The NCAA College Football Bowl season is just a week away and odds are out for many of the games. This year, there are a ton of games that have a lot of value in them and in this article, we will point out just a few that have had some early line movements.
Saturday, December 16 – AutoNation Cure Bowl
Georgia State vs. Western Kentucky -6 O/U 52
The 1st game we want to talk about is the AutoNation Cure Bowl, which is scheduled to play Saturday December 16 between Georgia State and Western Kentucky. The line opened up at Western Kentucky -4 1/2 with the total being 49 1/2. There has since been a significant amount of money placed on not only the sides but also the total, forcing some immediate line movement in this game. Western Kentucky is now -6 while the total has risen to 52.
Tuesday, December 19 – Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
Florida Atlantic-22.5 vs. Akron O/U 61.5
The next game we want to talk about is a huge early move on the opening line in the Florida Atlantic vs Akron in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl. The line on this game opened up at Florida Atlantic -17 1/2 but as quickly gone up to Florida Atlantic -22 1/2. Part of the early money and odds change on Florida Atlantic is because a lot of folks are catching wind that this is basically a home game for FAU. The other part of the equation rests on the fact that FAU was 6-1 at home this year compared to Akron going to 2-5 on the road!
Friday, December 22 – Bahamas Bowl
UAB vs. Ohio-7.5 O/U 57
The next game will look at is the Bahamas bowl between Ohio and UAB. We will want to focus mainly on the total in this game. The line opened up at 60 1/2 but is took a drastic plummet over the last 2 days and is now sitting at 57. Most experts expect this to go back up by game time due to the fact that Ohio is the favorite in the game and expected to win, on top of the fact that they have played 8 of their 12 games over the posted total. That being said, if you’re jumping on the under for this game it may benefit you to wait to closer to game time to see if this number goes back up.
Tuesday, December 26 – Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl
Utah-7 vs. West Virginia O/U 57.5
Another game that has had a quick movement in the opening line is the Zaxby’s heart of Dallas bowl. This line opened up at Utah -4.5 and the total of 54. For no real reason, the line has jumped both sides. Utah is now -7 and the total has gone up to 57 1/2. I can’t imagine the line on this game would stay up at 57 1/2 but time will tell. If you’re intending on betting the under in this game, we strongly advise you jumping on it now as it’s more likely to go down then it will to go up past 57 1/2.
Thursday, December 28 – Valero Alamo Bowl
Stanford vs. TCU- 2.5 O/U49
This year in the Valero Alamo Bowl, we will get to see a clash of 2 defensive organized teams go head-to-head as Stanford Cardinals take on the TCU Horned Frogs. This is another line where the total has jumped around. The line opened up 46 1/2, which is very low for a bowl game, then went up to 48, then back down the 47 and now sits at 49. The line movements been going all over the place but I think the majority of the late money should go on the under in this game.
Monday, January 1 -Chick Fil-A Bowl
UCF vs. Auburn -9.5 O/U 66.5
Central Florida won’t get a chance to play in college football’s playoff but they will get a chance to test themselves against an SEC powerhouse in Auburn. Central Florida is one of the best offenses in FBS and now there to get the face one of the best defenses in the FBS. The line started out at 63 but I think Vegas is telling us that they think Central Florida will have some success in this game as the line has risen to 66 1/2.
Monday, January 1 – Rose Bowl
Georgia -2 vs. Oklahoma O/U 60
When the Rose Bowl teams were announced as Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs, the Sooners were the favorite by 1 point. That has since changed and now the oddsmakers have Georgia -2 points. I really don’t think that the oddsmakers know what to do with this game. Can George’s defense step up and stop Baker Mayfield? Oklahoma’s run defense be able to stop the running back tandem in the Georgia backfield? So many unanswered questions remain in this game and I expect this line to go up and down like a Richter scale over the next 3 weeks.
