For three glorious weeks from late December into early January, College Football betting commands even more of the stage than normal. Bowl Game season is one of the biggest highlights on the annual sporting calendar. The absolute best Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams square off in games that are chock full of tradition.
All told, we have 43 games to look forward to this time around. The biggest attractions are the vaunted New Year’s Six Games – two of which host College Football Playoff semifinal matchups – and the National Championship game.
Our complete guide to Betting on College Bowl Games will cover everything you need to know. We’ll start with a look at the top spots for you to get in on the action.
Before the Bowl game matchups are even set you can bet on who will win the NCAA football National Championship. Futures odds are live at PA online sportsbooks year-round.
Check our real-time odds feed from PA online sportsbooks below. Click on any odds to jump straight to the sportsbook and claim your free bets/bonus.
See the live point spreads, moneyline and totals odds at PA online sportsbooks for all 2020 bowl games below.
Bowl Game Odds
National Championship Odds
Bet On New Year’s Six Bowl Games
College Football Bowl Game season is packed with great matchups. The list has grown even larger this year with 43 bowl games in total when you include the CFP National Championship game.
The games with the most history and tradition attached are known as the New Year’s Six Bowls—two of which also serve double-duty as the hosts for the College Football Playoff semi-final matchups. First up, let’s take a look at the other four of these huge annual contests.
Cotton Bowl
This game traces its roots back to 1937. The Cotton Bowl hosted a CFP semi-final matchup following the 2015 and 2018 seasons.
It was Alabama over Michigan State in the first one, and Clemson over Notre Dame in the most recent contest. Here are the key details on the 2020 Cotton Bowl Classic.
Date: Wed. Dec. 30, 2020
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: Arlington, TX
Stadium: AT&T Stadium
Capacity: 80,000
Broadcast: ESPN
2019 Result: Penn State over Memphis 53-39
Peach Bowl
The first Peach Bowl game was held back in 1968. The venue has rotated through the years, but this annual matchup in the Atlanta area is one of the most sought-after Bowl berths in College Football. The Peach Bowl has played host to two CFP semi-final games in 2016 and 2019. It was Alabama over Washington in the first one and LSU over Oklahoma last time.
Date: Fri. Jan. 1, 2021
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Location: Atlanta, GA
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Capacity: 71,000
Broadcast: ESPN
2019 Result: LSU over Oklahoma 63-28
Fiesta Bowl
The first annual Fiesta Bowl was held back in 1971. After initially making its home at Sun Devil Stadium, the contest moved to its new digs following the 2006 edition. It has served as the host venue for two CFP semi-final games. Back in 2017, it was Clemson over Ohio State. It was the same matchup in 2019 with Clemson coming out on top once again.
Date: Sat. Jan. 2, 2021
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Location: Glendale, AZ
Stadium: State Farm Stadium
Capacity: 63,400
Broadcast: ESPN
2019 Result: Clemson over Ohio State 29-23
Orange Bowl
This is another annual contest with a lengthy history. The first-ever Orange Bowl was held way back in 1935. Miami Field and the Orange Bowl were the previous venues, but it has been held in the same spot since 2000. CFP semi-final games were held here in 2016 and 2019. Clemson handled Oklahoma in the first, while Alabama defeated Oklahoma in the last one.
Date: Sat. Jan. 2, 2021
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Miami Gardens, FL
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium
Capacity: 64,767
Broadcast: ESPN
2019 Result: Florida over Virginia 36-28
Bet On College Football Playoffs 2020
Through the years, there have been numerous debates on which program is the true national champion in College Football. Since the 2014-15 campaign, it has officially been settled on the field.
The College Football Playoffs were instituted to make any debates a moot point. The top four teams in the nation make it this far, and the fun kicks off with a pair of matchups at two of the New Year’s Six Bowl Games. Here’s where the CFP semi-finals take place this time around.
Rose Bowl
Known as ‘The Granddaddy of them All,’ this tilt first made its debut in 1902. For years, tradition called for a meeting of the champions of the Big Ten and Pac-12. Things have changed a bit since entering the CFP rotation. Previous semi-final games were held in 2015 and 2018. Oregon defeated Florida State in the first, while it was Georgia over Oklahoma in the last.
Date: Fri. Jan. 1, 2021
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Pasadena, CA
Stadium: Rose Bowl
Capacity: 92,542
Broadcast: ESPN
2019 Result: Oregon over Wisconsin 28-27
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl also traces its roots all the way back to 1935. Through the years, the game has had an unofficial tie-in with the SEC, as a team from that top conference has appeared in the game numerous times. In the CFP era, the Sugar Bowl has hosted two semi-final games: Ohio State over Alabama in 2015, and Alabama over Clemson in 2018.
Date: Fri. Jan. 1, 2021
Time: 8:45 p.m. ET
Location: New Orleans, LA
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Capacity: 73,208
Broadcast: ESPN
2019 Result: Georgia over Baylor 26-14
Bet On College Football National Championship Online
Shortly after the New Year rings in, one of the biggest sporting events of the year takes place. The CFP National Championship Game is a meeting of the winners of the two semi-final matchups, and it attracts a ton of betting action.
When the final whistle blows, the top program in the land for the season at hand will be doing some celebrating. The last six years have provided us with a number of memories. Here’s a look back at the results.
2019-20: LSU over Clemson 42-25
2018-19: Clemson over Alabama 44-16
2017-18: Alabama over Georgia 26-23 (OT)
2016-17: Clemson over Alabama 35-31
2015-16: Alabama over Clemson 45-40
2014-15: Ohio State over Oregon 42-20
We’ll keep our fingers crossed that another thriller will be on tap this time around. Here’s what you need to know about the next edition of the CFP National Championship game.
Date: Mon. Jan. 11, 2021
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Miami Gardens, FL
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium
Capacity: 64,767
Broadcast: ESPN
Best apps for live betting on college football bowl games
Also known as in-play or in-game, live betting offers you the chance to place bets on bowl games in real time. The market moves really fast, and offerings will vary depending on what’s happening on the field of play. Here are some examples of what you might see.
Updated odds for moneyline, point spread, and totals.
What will be the result of Penn State’s drive – TD/FG/TO/Punt?
How many total TDs will be scored in second half – Over/Under 3.5?
For immediate access to the latest odds and the quickest interface to get live bets down, we recommend downloading a sportsbook app for betting from your phone or tablet. Pennsylvania residents have several great sports betting apps at their disposal to place their college football bets. Three stand out as the best of the best:
1. DraftKings: Up to $1,025 welcome package
DraftKings has been crushing it in sports betting and has become a go-to destination for scores of users. The company isn’t shy with promo offerings throughout College Football season, including odds boosts.
New users who create an account via our exclusive links are eligible for one of the best welcome packages in the industry: $25 free, a 20 percent deposit bonus worth up to $500, and a risk-free bet of up to $500.
FanDuel is another DFS giant that has taken the sports betting world by storm. New PA users who sign up via our exclusive links are entitled to a risk-free bet of up to $1,000.
If your first bet is a loser FanDuel will refund you up to $1,000 in site credits. Bowl game odds are live in the lobby, and FanDuel is offering a Same Game Parlay Insurance of up to $25 if one leg misses.
Media giant Fox and gaming titan The Stars Group have joined forces, and the result is FOXBet. The tag-team effort has generated a lot of buzz, and this is a case in which the hype has been met.
FOXBet always has a ton of promos going on, many of which are tied right in with network personalities. College Football fans will find lots to love here. Users who create an account via our exclusive links get a risk-free bet up to $1,000.
The schedule for the 2020-21 College Football Bowl Game Season remains a work in progress. Locations have been finalized for all, and dates have been penciled in for many. We’ll patiently wait and see how the final schedule shakes out, but here’s what we know for now.
Just betting on the outcome of College Football Bowl Games will leave you with plenty of options to consider, but there’s also a lot more to see on the wagering menu. Two great ways to get in on the action even more are with live betting and props.
Date
Bowl
Location
TV
Sat. Dec. 19, 2020
Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl
Frisco, TX
ESPN
Mon. Dec. 21, 2020
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Conway, SC
ESPN
Mon. Dec. 22, 2020
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Boise, ID
ESPN
Tue. Dec. 22, 2020
Boca Raton Bowl
Boca Raton, FL
ESPN
Wed. Dec. 23, 2020
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
New Orleans, LA
ESPN
Wed. Dec. 23, 2020
Montgomery Bowl
Montgomery, AL
ESPN
Thu. Dec. 24, 2020
New Mexico Bowl
Albuquerque, NM
ESPN
Fri. Dec. 25, 2020
Camellia Bowl
Montgomery, AL
ESPN
Sat. Dec. 26, 2020
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Tampa, FL
ABC
Sat. Dec.26, 2020
Cure Bowl
Orlando, FL
CBSSN
Sat. Dec. 26, 2020
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Dallas, TX
ABC
Sat. Dec. 26, 2020
Lending Tree Bowl
Mobile, AL
ESPN
Sat. Dec. 26, 2020
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Shreveport, LA
ESPN
Sat. Dec. 26, 2020
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Phoenix, AZ
ESPN
Mon. Dec. 28, 2020
Military Bowl Presented by Perspecta
Annapolis, MD
ESPN
Tue. Dec. 29, 2020
Cheez-It Bowl
Orlando, FL
ESPN
Tue. Dec. 29, 2020
Valero Alamo Bowl
San Antonio, TX
ESPN
Wed. Dec. 30, 2020
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Charlotte, NC
ESPN
Wed. Dec. 30, 2020
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nashville, TN
ESPN
Wed. Dec. 30, 2020
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Arlington, TX
ESPN
Thu. Dec. 31, 2020
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Fort Worth, TX
ESPN
Thu. Dec. 31, 2020
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Memphis, TN
ESPN
Thu. Dec. 31, 2020
Arizona Bowl
Tucson, AZ
CBSSN
Thu. Dec. 31, 2020
Texas Bowl
Houston, TX
ESPN
Fri. Jan. 1, 2021
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl
Birmingham, AL
ESPN2
Fri. Jan. 1, 2021
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Atlanta, GA
ESPN
Fri. Jan. 1, 2021
VRBO Citrus Bowl
Orlando, FL
ABC
Fri. Jan. 1, 2021
Rose Bowl Game
Pasadena, CA
ESPN
Fri. Jan. 1, 2021
Allstate Sugar Bowl
New Orleans, LA
ESPN
Sat. Jan. 2, 2021
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Jacksonville, FL
ESPN
Sat. Jan. 2, 2021
Outback Bowl
Tampa, FL
ABC
Sat. Jan. 2, 2021
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
Glendale, AZ
ESPN
Sat. Jan. 2, 2021
Capital One Orange Bowl
Miami Gardens, FL
ESPN
Mon. Jan. 11, 2021
CFP National Championship
Miami Gardens, FL
ESPN
Cancelled due to pandemic
Bahamas Bowl
Nassau, BA
ESPN
Cancelled due to pandemic
Celebration Bowl
Atlanta, GA
ESPN
Cancelled due to pandemic
Fenway Bowl
Boston, MA
ESPN
Cancelled due to pandemic
Hawaii Bowl
Honolulu, HI
ESPN
Cancelled due to pandemic
LA Bowl
Inglewood, CA
ESPN
Cancelled due to pandemic
Mitsubishi Las Vegas Bowl
Las Vegas, NV
ESPN
Cancelled due to pandemic
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Bronx, NY
ESPN
Cancelled due to pandemic
Quick Lane Bowl
Detroit, MI
ESPN
Cancelled due to pandemic
Redbox Bowl
Santa Clara, CA
FOX
Cancelled due to pandemic
SDCCU Holiday Bowl
San Diego, CA
FOX
Cancelled due to pandemic
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
El Paso, TX
CBS
Bet on college bowl games involving PA teams
Here in PA, there are three major football programs to root for—all of which typically qualify for the postseason every year. Unfortunately in 2020 none of the teams participated in the postseason. Pitt and Penn State both opted out while Temple finished 1-6.
Here’s a look back at past Bowl Game history for the top three squads in the Keystone State.
Penn State Bowl Game History
The Nittany Lions have an overall Bowl Game record of 30-18-2. The team also has a six-year streak of making it to the postseason. The program has done a solid job on the recruiting front and looks poised to continue the streak. Here’s a look at how Penn State has fared in its last five Bowl Games.
2019: Cotton Bowl Classic – Penn State over Memphis 53-39
2018: Citrus Bowl – Kentucky over Penn State 27-24
2017: Fiesta Bowl – Penn State over Washington 35-28
2016: Rose Bowl – USC over Penn State 52-49
2015: TaxSlayer Bowl – Georgia over Penn State 24-17
Pittsburgh Bowl Game History
The Panthers have struggled in Bowl Games overall with an all-time mark of 14-21. However, the team is on a solid run of qualifying for the postseason with appearances in 11 of the last 12 seasons. Here’s a quick look at the results from the last five trips to Bowl Games for Pitt.
2019: Quick Lane Bowl – Pitt over Eastern Michigan 34-30
2018: Sun Bowl – Stanford over Pitt 14-13
2016: Pinstripe Bowl – Northwestern over Pitt 31-24
2015: Military Bowl – Navy over Pitt 44-28
2014: Armed Forces Bowl – Houston over Pitt 35-34
Temple Bowl Game History
Unlike the two other major programs in PA, the Owls don’t exactly have a lengthy postseason resume. The team is just 3-6 all-time in Bowl Games, but there is a big bright side. The program had qualified for the postseason in each of the last five seasons, but that streak ended in 2020. Here’s a look back at the results from the previous five years.
2019: Military Bowl – North Carolina over Temple 55-13
2018: Independence Bowl – Duke over Temple 56-27
2017: Gasparilla Bowl – Temple over FIU 28-3
2016: Military Bowl – Wake Forest over Temple 34-26
2015: Gasparilla Bowl – Toledo over Temple 32-17
Prop Betting on College Bowl Games
As for prop betting, these are also additional bet options on each of the games, but they’ll need to be placed prior to kickoff. Many of them will revolve around specific accomplishments during the game, or something that will be decided by its conclusion, such as:
Which side will have more rushing yards in the game – Pitt or Stanford?
What will be the total number of points scored in the first half – Over/Under 27.5?
Which team will have the game’s first passing TD – Temple or North Carolina?
Live betting and props are among the featured offerings at online and mobile sportsbooks. When it’s time for the Bowl Games, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for any special promotional offerings surrounding the contests.
How To Read College Football Lines
From a betting perspective, one of the great things about Bowl Season is that odds and lines come out well in advance of the games. You’ll have some extra time to break down the games and look for potential edges as a result.
Each of the games will have its own listing at legal and regulated sportsbooks which will look something like this.
Alabama +2.5 (-110) +120 O 54.5 (-110)
Clemson -2.5 (-110) -140 U 54.5 (-110)
Next to the team names are three sets of numbers which represent the following: point spread, moneyline, and totals. In our example, Clemson is a 2.5-point favorite on the spread. They’re also favored on the moneyline in a game with a projected total of 54.5 points.
Moneyline: You just pick the side you think will win the game.
Point spread: Take the favorite minus the points or the underdog plus the number. Whichever side you choose has to cover the spread.
Totals: You choose Over or Under on the benchmark number listed by sportsbooks.
College Football Futures
You don’t have to wait until the end of the season to place your bets on the top teams you expect to see in bowl games. The College Football futures market stays active all year round, and there are a number of different opportunities to consider, including:
National Championship Winner
Team to Make CFP
Division and Conference Winners
Team Regular Season Win Totals
Heisman Trophy Winner
Using the title game winner as an example, odds are released soon after the current year’s championship tilt is in the books. There will be odds listed for all teams in contention, ranging from favorites to longshots. Here’s a peek at a few of the current favorites, courtesy of DraftKings.
Clemson +150
Alabama +225
Georgia +400
Oklahoma +800
Florida +1000
As bettors weigh in with their calls and the season plays out, you’ll see movement on the odds board. The futures market is a great way to get a read on the season as a whole, and also another fantastic way to potentially profit on College Football.
