Tech Trends – Bowls

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

10 minute read

The College Football Bowl Season kicks off on Monday, Dec. 21 and concludes on Saturday, Jan. 2 before the College Football Playoff championship on Monday, Jan. 11.

Bowl Results

We've identified betting trends and angles for the final 27 bowl games and we also have "Tech Edge" leans on the side or total for each game too.

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS), Over-Under (O/U)

TULANE vs. NEVADA

Idaho Potato Bowl
Tuesday, December 22, 2020

• Wave closed season with a rush, winning four of last five outright and covering 6 of last 7.
• Tulane has won and covered bowls the last two years for Willie Fritz, also on 17-8 spread run since late 2018.
• Wolf Pack just 1-4 vs. spread last five away from Reno, and 3-4 last seven as dog.

Tech Edge: Tulane, based on team trends.

UCF vs. BYU

Boca Raton Bowl
Tuesday, December 22, 2020

• UCF has won and covered 2 of its last 3 bowls.
• BYU 2-4 SU and 1-5 vs. spread its last six bowls (Sitake 2-1 SU, 1-2 vs. line).
• UCF 3-1 in rare dog roles since 2017 (1-0 TY), only L was by slim margin vs. LSU in Fiesta Bowl two years ago.
• Cougs 7-3-1 vs. line TY, UCF only 6-14 last 20 vs. spread, but usually laying heavy points.
• Knights 3-1 in rare dog role since 2017.

Tech Edge: Slight to UCF, based on bowl trends.

LOUISIANA TECH vs. GEORGIA SOUTHERN

New Orleans Bowl
Wednesday, December 23, 2020

• Skip Holtz remarkable bowl mark, 6-0 SU with La Tech, and has won seven in a row outright dating to USF tenure.
• Skip 2-3 as dog in 2020 but entering this season was 19-8-1 in role with Bulldogs.
• GSU no covers last two bowls, also just 2-6 vs. spread last 8 away from Statesboro.

Tech Edge: La Tech, based on team and bowl trends.

MEMPHIS vs. FLORIDA ATLANTIC

Montgomery Bowl
Wednesday, December 23, 2020

• Memphis no covers last six as chalk vs. FBS opposition.
• Tigers are 2-10 vs. spread last 12 vs. FBS foes.
• Also 0-5 SU and vs. line last five bowls.
• FAU remarkably 4-0 SU and vs. line all-time in bowls (Schnellenberger 2007-08, Lane Kiffin 2017 & ‘19).
• Though Willie Taggart surprisingly yet to covers in a bowl (0-2 with USF; also left WKU & Oregon before bowl dates in 2012 & ‘17, respectively).
• Owls no covers last three in 2020 though were 1-0 as dog (Kiffin 2-1 as dog LY).

Tech Edge: FAU, based on bowl and team trends.

HAWAII vs. HOUSTON

Frisco Bowl
Thursday, December 24, 2020

• Houston no wins or covers last three bowls, and Dana Holgorsen was 1-5 SU, 0-6 vs. spread last six bowls with West Virginia.
• Holgorsen just 7-12 SU, 9-10 vs. line since taking over Cougs LY.
• Hawaii only 2-5 vs. line last seven TY for Todd Graham, also “under” 6-2 in 2020.
• Rainbow Warriors 9-4 “under” since late 2019, also were 2-1 SU and vs. line in bowls during Rolovich years.

Tech Edge: “Under” and Hawaii, based on “totals” and team trends.

MARSHALL vs. BUFFALO

Camellia Bowl
Friday, December 25, 2020

• Both had unbeaten runs ended late in 2020, UB against Ball State in MAC title game.
• Bulls were 4-1 vs. line prior, and even with loss to Cards.
• Lance Leipold 30-14-2 vs. spread since late 2016.
• UB also 8-3-1 as dog since 2017, and Leipold 1-1 SU and vs. line in bowls.
• Bulls also on 18-7 “over” run since mid 2018.
• Herd dropped 3 of last 4 vs. line TY, but had won seven bowls in a row SU (the last six of those for Doc Holliday) before getting blown out by UCF in Gasparilla Bowl LY.
• Marshall also on 16-8 “over” run.

Tech Edge: “Over” and Buffalo, based on “totals” and team trends.

LIBERTY vs. COASTAL CAROLINA

Camping World Bowl
Saturday, December 26, 2020

• Teams were scheduled to meet on Dec. 5.
• Coastal 8-2-1 vs. line this season, though Liberty enters with seven covers in a row.
• Flames also 3-0 as dog in 2020, and 6-1 last seven getting points.

Tech Edge: Slight to Liberty, based on team trends.

SOUTH CAROLINA vs. UAB

Gasparilla Bowl
Saturday, December 26, 2020

• South Carolina concluded 2020 losing and failing to cover its last six games.
• Gamecocks also “over” 7-3 in 2020.
• UAB only 3-6 vs. line in 2020 but was 26-14-1 vs. number the previous three seasons and has covered last two bowls for Bill Clark.

Tech Edge: UAB and slight to “over,” based on team and “totals” trends.

UL-LAFAYETTE vs. UTSA

First Responder Bowl
Saturday, December 26, 2020

• Cajuns covered last three in 2020 but that only got them to 5-5 vs. number this season.
• ULL just 1-2 laying points away from Cajun Field TY, and 1-4 last five in role.
• Also no covers last two years in bowls for Napier.
• Roadrunners 4-2 as dog this season for Traylor, now 9-3 last 12 in role.
• Cajuns “under” 7-3 in 2020, UTSA “under” 8-3 this season.

Tech Edge: UTSA and “under,” based on team and “totals” trends.

WESTERN KENTUCKY vs. GEORGIA STATE

Lending Tree Bowl
Saturday, December 26, 2020

• Tops covered last two in 2020 but were 1-8-2 vs. line in preceding 11 games.
• WKU 2-3-1 as dog TY and Helton was 6-2 in role LY.
• GSU covered last three TY and was 3-1 vs. spread outside Atlanta.
• Rematch of 2017 Cure Bowl won by GSU 27-17!

Tech Edge: Slight to Georgia State, based on recent trends.

OKLAHOMA STATE vs. MIAMI-Fl.

Cheez-it Bowl
Tuesday, December 29, 2020

• Canes slowed down late in season, just 2-5 last seven vs. line in 2020.
• Though OSU only 1-5 last six vs. spread.
• Cowboys also on 3-11 “under” run since late last season.
• Gundy has also covered four straight bowls.
• Meanwhile, Miami has lost and failed to cover 8 of last 9 bowls.

Tech Edge: Oklahoma State and “under,” based on team and “totals” trends.

COLORADO vs. TEXAS

Alamo Bowl
Tuesday, December 29, 2020

• Tom Herman 4-0 SU and vs. line in bowls (3-0 with Texas).
• Buffs were 4-1 vs. line for Karl Dorrell this season.
• CU 0-5 SU (1-4 vs. line) last five bowls, only one since 2007, and no SU wins since ‘99 Insight.com Bowl vs. BC.

Tech Edge: Texas, based on bowl trends. slight to UCF, based on bowl trends.

WISCONSIN vs. WAKE FOREST

Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Wednesday, December 30, 2020

• Badgers no covers last four in 2020, longest spread skid since beginning of 2012 (reached six, including last two of 2011).
• Meanwhile, Wake 6-2 vs. line in 2020.
• Wiscy had won and covered five bowls in a row prior to close Rose Bowl loss to Ducks last season.

Tech Edge: Wake Forest, based on recent trends.

MISSOURI vs. IOWA

Music City Bowl
Wednesday, December 30, 2020

• Mizzou cooled off late in 2020, lost last three vs. line.
• Tigers just 1-3 vs. line away from Columbia.
• Now, 1-9 vs. spread last 10 away from home.
• Iowa 6-0 SU, 5-1 vs. line last five in 2020. 
• Kirk Ferentz has won and covered last three bowls.

Tech Edge: Iowa, based on team trends.

FLORIDA vs. OKLAHOMA

Cotton Bowl
Wednesday, December 30, 2020

• Sooners won last seven outright, covered last six, in 2020.
• Though OU just 2-4 vs. line last six bowls, and 3-2 last five in rare dog roles.
• Gators head coach Dan Mullen 4-5 vs. line in bowls.

Tech Edge: Slight to OU, based on recent trends.

MISSISSIPPI STATE vs. TULSA

Armed Forces Bowl
Thursday, December 31, 2020

• Tulsa outstanding 7-1 vs. line this season, 11-3 last 14 vs. number since late LY.
• Golden Hurricane has covered last three bowls (not since 2016, the last two of those for Montgomery).
• MSU played better down stretch, covering 3 of last 4 after dropping five in a row vs. number.
• At that point, Leach was 5-16 his last 21 vs. spread.
• Bulldogs “under” 7-3 this season.
• Leach only 2-4 SU and 1-5 vs. spread in bowls with Wash State.

Tech Edge: Tulsa, based on team trends.

BALL STATE vs. SAN JOSE STATE

Arizona Bowl
Thursday, December 31, 2020

• San Jose 6-0 SU and vs. line in 2020 (counts UNLV as a win).
• Now 15-4-1 vs. spread since late 2018.
• Spartans also “under” last seven since late 2019.
• Cards won and covered last four in 2020 after dropping 5 of previous six vs. spread.

Tech Edge: SJSU and “under,” based on team and “totals” trends.

ARMY vs. WEST VIRGINIA

Liberty Bowl
Thursday, December 31, 2020

• Monken 3-0 SU in bowls for Army, also “under” 7-4 this year.
• Mounties failed to cover their last six bowls (all Holgorsen).

Tech Edge: Army and slight to “under,” based on bowl and “totals” trends.

ARKANSAS vs. TCU

Texas Bowl
Thursday, December 31

• Old SWC matchup!
• Hogs cooled a bit late in 2020, lost last four outright, covered only one of those.
• Had covered first six previous.
• TCU won and covered last three and 5 of last 6 TY.
• Patterson 10-3 SU last 13 bowls, 3-2 vs. line last five.

Tech Edge: Slight to TCU, based on recent trends.

CINCINNATI vs. GEORGIA

Peach Bowl
Friday, January 1, 2021

• Luke Fickell 10-5 as 'dog since 2017 with Bearcats, and Cincy 2-0 SU, 1-1 vs. line in bowls last two years.
• Bearcats “over” last 3 and 4 of last 5 in 2020.
• Note Georgia “over” last four in 2020.
• Kirby Smart 3-2 SU, 4-1 vs. line in bowls (counts 2017 title game vs. Bama).

Tech Edge: Slight to “over,” based on “totals” trends.

AUBURN vs. NORTHWESTERN

Citrus Bowl
Friday, January 1, 2021

• Cats 7-1 vs. line in 2020, NU on 8-1-2 spread run since late 2019.
• NU also “under” 8-1 last nine since late 2019.
• Pat Fitz has also won outright last three bowls.
• Auburn 2-4 vs. spread last six bowls, and Tigers “under” 8-2 in 2020.

Tech Edge: Northwestern and “under,” based on team and “totals” trends.

NOTRE DAME vs. ALABAMA

Rose Bowl at Arlington, Texas
Friday, January 1, 2021

• Saban 8-3 vs. line TY, on 9-3 run since late 2019.
• Alabama, however, just 4-7 vs. number last 11 bowls/Title games.
• Irish were only 5-6 vs. line TY, and 3-5 last 8 vs. line in bowls.
• Kelly 5-4 as dog since 2016.

Tech Edge: Alabama, based on team trends.

OHIO STATE vs. CLEMSON

Sugar Bowl
Friday, January 1, 2021

• Clemson has won and covered all three bowl/playoff meetings since 2013.
• 4-0 if going way back to ‘78 Gator Bowl.
• Buckeyes 1-3 vs. line last four bowls, just 4-7 last 11 overall vs. line since late 2019.
• Dabo 14-3 vs. line in ACC title/bowl/playoff games since 2012.
• Tigers surging again with three wins and covers in a row.

Tech Edge: Clemson, based on team trends.

KENTUCKY vs. N.C. STATE

Gator Bowl
Saturday, January 2, 2021

• UK only 4-6 SU, 4-5-1 vs. line this season.
• Though Stoops 2-0 SU last two and 3-0 vs. line last three bowls.
• Pack 7-4 vs. spread in rebound year for Dave Doeren.

Tech Edge: N.C. State, based on recent trends.

OLE MISS vs. INDIANA

Outback Bowl
Saturday, January 2, 2021

• Hoosiers spotless 7-0 v. line in 2020, now covers in last 8 and 11 of last 13 since late 2019.
• Kiffin only 4-5 SU and vs. line TY with Rebels.
• However, he did win and cover bowls with FAU in 2017 & ‘19.

Tech Edge: Indiana, based on recent trends.

OREGON vs. IOWA STATE

Fiesta Bowl
Saturday, January 2, 2021

• ISU on 8-4-1 “under” run since late LY.
• Ducks only 1-4 vs. line last five bowls/playoffs.

Tech Edge: Slight to “under,” based on “totals” trends.

TEXAS A&M vs. NORTH CAROLINA

Orange Bowl
Saturday, January 2, 2021

• Jimbo won and covered last four away from Kyle Field TY.
• UNC had dropped 3 in a row vs. line before Miami blowout.
• Mack only 5-6 vs. spread in 2020.

Tech Edge: Slight to A&M, based on team trends.

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