College football bowl games 2021: ATS expert picks for every bowl game
Making our college football bowl games expert picks against the spread for every bowl game on the 2021 slate all the way up to the College Football Playoff.
College football bowl games for almost every day over the next two weeks? Sign us all up. This is the best time of the year, especially if you’re looking to bet on the games. We’re here to help with that with our final college football expert picks against the spread.
Totaling up the conference championship week games that saw us go 5-5 against the spread and 4-6 on betting totals, we finished the season 125-135-4 against the spread, 138-122-4 on totals and 263-257-8 overall.
So let’s have one hurrah with the college football bowl games as we pick each one (except for the unsettled CFP National Championship Game) against the spread (no totals this time around) and see if we can’t end on a high note.
Note: All odds are via WynnBET and are at Midnight EST on Friday, Dec. 17. For more betting info and content, visit BetSided. All times listed are EST.
College football bowl games expert picks against the spread
Bahamas Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. Toledo (Dec. 17, Noon)
Just don’t overthink this game. Toledo has been the better team on both sides of the ball all year in this matchup, even if the Rockets underperformed. The erratic nature of MTSU is a bit scary but I’m taking the heavy favorites and running with them.
Pick: Toledo -10
Tailgreeter Cure Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Coastal Carolina (Dec. 17, 6 p.m.)
Northern Illinois has some top-end juice that is a bit scary, but Grayson McCall returning to the Chanticleers is absolutely massive. He opens up the offense and, considering the Huskies were the ultimate “good luck” team by the numbers this year, I’m taking that luck running out.
Pick: Coastal Carolina -10.5
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Western Kentucky (Dec. 18, 11 a.m.)
Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe is record-chasing but the Boca Raton Bowl is a bad matchup for the Hilltoppers. App State has a good pass defense and the WKU run defense is a bit suspect, which is what the Mountaineers like to do. Give me App pulling this one out.
Pick: Appalachian State -3.0
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PUBG Mobile New Mexico Bowl: UTEP vs. Fresno State (Dec. 18, 2:15 p.m.)
Fresno State has definitely been the better overall team this season but UTEP won’t have any quit in them as the Miners are motivated after defying expectations and getting to a bowl game. Even if talent wins out, there are too many points on this line.
Pick: UTEP +11.5
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: UAB vs. BYU (Dec. 18, 3:30 p.m.)
Something we’ll see a bit throughout these bowl games, take the over in this game more than anything. There should be plenty of points but the Cougars just look like the vastly superior team from where I’m sitting, so give me BYU in this matchup.
Pick: BYU -7.0
LendingTree Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. Liberty (Dec. 18, 5:45 p.m.)
The way Liberty and Malik Willis have underperformed this season, taking them as more than a touchdown favorite is a bit tricky. However, we’re going down narrative street with this pick as we take the Flames and their quarterback giving one last showcase for the NFL draft.
Pick: Liberty -9.5
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl: Utah State vs. Oregon State (Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.)
Despite the weird name for the bowl game, this feels like a great matchup where the Aggies are getting too many points. Utah State is a team that fights hard has the goods to go off on anyone. Even if Oregon State runs well, the underdog feels like the right move.
Pick: Utah State +7.5