Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
The two most important bowl games, the College Football Playoff national semifinals, are in the rearview mirror but there are still plenty of good postseason matchups this week as the calendar flips to 2020.
How much excitement will there be for the players on No. 11 Utah on New Year’s Eve when the Utes face Texas in the Alamo Bowl from San Antonio? The Utes players are probably still kicking themselves for an upset loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 title game. Had Utah won that, it likely would have earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Utes didn’t even get a decent consolation prize: The school’s first-ever trip to the Rose Bowl. Utah is a 7-point favorite and has covered eight of its past nine as a favorite. The Horns have lost their past five as underdogs.
Four games on New Year’s Day and all involve ranked teams. Marquee matchup of teams that had higher goals when No. 14 Michigan takes on No. 13 Alabama in the Citrus Bowl from Orlando. This is the first time the Tide have missed the playoff, which was assured when they were upset 48-45 by Auburn on November 30 in a crazy Iron Bowl. Star Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa missed that game injured and he’s not playing here, either. Michigan, meanwhile, was routed by bitter rival Ohio State to close the regular season. The Crimson Tide are 7.5-point favorites and have won their past eight after a loss.
The Rose Bowl features No. 6 Oregon, the Pac-12 champion, and No. 8 Wisconsin, the Big Ten runner-up. The Badgers played then-No. 1 Ohio State very tough for about a half in the Big Ten Championship Game but lost 34-21. As noted above, Oregon upset Utah in the Pac-12 title game. This will be the last NCAA game for Ducks star QB Justin Herbert, who should be a very high pick in the 2020 NFL draft. The Badgers are -3 and have won 10 of their past 11 as favorites.
One ranked team in action on Thursday, and it’s No. 21 Cincinnati, the American Athletic Conference runner-up, taking on Boston College in the Birmingham Bowl. Star Eagles tailback A.J. Dillon is skipping the bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft. Cincinnati is -7.5 and has won its past 19 as a favorite.
The lone game Friday is Ohio vs. Nevada in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on the blue turf in Boise. The Mid-American Conference’s Bobcats, led by Frank Solich, the winningest MAC coach ever, are 8-point favorites. Ohio has covered its past four bowl games.
One game Saturday as well with Southern Miss taking on Tulane with an 11:30 a.m. ET start in the Armed Forces Bowl from Fort Worth, Texas. The Green Wave are -7 and 7-1 ATS in their past eight as favorites.
