College Football 2025 New Year’s Eve Bowls Best Bets
Summary
The college football bowl season features key matchups between ranked teams not in the playoff. In the ReliaQuest Bowl, No. 23 Iowa, with a strong defense and a 7-0 record against the spread versus winning teams, is the pick against No. 14 Vanderbilt despite the Commodores’ potent offense.
For the Citrus Bowl, No. 13 Texas is favored against No. 18 Michigan, which is in turmoil following its coach’s firing and has key opt-outs. In the Las Vegas Bowl, No. 15 Utah, motivated by coach Kyle Whittingham’s final game, is leaned on to cover against Nebraska, which is missing its starting quarterback and top rusher.
The college football bowl season continues, and more big game betting takes place on New Year’s Eve. That includes teams in the Top 25 College Football Playoff ranking who are not playing in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
College Football Best Bets
Betting lines and college football odds from BetOnline refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live/in-game betting. Point spread on favorites, over/under game totals, and all times Eastern (ET) in the U.S.
ReliaQuest Bowl
No. 23 Iowa vs. No. 14 Vanderbilt (-5.5), O/U 47
Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, FL | 12 pm | ESPN
A key bowl matchup of stronger teams that just missed the College Football Playoff. Iowa (8-4) lost four games each by 5-points or less, including to CFP teams Indiana and Oregon. Vanderbilt (10-2) lost at Alabama and Texas, 34-31, with Heisman Trophy runner-up QB Diego Pavia leading the Commodores to their first-ever 10-win season while scoring 45 points in each of their final three games, including a big rivalry win over Tennessee. Check Pavia’s status to play, and know Iowa will play without a key cornerback. But the Hawkeyes’ top-tier defense held five teams to season-low points this season, and the Hawkeyes went 7-0 ATS this season against teams with a winning record, including 4-0 ATS as an underdog.
Pick: Iowa
Citrus Bowl
No. 18 Michigan vs. No. 13 Texas (-7.5), O/U 48
Camping World Stadium – Orlando, FL | 3 pm | ABC
Major coaching issue with Michigan bumbling head coach Sherrone Moore was fired on Dec. 10, and the program is in turmoil in the hands of an interim staff. The Wolverines (9-3) were just 4-8 against the spread (ATS) this season, and Texas (9-3) is taking money. I agree, as a double-digit win seems likely with additional key opt-outs for Michigan (including top rushers) and their freshman QB Underwood going up against a top-tier defensive dominator in the Longhorns defense, who will unfortunately play without some top linebackers. Still, Underwood struggled badly against the top defenses of Ohio State and Oklahoma. Plenty of opt-outs and roster changes on both teams, along with players sitting to prepare for the NFL Draft. But Texas QB Arch Manning is staying and gets extra reps and prep with his mates against a Michigan team in turmoil.
Pick: Texas
Las Vegas Bowl
Nebraska vs. No. 15 Utah (-16.5), O/U 50.5
Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, NV | 3:30 pm | ESPN
Nebraska (7-5) plays in its second consecutive bowl game under 3rd year head coach Matt Ruhle, who is 17-7 ATS as a double-digit underdog in his college coaching career. But Nebraska is 0-8 vs. Top 25 teams under Rhule, and the Huskers have lost 29 consecutive games to Top 25 teams. Nebraska posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2014. The Huskers’ pass defense ranks No. 2 in the country, allowing just 148 yards per game and 6.1 yards per pass (top 15). But Nebraska will play this bowl game without Big Ten leading rusher Emmett Johnson and starting QB Dylan Raiola, who is one of the most sought-after NIL QBs for next year, with Louisville (-250) the favorite to be Raiola’s next team, according to special transfer portal odds at BetOnline. Huskers true freshman quarterback TJ Lateef makes his second start after completing just 9-of-24 passes for 69 yards in a season-ending 40-16 loss at Iowa. Utah has a top 15 pass defense, allowing 179 yards per game, and a Big 12 first-team defensive lineman in John Henry Daley, who led the country in tackles for loss and was second in sacks before suffering a season-ending injury in late November. Only four teams completed more than 50% of their passes against the Utes’ defense this season, which ranked No. 2 in efficiency against the pass in the Big 12.
The overarching story here is Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham stepping away from
the Utah sidelines after the game. His 21 seasons in Salt Lake City have produced 177 wins and 11-6 in bowl games, but the Utes’ last bowl win was in 2017. Utah (10-2) only lost to Texas Tech and BYU this season, and QB Devon Dampier was the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year operating behind a pair of Big 12 first team offensive lineman including Offensive Lineman of the Year Spencer Fano. But Fano and Caleb Lomu will both sit out, having declared for the NFL Draft. The Utes’ offensive line paved the way for 269 rushing yards per game at 6.1 yards per rush – both best in the country of all Power Four programs. The Utes have lost a few players to the transfer portal, and even without two top offensive linemen and DL, Utah should be the more motivated team and capable of overcoming their key personnel losses to win over an unproven freshman quarterback. Regional site advantage for Utah and its supportive fans. Playbook Sports interesting Bowl Stat: Big Ten bowl teams coming off a loss of 24 or more points, such as Nebraska, are an alarming 1-19 SU and 4-18-1 ATS, including 0-14 SU and 1-13 ATS if they allow more than 21 points.
Opinion: Under and Lean Utah
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