College Football’s New Year’s Six Bowl Games Picks: UCF Upset in Store?
- College Football’s New Year’s Six Bowl Games get underway December 29th
- The Peach Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Orange Bowl take place the 29th, while the Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl are January 1st
- See the odds and get the best bet for each game
On December 29th, Bowl Season is about to kick it up a notch with the New Year’s Six.
Starting with the Peach Bowl at noon on the 29th, the top six major NCAA D1 FBS Bowl Games will feature the nation’s best teams meeting head-to-head, with the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl deciding who will square off for the CFP National Championship.
Here are some tips and trends you need to know before placing your bets.
Peach Bowl: #10 Florida vs #7 Michigan
| Team | Spread | Win | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | +6.0 (-115) | +195 | O 51.0 (-110) |
| Michigan | -6.0 (-105) | -235 | U 51.0 (-110) |
*All odds taken 12/28
Kickoff: 12pm EST (Dec 29)
Nobody can lose an important game quite like Jim Harbaugh.
His track record as Michigan Head Coach under the bright lights is less than impressive and it could get worse after a match up with the Gators in the Peach Bowl.
The Wolverines will be without star defensive lineman Rashan Gary, who is sitting out to prepare for the NFL draft. That’s a big loss for a defense that just gave up 62 points to Ohio State.
.@SheaPatterson_1 and his teammates are just focusing on making plays tomorrow.
Let’s go get that 11th win. #GoBlue | #CFAPeachBowl pic.twitter.com/laasAAomjO
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 28, 2018
Florida is getting 6 points in a game even Vegas believes will be low scoring (it’s the lowest total of the New Years Six) and they were 8-4 against the spread this year.
Take the Gators with the points, or if you’re feeling lucky just bet them straight up and cash in.
Pick: Florida +6
Cotton Bowl: #3 Notre Dame vs #2 Clemson
| Team | Spread | Win | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | +12.0 (-110) | +335 | O 57.0 (-110) |
| Clemson | -12.0 (-110) | -470 | U 57.0 (-110) |
Kickoff: 4pm EST (Dec 29)
All signs point to a defensive struggle between Notre Dame and Clemson in the Cotton Bowl.
Don’t worry about the suspension to Dexter Lawrence, the Tigers run deep enough on the defensive line to make up for the loss.
Important games often result in teams bleeding clock late, but this one may not even need the help. Both sides ranked top 10 in points allowed, Clemson was tied for 2nd and Notre Dame 9th.
It may not be the most exciting pick for your viewing pleasure, but it is the best bet for your wallet.
Pick: UNDER 57.0
Orange Bowl: #4 Oklahoma vs #1 Alabama
| Team | Spread | Win | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | +14.0 (-110) | +425 | O 77.0 (-110) |
| Alabama | -14.0 (-110) | -650 | U 77.0 (-110) |
Kickoff: 8pm EST (Dec 29)
Tua Tagovailoa lost the Heisman to Kyler Murray, but he won’t be losing to him in the Orange Bowl.
The take “Alabama will win” (-650) likely won’t get your heart racing, but maybe the pick of Bama -14 will.
The reason is simple, we’ve seen it too many times before. The Crimson Tide are 13-0 this season and would have failed to cover a 14-point spread only once.
Getting acclimated.#OutworkYesterday#CapitalOneOrangeBowl#CFBPlayoff#RollTide pic.twitter.com/capXnHO8Jn
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 27, 2018
They won by 20+ 12 times, 30+ eight times, 40+ three times, and 50+ twice.
Yes Oklahoma is stronger than most of those opponents, but Alabama is a team built to win, and win big. That, and they only allowed 14.8 points per game, which ranked 4th in the country.
They score and they don’t let you score; that’s a recipe for not only success, but a cover as well.
Pick: Alabama -14.0
Fiesta Bowl: #11 LSU vs #8 Central Florida
| Team | Spread | Win | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSU | -7.5 (-105) | -290 | O 55.0 (-115) |
| Central Florida | +7.5 (-115) | +240 | U 55.0 (-105) |
Kickoff: 1pm EST (Jan 1)
Forget who is at QB for Central Florida in the Fiesta Bowl, bet the Knights.
They’ve won 25 straight games and are getting 7.5 points. That alone is worth action.
But dig deeper and the pick becomes more clear.
Some of the defensive players LSU won't have for the Fiesta Bowl vs UCF: their top 3 CBs Greedy Williams; Kristian Fulton & Kelvin Joseph; best pass rusher K'Lavon Chaisson; starting DLs Ed Alexander & Breiden Fehoko and won't have starting ILB Jacob Phillips for the first half.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 28, 2018
The total is 55. Vegas expects points and LSU outside of a seven-OT anomaly, doesn’t score many. They threw for over 300 yards exactly once this year.
One other reason to bet UCF: they’re tired of getting disrespected by the SEC.
Pick: Central Florida +7.5
Rose Bowl: #9 Washington vs #10 Ohio State
| Team | Spread | Win | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | +7.0 (-110) | +215 | O 58.0 (-105) |
| Ohio State | -7.0 (-110) | -260 | U 58.0 (-115) |
Kickoff: 5pm EST (Jan 1)
There are a laundry list of reasons to bet Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
Dwayne Haskins led college football with 4,580 yards passing and is set to put on a show in what is expected to be an audition for the NFL draft.
Watch Dwayne Haskins, and you realize something very quickly…Ohio State passing attack conceptually is very very good. Do not ever tell me that there aren’t some very good coaches out there that need to be talked about more and praised. #ryanday
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) December 29, 2018
The Buckeyes averaged 53 points per game over their last three wins and oh, it’s Urban Meyer’s final game on the sidelines for the Scarlet and Gray.
One additional reason to fade the Huskies? They were 4-9 against the spread this year.
Bet the Buckeyes and make them the Granddaddy of them all.
Pick: Ohio State -7.0
Sugar Bowl: #15 Texas vs #5 Georgia
| Team | Spread | Win | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | +13.5 (-115) | +375 | O 58.0 (-110) |
| Georgia | -13.5 (-105) | -550 | U 58.0 (-110) |
Kickoff: 8:45pm EST (Jan 1)
Texas is the bet in Sugar Bowl thanks to the 13.5 point spread.
The Longhorns played six games against ranked opponents this year and went 4-1-1 ATS.
Expect Texas Head Coach Tom Herman to do what he does best: keep his team in the game long enough to give them a chance late.
Pick: Texas +13.5
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
