The biggest games on the 2021-2022 college football bowl schedule will take place from Dec. 30 through Jan. 1. Both College Football Playoff games feature betting lines north of a touchdown. The Peach Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl all have spreads of less than seven points.

Here are picks against the spread and the latest betting odds for the New Year’s Six bowl games. Point spreads come from DraftKings Sportsbook.

Dec. 30, 2021

Peach Bowl: No. 10 Michigan State (+1) vs. No. 12 Pittsburgh

This is a bad matchup for the Spartans, who have given up the most passing yards in the country. Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett is the best player in the Peach Bowl (assuming he plays), and he’s likely to prove it with a big performance against Michigan State. Pickett is fifth among all quarterbacks in passing yards. In their two losses, the Spartans surrendered 968 passing yards, nine touchdowns and an 80.9% completion rate.

Prediction ATS: Pittsburgh

Dec. 31, 2021

Cotton Bowl Classic (CFP semifinal): No. 1 Alabama (-13.5) vs. No. 4 Cincinnati

There’s a reason Power Five teams have dominated the playoffs. With several weeks to prepare for Cincinnati, Nick Saban and Alabama won’t have a problem reaching the national championship game. The Bearcats’ defense hasn’t faced a quarterback like Bryce Young, who just torched Georgia’s top-ranked defense for 421 passing yards and four total touchdowns.

Prediction ATS: Alabama

Orange Bowl (CFP semifinal): No. 2 Michigan (+7.5) vs. No. 3 Georgia

Michigan’s defense will at least give it a chance to pull off the upset. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett had his worst performance of the season in the SEC Championship Game when facing Alabama in the biggest game of his college football career. The Wolverines outscored Maryland, Ohio State and Iowa by 95 total points in their last three games. Expect a close, low-scoring game that is decided in the final minutes.

Prediction ATS: Michigan

Jan. 1, 2022

Fiesta Bowl: No. 5 Notre Dame (-2) vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State

Marcus Freeman has his hands full in his debut as Notre Dame’s head coach. The Fighting Irish have a seven-game winning streak, but none of those wins came against teams that are ranked or even received one vote in the last AP Top 25 Poll. Oklahoma State is third in opponents’ yards per play. In Notre Dame’s only loss, it scored a season-low 13 points against Cincinnati, which ranks fourth in yards per play allowed.

Prediction ATS: Oklahoma State

Rose Bowl: No. 6 Ohio State (-6.5) vs. No. 11 Utah

Utah couldn't have been more impressive in the Pac-12 Championship Game, winning 38-10 against an Oregon team that defeated Ohio State earlier this season. During their six-game winning streak, the Utes are scoring 39.7 points per game. Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud and Ohio State’s No. 1-ranked offense will turn this into a shootout and possibly the most exciting game on the New Year’s schedule.

Prediction ATS: Utah

Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Baylor (-1.5) vs. No. 8 Ole Miss

Baylor’s defense showed up in a big way over the team’s last four games, winning the Big 12 Championship and stifling some of the nation’s top offenses. Ole Miss quarterback Matt Coral could be held in check for a large part of this game, severely hurting the Rebels’ chances.

Prediction ATS: Baylor

Michigan Football Jim Harbaugh
Michigan Wolverines head football coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan Stadium on Nov. 30, 2019, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Leon Halip/Getty Images
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