Clemson (-7, 47.5)
Sun Bowl: Oregon State vs. Notre Dame (-10.5, 46.5)
Liberty Bowl: Memphis vs. Iowa State (-6.5, 57.5)
Cotton Bowl: Missouri vs. Ohio State (-2.5, 48.5)
Saturday, Dec. 30
Peach Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Penn State (-4.5, 48.5)
Music City Bowl: Maryland vs. Auburn (-2.5, 49.5)
Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Georgia (-14, 45.5)
Arizona Bowl: Wyoming vs. Toledo (-1.5, 45.5)
Monday, Jan. 1
ReliaQuest Bowl: Wisconsin vs. LSU (-10.5, 55.5)
Fiesta Bowl: Liberty vs. Oregon (-15.5, 64.5)
Citrus Bowl: Iowa vs. Tennessee (-7, 35.5)
Rose Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan (-1.5, 46.5)
Sugar Bowl: Washington vs. Texas (-4.5, 63.5)
