Bowl season is finally upon us. After 16-week regular season and championship games a full slate of 43 bowl games will be played from Friday, Dec. 16 to Monday Jan. 2. While spreads and totals have certainly been impacted by a number of key players entering the transfer portal and declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft, Bowl Season offers a unique opportunity to see College Football's budding stars and give unheralded draft prospects a last-minute chance to make a statement.
We have got you covered with everything you need to know to bet each bowl game including the College Football Playoff on New Year's Eve and the New Year's Six Bowls on the second day of the 2023 New Year.
Check out all of the notes and trends courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information.
Thursday, Dec. 29
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Syracuse vs. Minnesota (-7, 42)
2 p.m. ET on ESPN, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Minnesota has never been more than a six-point favorite in any bowl game since the 1978 FBS/FCS split.
Minnesota has covered in five straight bowl games.
Minnesota is 0-4 ATS against teams with winning records this season.
Minnesota is 9-2 ATS with extra rest since 2019.
Syracuse is 0-5 ATS in its last five games (0-4 ATS as underdog in span).
Cheez-It Bowl
Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Florida State (-7.5, 67)
5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Oklahoma is 4-8 ATS this season. With an ATS loss, it would have its worst ATS season since 2004 (4-9).
Oklahoma is 1-4 ATS after a loss this seasn.
Oklahoma is 19-10-2 ATS against ranked teams since 2016, including 7-2-1 ATS since 2020. Oklahoma is 1-1 ATS against ranked teams this season.
Florida State is 4-1 ATS in its last five games.
Florida State is 4-0 ATS off extra rest this season.
Valero Alamo Bowl
No. 20 Texas (-5, 68.5) vs. No. 12 Washington
9 p.m. ET on ESPN, Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Texas has covered four straight bowl games.
Washington has covered three straight games.
Both Texas and Washington were 3-0 ATS in non-conference games this season.
Texas is 12-7 ATS as a favorite under Steve Sarkisian.
Washington is 1-0 outright as an underdog this season, beating Oregon as a 12-point road underdog on Nov. 12.
Friday, Dec. 30
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Maryland (-1.5, 47) vs. No. 23 NC State
12 p.m. ET on ABC, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
NC State is 10-3 ATS in bowl games since 2002 (5-2 ATS under Dave Doeren).
Maryland is 7-21 ATS against ranked teams since 2016, the worst mark by any Power 5 team in that span, including 3-11 ATS under the current Mike Locksley tenure (since 2019).
Maryland is 8-2 ATS in non-conference games under Mike Locksley (6-1 ATS since 2021).
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Pittsburgh vs. No. 18 UCLA (-6, 57.5)
2 p.m. ET on ESPN, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Pittsburgh is 0-5 ATS in its last five games as an underdog (0-3 ATS this season).
Pittsburgh is 3-11 ATS in its last 14 bowl games (1-4 ATS under Pat Narduzzi).
UCLA is 0-3 ATS in its last three games.
UCLA games are 9-3 to the over this season (8-2 in last 10).
Pittsburgh is 7-2-1 to the over in its last 10 games (3-0 in last three).
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
No. 21 Notre Dame (-2.5, 52) vs. No. 19 South Carolina
3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
South Carolina is 5-1 ATS in its last six bowl games (since 2013). Notre Dame is 7-15 ATS in its previous 22 bowl games (since 1993).
Notre Dame is 4-1 ATS against ranked teams this season and 15-6 ATS since 2018. South Carolina is 3-0 ATS against ranked teams this season.
Six straight Notre Dame games have gone over the total.
South Carolina is 4-0 ATS with extra rest this season.
This is just the fourth time in Notre Dame's last 22 bowl games where it has been favored (since 1994).
Each of the previous 16 times Notre Dame faced a ranked team in a bowl game, it was an underdog (1st time favored over ranked team in bowl since 1993 vs No. 7 Texas A&M)
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Ohio vs. Wyoming (PK, 43)
4:30 p.m. ET, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
Ohio is 8-1 ATS in its last nine games.
Ohio is 4-0 ATS this season when the line is between +3 and -3.
Ohio is 1-8 ATS in non-conference games under Tim Albin (1-4 ATS this season).
Wyoming has covered four straight bowl games.
Five straight Wyoming games have gone under the total.
Capital One Orange Bowl
No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Clemson (-6.5, 64)
8 p.m. ET on ESPN, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Tennessee is 9-3 ATS this season.
Clemson is 12-6 ATS in bowl games under Dabo Swinney, including 11-3 ATS since 2012.
Clemson is 20-7-1 ATS against top-10 teams under Swinney (1-0 ATS this season).
Tennessee is 2-6 ATS as an underdog under Josh Heupel. Tennessee is 3-10 ATS as an underdog since 2020.
Tennessee is 4-0 ATS against non-conference opponents this season.
Saturday Dec. 31
Allstate Sugar Bowl
No. 5 Alabama (-3, 54) vs. No. 9 Kansas State
12 p.m. ET on ESPN, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Kansas State has covered five straight games against top-5 teams, including going 3-0 ATS under Chris Klieman.
Klieman is also 6-1 ATS against top-10 teams.
Kansas State has covered four straight games.
Alabama is 3-2 SU and ATS in non-playoff/BCS title bowl games under Nick Saban, all as a favorite.
The last time Alabama was not at least a 3.5-point favorite against a team outside the AP top 5 was in 2015 at No. 8 Georgia (+1; won 38-10). That is the only instance since 2009.
Alabama is 1-4 ATS against teams with winning records this season.
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Iowa vs. Kentucky (-2.5, 31.5)
12 p.m. ET on ABC, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
The over/under is 31.5, tied for the lowest total in any game since 2000. It is the fifth game with a total of 32 or below in that span, with four coming this season (and three involving Iowa). It is currently six points lower than any other bowl game total in that span (previous low: 37.5).
Kentucky games are 11-1 to the under, tied with Colorado State for the highest under percentage in FBS. Eight straight Kentucky games have gone under.
Kentucky is 5-1 ATS as an underdog this season.
Iowa is 8-2-1 ATS when the line is between +3 and -3 since 2020 (8-1-1 ATS in last ten). They are 16-7-1 ATS in that spot since 2015.
CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
No. 3 TCU vs. No. 2 Michigan (-7.5, 58.5)
4 p.m. ET on ESPN, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Favorites are 10-6 ATS in College Football Playoff Semifinals.
Michigan is 0-5 outright and ATS in its last five bowl games. Jim Harbaugh is 1-5 ATS in bowl games.
Michigan is 16-7 ATS as a favorite since the start of last season.
Michigan is 4-1 ATS in its last five games.
TCU is 2-0 outright as an underdog of at least a field goal this season.
TCU is 0-3 ATS against top-10 teams since the start of last season.
Under Jim Harbaugh, overs are 24-10 when Michigan faces a ranked team (8-2 since 2020).
Big 12 teams are 1-3 ATS in the College Football Playoff (0-4 SU).
Big Ten teams are 22-12 ATS all-time against Big Ten teams in bowl games.
CFP Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Georgia (-6.5, 62)
Saturday 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia is 8-2 ATS against ranked teams over the last two seasons, including five straight covers (3-0 ATS this season). Georgia is 8-3 ATS against top-5 teams under Kirby Smart (10-3 ATS since 2012).
Ohio State is 1-7 ATS against ranked teams over the last two seasons, including five straight ATS losses (0-3 ATS this season).
Georgia is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 bowl games (6-2 ATS under Kirby Smart). Georgia's last five bowl games went under the total.
Ohio State is 15-4 ATS as an underdog since 2009. Under Ryan Day, Ohio State is 1-2 ATS as an underdog (all in College Football Playoff). This is the first time Ohio State has been an underdog this season.
Ohio State games are 9-1 to the over in its last 10 games (9-3 this season).
Ohio State is 1-4 ATS in its last five games.
Georgia is 5-1 ATS against teams with winning records this season.
Since 2015, SEC teams are 15-6-1 ATS against Big Ten teams in bowl games.
Monday, Jan. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl
No. 22 Mississippi State vs. Illinois (-2, 46)
12 p.m. ET on ESPN2, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Since 2012, Illinois is 0-9 ATS when the line is between +3 and -3.
Illinois is 7-0 ATS on extra rest under Bret Bielema. Mississippi State is 2-10 ATS with extra rest since 2018.
Illinois is 3-0 ATS against ranked teams under Bret Bielema.
Mississippi State is 1-4 ATS against teams with winning records this season.
Illinois is 3-0 ATS in non-conference games this season. Mississippi State is 16-8-1 ATS in non-conference games since 2017.
This is the second time in the last 25 seasons that Illinois has been favored in a bowl game (2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl - covered against UCLA).
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
No. 16 Tulane vs. No. 10 USC (-1.5, 62)
1 p.m. ET on ESPN, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Tulane is 11-2 ATS, the best mark in FBS entering bowl season. Tulane is 4-0 ATS with extra rest and 6-1 ATS against teams with winning records.
USC games are 10-3 to the over, the 2nd-highest over percentage by any FBS team entering bowl season. USC games are 4-0 to the over against ranked teams.
USC is 0-5 ATS in its last five bowl games.
Every Group of 5 team to play a New Year's Six game has closed as at least a three-point underdog in the CFP era (since 2014). They are 3-5 outright and 4-3-1 ATS, but 0-4 outright and 1-3 ATS over the last four seasons.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
No. 17 LSU (-10.5, 58.5) vs. Purdue
1 p.m. ET on ABC, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
LSU is 6-0 ATS after a bye since 2019 (8-1 ATS with extra rest).
Six straight Purdue bowl games have gone over the total.
Purdue is 19-8 ATS against ranked teams and 18-9 ATS as a double-digit underdog since 2014. Purdue is 12-5 ATS against ranked teams since 2017 (Jeff Brohm's first season).
Double-digit underdogs in bowl games are 27-19 ATS since 2013 (7-6 ATS in New Year's Six games).
Rose Bowl Game
No. 11 Penn State vs. No. 8 Utah (-2.5, 52)
5 p.m. ET on ESPN, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Penn State is 5-0-1 ATS in its last six games. Utah is 4-1 ATS in its last five games.
Utah is 10-5 ATS in bowl games under Kyle Whittingham (1-2 ATS last three seasons).
Penn State is 5-1 ATS against teams with winning records this season with three straight covers.
Penn State has lost 11 straight games against top-10 teams (6-5 ATS).
Overs are 20-10-3 in Penn State games against ranked teams under James Franklin.