Top players opting out of bowl games continues to be a trend, but Oregon quarterback Bo Nix will play for the eighth-ranked Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024, against No. 23 Liberty. The Ducks are 15.5-point favorites in the college football bowl odds via SportsLine consensus. Liberty was undefeated this season and went 9-4 against the spread, but the Flames will have a tough challenge to stay competitive against the Ducks with Nix, a Heisman finalist and possible first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, playing.
Some intriguing matchups earlier during the 2023-24 college football bowl season include Boise State vs. UCLA (-2.5) in the LA Bowl on Dec. 16, California vs. Texas Tech (-3) in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 16 and Georgia Tech vs. UCF (-4.5) on Dec. 21 in the Boca Raton Bowl. Before making any college football bowl picks, 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 is backing South Florida (+3.5) to stay within the spread against Syracuse in the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET. He also likes Over (61) in that matchup.
First-year USF coach Alex Golesh was the coordinator for Tennessee’s high-flying offense in 2022, and he brought that fast-paced attack to the Bulls this year. They won six games for the first time since 2018 and ranked fifth in the AAC in scoring offense at 30.8 points per game.
Syracuse is going through plenty of upheaval after the firing of coach Dino Babers. The Orange covered in just two of their last nine games this season after a fast start. The Over, meanwhile, hit seven times in the last nine games for USF and in four of the last five games for Syracuse. 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.
Saturday, Dec. 16
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Ohio (-2.5, 53.5)
New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana vs. Jacksonville State (-3.5, 56)
Cure Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. Appalachian State (-5.5, 48.5)
New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State vs. New Mexico State (-2.5, 51.5)
LA Bowl: Boise State vs. UCLA (-2.5, 49.5)
Independence Bowl: California vs. Texas Tech (-3, 58)
Monday, Dec. 18
Famous Toastery Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion (-2.5, 56.5)
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Frisco Bowl: Marshall vs. UTSA (-9.5, 55)
Thursday, Dec. 21
Boca Raton Bowl: USF vs. Syracuse (-3.5, 58.5)
Friday, Dec. 22
Gasparilla Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. UCF (-4.5, 63.5)
Saturday, Dec. 23
Camellia Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State (-1.5, 52.5)
Birmingham Bowl: Duke vs. Troy (-7, 44.5)
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. James Madison (-2.5, 41.5)
Idaho Potato Bowl: Utah State vs. Georgia State (-2.5, 63.5)
68 Ventures Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama (-15.5, 47.5)
Las Vegas Bowl: Northwestern vs. Utah (-7.5, 42.5)
Hawaii Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State (-9.5, 54.5)
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)
