College Football Bowl Predictions 2016-2017: Las Vegas Betting Odds, Picks Against The Spread

The 2016-2017 college football regular season is over, but 80 FBS teams will play at least one more game. There are 40 bowl games on the upcoming schedule, not including the national championship game, starting on Dec. 17 and ending Jan. 2.

A few of the bowl games are expected to be one-sided, but most have a chance to be very competitive. Seven teams are favored by double-digits, but 17 games feature a betting line of four points or less. The College Football Playoff Semifinal game between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Washington has the biggest point spread of any bowl game.

Below are the complete betting lines for every bowl game, as well as early predictions against the spread. All point spreads and over/unders are courtesy of OddsShark.

New Mexico Bowl: UTSA (+7) at New Mexico, 62.5

New Mexico has totaled 400 more rushing yards than anyone else in the country, and it will be difficult for UTSA to make any kind of comeback if the Lobos take a lead in a virtual home game.

Prediction ATS: New Mexico

Las Vegas Bowl: Houston (-3.5) vs. San Diego State, 55

San Diego State is led by Donnel Pumphrey, who is one of two running backs that have totaled more than 2,000 yards on the ground. Houston, however, has the country’s No. 2 run defense, and they should be able to win by neutralizing the Aztecs’ strength.

Prediction ATS: Houston

Cure Bowl: Arkansas State (+6) vs. UCF, 49

UCF ranks 107th in total yards in the nation, and they’ll have trouble winning by more than a touchdown against a team that’s 24th in points allowed.

Prediction ATS: Arkansas State

Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State (+1) vs. Toledo, 57

Two of Appalachian State’s three losses came in close contests against bowl teams, and they’ve got a good chance to defeat Toledo on Dec. 17.

Prediction ATS: Appalachian State

New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi (-3.5) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 58

Southern Mississippi ranks 14th in total defense, giving them a chance to upset a team that ranks 105th in total offense.

Prediction ATS: Southern Mississippi

Miami Beach Bowl: Central Michigan (+11.5) vs. Tulsa, 68

Tulsa has six victories by 15 points or more, and they should add another one against a team that’s lost four of their last five games.

Prediction ATS: Tulsa

Boca Raton Bowl: Memphis (+4.5) vs. Western Kentucky, 77

Both of these teams can put up a lot of points, but Western Kentucky’s offense is a level ahead of Memphis’, ranking second in the nation with 45.1 points per game behind a quarterback that’s thrown for over 4,000 yards.

Prediction ATS: Western Kentucky

Poinsettia Bowl: BYU (-8.5) vs. Wyoming, 56

Wyoming scored a lot of points against the weakest part of their schedule, but they won’t be able to move the ball like they’re accustomed to doing against BYU. The Cougars have allowed 10 or fewer points in four straight games.

Prediction ATS: BYU

Idaho Potato Bowl: Colorado State (-13.5) vs. Idaho, 64

Colorado is a significantly better team, but they aren’t particularly good on either offense or defense, giving Idaho a chance to keep things close in their home state.

Prediction ATS: Idaho

Bahamas Bowl: Eastern Michigan (+3.5) vs. Old Dominion, 64

Eastern Michigan has been blown out by a few teams that didn’t even qualify for a bowl game, and they could find themselves in the same position against a team that scores a lot of points against subpar competition.

Prediction ATS: Old Dominion

Armed Forces Bowl: Louisiana Tech (+1) vs. Navy, N/A

Only two quarterbacks have thrown for more yards than Ryan Higgins, and Louisiana Tech should beat a Navy team that struggles to defend the pass.

Prediction ATS: Louisiana Tech

Dollar General Bowl: Ohio (+4) vs. Troy, 49

Troy has the nation’s 25th ranked scoring defense, and their ability to create turnovers could allow them to win this one by double-digits.

Prediction ATS: Troy

St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) (+12.5) vs. Mississippi State, 58

The safest best is to take the points against Mississippi State, who has allowed at least 38 points in four of their last eight games.

Prediction ATS: Miami (Ohio)

Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland (-2) vs. Boston College, 44

The game is basically a toss-up, but Boston College’s offense can’t be trusted, considering they are averaging just more than 10 points per game against bowl teams.

Prediction ATS: Maryland

Independence Bowl: Vanderbilt (+4.5) at NC State, 44

NC State has lost five of their last seven games, but those defeats came mostly against good teams. They should bounce back against a Vanderbilt team that was fortunate to make a bowl game.

Prediction ATS: NC State

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Army (+9.5) vs. North Texas, N/A

North Texas has already beaten Army 35-18 this season, proving that they can move the ball against one of the country’s highest-ranked defenses.

Prediction ATS: North Texas

Military Bowl: Wake Forest (+13) vs. Temple, 41

Only three teams have totaled fewer yards than Wake Forest, and they might not find the end zone once against a team that is eighth in points allowed.

Prediction ATS: Temple

Holiday Bowl: Washington State (-6.5) vs. Minnesota, 60

Minnesota has covered the spread just four times this season, and they might be blown out by Washington State and their No. 18 ranked offense.

Prediction ATS: Washington State

Cactus Bowl: Baylor (+8) vs. Boise State, 67

Baylor almost finished the regular season with the worst record against the spread at 3-9, and their defense could give up close to 50 points in a loss to end the year.

Prediction ATS: Boise State

Pinstripe Bowl: Northwestern (+5.5) vs. Pittsburgh, 66

Pittsburgh has proven oddsmakers wrong all season long, going 11-1 against the spread. They should do the same against Northwestern, who hasn’t beaten a bowl team in nearly two months.

Prediction ATS: Pittsburgh

Russell Athletic Bowl: West Virginia (+3) vs. Miami, 56

West Virginia’s two losses came when they couldn’t stop the high-powered offenses of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, and they could be in for another defeat against a Miami team that scores nearly 35 points per contest.

Prediction ATS: Miami

Foster Farms Bowl: Indiana (+7.5) vs. Utah, 54

Playing in a very tough Big Ten Conference, Indiana will be well-prepared to go toe-to-toe with a Utah team that lost three of its last four games in the Pac-12.

Prediction ATS: Indiana

Texas Bowl: Kansas State (+2) vs. Texas A&M, 56.5

The two teams both enter the contest with records of 8-4, but Texas A&M is the better team, having played a more difficult schedule against the SEC’s top teams.

Prediction ATS: Texas A&M

Birmingham Bowl: USF (-10.5) vs. South Carolina, 62.5

South Carolina might come from a much tougher conference, but they won’t be able to keep pace with a team that scores 43.5 points per game. Only six teams in the country score fewer points per contest than the Gamecocks.

Prediction ATS: USF

Belk Bowl: Arkansas (+7) vs. Virginia Tech, 61.5

Arkansas’ big losses this season have come against top SEC teams, but they should be able to hang with Virginia Tech, who lost by 21 points in their only game against an SEC school.

Prediction ATS: Arkansas

Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State (+3) vs. Colorado, 62.5

Only Michigan and Ohio State have limited opponents to a lower passer rating than Colorado in 2016. If quarterback Mason Rudolph can’t have a big game, Oklahoma State will have trouble keeping things close.

Prediction ATS: Colorado

Liberty Bowl: TCU (PK) vs. Georgia, 49

TCU has scored 10 points or fewer against the likes of West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Kansas State in recent weeks, and they’ll struggle to put up points against a team that’s allowed fewer yards than all but 11 teams.

Prediction ATS: Georgia

Sun Bowl: North Carolina (+3.5) vs. Stanford, 54

Stanford struggles to defend the pass at times, and that doesn’t bode well against a quarterback that will be among the top picks in the NFL draft.

Prediction ATS: North Carolina

Arizona Bowl: South Alabama (+13) vs. Air Force, 57.5

South Alabama probably won’t pull off the upset, but Air Force shouldn’t be favored by nearly two touchdowns, especially considering they have just one win by more than 10 points in their last eight games.

Prediction ATS: South Alabama

Music City Bowl: Nebraska (+3) vs. Tennessee, 60.5

The Volunteers have found a way to pull out a lot of unlikely wins this season, and they have the advantage in what should be a close game. Nebraska has struggled against good teams, and Tennessee’s offense gives them the edge.

Prediction ATS: Tennessee

Orange Bowl: Florida State (+7) vs. Michigan, 55

With Jim Harbaugh having nearly a month to prepare for Florida State, the Seminoles are in big trouble. The Wolverines won their bowl game by 34 points a year ago, and the nation’s No. 1 ranked defense could limit their opponents to single digits.

Prediction ATS: Michigan

Citrus Bowl: LSU (-3) vs. Louisville, 60

As good as LSU’s defense has been, they’ll likely be like almost every other team that’s faced Louisville and has been unable to contain Lamar Jackson. The Tigers aren’t accustomed to playing in high-scoring affairs, and they could be upset by the Cardinals and the eventual Heisman Trophy winner.

Prediction ATS: Louisville

TaxSlayer Bowl: Kentucky (+4) vs. Georgia Tech, 60.5

Georgia Tech finished the season strong, winning five of their last six games. But their inability to defend the run at times is a cause for concern against a backfield that features two rushers that have each totaled more than 1,000 yards.

Prediction ATS: Kentucky

Peach Bowl - CFP Semifinal: Washington (+15.5) vs. Alabama, 54.5

Alabama is easily the nation’s best team, and they should cruise into the national championship game. They’ve beaten four straight ranked teams by at least 18 points, and their defense should continue to dominate. Despite Washington’s fourth-ranked scoring offense, they only scored 13 points in a loss a few weeks ago to USC, the best team on their schedule.

Prediction ATS: Alabama

Fiesta Bowl - CFP Semifinal: Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Clemson, 60.5

Since the beginning of the 2015 season, Clemson has just two losses by a combined six points, including a narrow defeat as underdogs in last year’s national title game. Ohio State should’ve lost to Michigan in their last contest, and they could be upset by college football’s best quarterback, who finds a way to win games.

Prediction ATS: Clemson

Outback Bowl: Iowa (+2.5) vs. Florida, 40.5

Iowa has allowed just 23 total points during their three-game winning streak, defeating two ranked teams in the process. With Florida failing to score more than 24 points in any of their last six contests, the Gators could lose a low-scoring affair on Jan. 2.

Prediction ATS: Iowa

Cotton Bowl: Western Michigan (+7.5) vs. Wisconsin, 54

As the nation’s only undefeated team other than Alabama, Western Michigan shouldn’t be underdogs of more than a touchdown. Wisconsin has averaged less than 16 points per game in four contests against top-10 defenses, and they could have trouble scoring and winning big against the No. 16 defense in the country.

Prediction ATS: Western Michigan

Rose Bowl: USC (-7) vs. Penn State, 62

If the College Football Playoff was selected solely on the “eye test,” and how teams are currently playing, USC would be competing for a national championship. Instead, they’ll end their season with a big win in the Rose Bowl.

Prediction ATS: USC

Sugar Bowl: Auburn (+4.5) vs. Oklahoma, 62.5

In this battle of a top-five defense vs. a top-five offense, the Tigers have the advantage. Oklahoma’s two losses came in games that saw them struggle to score against top defensive teams in Ohio State and Houston, and Auburn should be able to keep the contest within a field goal, if not win outright.

Prediction ATS: Auburn

Hawaii Bowl: Middle Tennessee State (-4.5) vs. Hawaii

Hawaii was lucky to make a bowl game with a record below .500, and they'll have trouble competing with a team that's won five of its last six games.

Prediction ATS: Middle Tennessee State