Handicapping College Bowl Games

Betting on college football is popular throughout the year at online sportsbooks, but the bowl game season draws the average joe like no other time in the sport. While a greater pool of bettors playing – including a majority simply betting on their alma mater, local university or current school – means good news for the serious punter, betting on Bowl Season games presents unique challenges.

One simple rule of thumb in recent years has been to cover any underdog getting seven or more points; one estimate claimed this bet wins over 70% of the time, certainly much of which can be attributed to the neutral turf of the bowl games and the sheer element of surprise when two teams meet for the first time in decades – or ever.

With nothing much to go on in terms of head-to-head meetings between two bowl teams, a simple statistical comparison often works, though this cannot account for the sometimes dramatic style differences in types of play between college teams. On the other hand, a passing game is a passing game no matter what sort of shotgun spreads, hurry-up offenses and wildcat formations are employed. Defense wins championships? It sure does, even if the opposing offense is revolutionary.

Finally, while some have argued that the perception of the head coach’s importance in football is blown out of proportion, the amount of influence the leader can have in the college game increases. And in the bowls, games are frequently won or lost on the sidelines. Consider the coaches as the last factor in deciding on whom to bet.