College Football Bowl Odds: Lines, Spreads, Trends on Biggest Games

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

8 minute read

The College Football bowl odds market has several interesting matchups. At least as long as no more teams – or standout players – opt out of playing those games, as Notre Dame did.

Among the highlights in college football bowl game odds for non-CFP matchups: Michigan vs. Texas in the Citrus Bowl, Iowa vs. Vanderbilt in the Reliaquest Bowl, and in the highly popular Pop-Tarts Bowl, Georgia Tech vs. BYU.

Here’s everything you need to know about the college football odds bowl games market: opening lines, spreads and betting trends for the biggest games, as multiple oddsmakers provide insights on college football bowl odds and action.

(Feature image: Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

2025 College Football Odds for Bowl Games

Penn State vs. Clemson Odds

• Opening point spread: Clemson -3
• Opening moneyline: TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under 48.5 points scored
• Time: Noon ET Saturday, Dec. 27 (ABC)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Preseason/early season, Penn State was considered a legit national title contender. Clemson also took noteworthy offseason national championship action.

In fact, at BetMGM, one customer put $200,000 on Penn State +750 and $150,000 on Clemson +1300 in College Football Playoff futures odds. Those are dust in the wind, as is a $300,000 Texas +500 wager from the same bettor. (More on Texas below.)

Now, Penn State and Clemson are playing in a cold-weather-climate game two days after Christmas, in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

Penn State (6-6 SU/4-8 ATS) fired coach James Franklin after a three straight losses from Weeks 5-7 ruined the season. The Nittany Lions lost their next three games, as well, before finishing the regular season on a three-game upswing (2-1 ATS).

In Week 14, Penn State topped Rutgers 40-36, but failed to cash as 14-point road chalk. With an interim coach in Terry Smith – Matt Campbell takes over after bowl season – captain and defensive tackle Zane Durant is among three opt-outs already, and more may be coming.

Further, the Nittany Lions lost QB Drew Allar (broken ankle) saw his season end at the same time Franklin did, in the Week 7 loss at Northwestern. So for all bowl games, refer to the link below this matchup to Action Network's opt-outs/transfer portal/injury news.

Clemson (7-5 SU/5-7 ATS) dumped three of its first four games, all as a favorite, setting the tone for a less-than-expected season. But the Tigers are on a four-game upswing (3-1 ATS), including a 28-14 win at South Carolina catching 2.5 points in the regular-season finale.

Clemson is less impacted by opt-outs, but it's worth keeping an eye on.

Circa Sports, which has a high reputation for its college football numbers and for taking sharp money, opened Clemson as a 3-point favorite on Dec. 8. On Friday, the Tigers shot straight to -5, but then backed up to -4 Saturday and -3 Monday.

The total is steady at 48.5.

Make sure to regularly check Action Network's report for news on opt-outs, transfer portal and injuries this bowl season.

Georgia Tech vs. BYU Odds

• Opening point spread: BYU -3
• Opening moneyline: BYU TBA/Georgia Tech TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under 55.5 points scored
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 27 (ABC)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Both these teams were in the College Football Playoff odds conversation much of the season.

BYU (11-2 SU/9-4 ATS) endured two blowout losses to Texas Tech, which foiled its CFP hopes. In the Big 12 title game, the Cougars got drilled 34-7 getting 13.5 points

Georgia Tech (9-3 SU/7-5 ATS) dropped three of its last four games to kill its CFP bid. In the Week 14 neutral-site finale vs. Georgia, the Yellow Jackets kept it close in a rock fight, but lost 16-9 as 16.5-point underdogs.

For the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Circa Sports opened BYU -3 on Dec. 8, went straight to -5 on Dec. 9 and remains there Monday. The total is steady at 55.5.

Virginia vs. Missouri Odds

• Opening point spread: Missouri -7.5
• Opening moneyline: Missouri TBA/Virginia TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under 48.5 points scored
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 27 (ABC)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Virginia (10-3 SU/8-5 ATS) would've been in the CFP if it hadn't lost to Duke as a 3.5-point favorite in the ACC title game. The Cavaliers rallied from a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit, but fell short 27-20 in overtime.

Missouri (8-4 SU/7-5) lost three of its final five games to fall out of CFP consideration. In the regular-season finale, the Tigers topped Arkansas 31-17 laying 4.5 points on the road.

For the Gator Bowl, Circa opened Missouri -7.5 and went to -6.5 a day later, on Dec. 9. There's been no movement since, as of 4 p.m. ET Monday.

LSU vs. Houston Odds

• Opening point spread: Houston -3
• Opening moneyline: Houston TBA/LSU TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under 41.5 points scored
• Time: 9:15 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 27 (ESPN)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: LSU (7-5 SU/4-8 ATS) was the Penn State of the SEC. After three losses in a four-game stretch – capped by a blowout 49-25 home setback to Texas A&M – the university blew out coach Brian Kelly.

The Tigers finished the regular season with a respectable 17-13 loss as 12.5-point pups at Oklahoma.

Houston (9-3 SU/8-4 ATS) was 7-1 SU/6-2 ATS through eight games, then split its final four outings. In Week 14, the Cougars beat Baylor 31-24 as 2.5-point road underdogs.

For the Texas Bowl, Circa opened Houston -3 and went to -2.5 on Sunday.

Tennessee vs. Illinois Odds

• Opening point spread: Tennessee -5
• Opening moneyline: TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under 61.5 points scored
• Time: 2:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, Dec. 30 (ESPN)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Tennessee (8-4 SU/4-7-1 ATS) couldn't beat any of the SEC big boys, losing to Georgia and Oklahoma at home and Alabama on the road. Then in Week 14, the Vols got trucked at home by Vanderbilt 45-24 as 2.5-point favorites.

Illinois (8-4 SU/7-4-1 ATS) won three of its last four games to get a Music City Bowl bid. In Week 14, the Fighting Illini beat Northwestern 20-13, pushing as 7-point home favorites.

This matchup has seen some notable movement at Circa Sports. Tennessee opened -5 on Dec. 8, dipped to -4.5 Friday, then Monday dropped to -3.5/-2.5, before steadying at -3 (-105).

The total opened at 61.5, bottomed out early at 59 and rebounded to 61 by Friday.

USC vs. TCU Odds

• Opening point spread: USC -6
• Opening moneyline: USC TBA/TCU TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under 49.5 points scored
• Time: 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, Dec. 30 (ESPN)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Southern Cal (9-3 SU/5-7 ATS) finished the regular season on a 4-1 SU run, but went just 1-4 ATS in those contests. In the finale, the Trojans beat UCLA 29-10 but fell short of cashing as a 21.5-point home favorite.

TCU (8-4 SU/6-6 ATS) won and covered in its last two games, halting a 1-4 ATS slide in the process. The Horned Frogs finished the regular season with a 45-23 rout of Cincinnati laying 3 points at home.

For the Alamo Bowl, USC is pinned to -6 in Circa Sports' college football bowl odds, with zero movement as of 5 p.m. ET Monday.

Iowa vs. Vanderbilt Odds

• Opening point spread: Vanderbilt -3.5
• Opening moneyline: Vanderbilt TBA/Iowa TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under 49.5 points scored
• Time: Noon ET Wednesday, Dec. 31 (ESPN)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Vanderbilt (10-2 SU and ATS) had a dream season that nearly netted a CFP bid. In the Week 14 finale, the Commodores went to Knoxville and thumped Tennessee 45-24 catching 2.5 points.

Vandy, led by Heisman candidate QB Diego Pavia, has the second-best spread-covering mark in the nation.

Iowa (8-4 SU/8-3-1 ATS) finished the regular season with a big win over regional rival Nebraska. The Hawkeyes rolled to a 40-16 victory giving 5.5 points on the road.

Reliaquest Bowl odds have seen notable movement since Circa Sports opened Vanderbilt -3.5 on Dec. 8. The Commodores jumped straight to -5.5 Dec. 9, then went to -6 Saturday before scaling back to -5 Monday afternoon.

The total dropped from 49.5 straight to 47 on Wednesday.

Michigan vs. Texas Odds

• Opening point spread: Texas -5.5
• Opening moneyline: Texas TBA/Michigan TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under 46.5 points scored
• Time: 3 p.m. ET Wednesday, Dec. 31 (ABC)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: With two programs full of great athletes, and one in all sorts of turmoil at the moment, make sure you keep an eye on opt-outs/transfer portal/injury news in the Action Network link at the top of this report.

Texas (9-3 SU/4-7-1 ATS) had a strong argument to be included in the CFP. The Longhorns beat CFP invitees Oklahoma and Texas A&M, and played tough in a season-opening 14-7 loss at Ohio State.

In the regular-season finale, Texas topped A&M 27-17 as a 2.5-point home underdog.

Michigan (9-3 SU/4-8 ATS) is roiled in chaos at the moment, after firing coach Sherrone Moore on Dec. 10 for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Moore followed that news by getting jailed for an alleged assault.

So again, opt-outs/transfer portal news could be coming here.

The Wolverines ended the regular season with a 27-9 loss getting 9 points at home vs. archrival Ohio State. That ended a five-game SU run for Michigan.

For the Citrus Bowl, Circa Sports opened Texas -5.5. As you might expect, with all the bad news coming out of Michigan, this number went to Longhorns -6/-6.5 Wednesday, then got to 7.5 Friday.

The total is down to 45.5 from a 46.5 opener.

Nebraska vs. Utah Odds

• Opening point spread: Utah -14.5
• Opening moneyline: Utah TBA/Nebraska TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under 49.5 points scored
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, Dec. 31 (ESPN)

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Utah (10-2 SU/8-4 ATS) was certainly in the hunt for the Big 12 title and a potential CFP bid this season. The Utes head to the Las Vegas Bowl on a five-game SU run, though they failed to cash in their last two outings.

In the Week 14 finale, Utah beat Kansas 31-21, just short of cashing as 10.5-point road chalk. In the four games prior to that, the Utes scored 45 points or more all four times.

Nebraska (7-5 SU/4-7-1 ATS) lost its final two games and three of its last four. In Week 14, the Huskers were 5.5-point home pups vs. Iowa and got trucked 40-16.

Circa Sports opened Utah -14 on Dec. 8, and this line continued going north from there. The Utes made stops at -15/-16 on Dec. 9, then went to -17 Friday. The total went straight from 49.5 to 51.5 on Dec. 9, and it's been steady at 51 since Friday.

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson