Guide to College Football Bowl Betting

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The college football championship is the epic culmination of the NCAAF season. Did you know you can follow your favorite teams while betting on college football bowl games? Back moneyline bets or the point spread and put your handicapping knowledge to the test.

Want to dip into the Sugar Bowl or take a bite from the Orange Bowl? We’ll guide you through the complexities of the playoffs system and show you how to bet. We will even share a few of our own tips on the college football bowl season.

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Betting on the College Football Bowls

The college football bowl season brings the NCAAF year to a fitting end. Teams face off in a series of bowl games depending on a predetermined ranking. The top college football teams get to compete in the semifinals and final. By January, we’ll know who has won the College Football National Championship for 2021-22.

College Football Bowls

Dec. 16 - Dec. 28

College Football Playoff

Jan. 1 - Jan. 8, 2024

The College Football Playoff consists of seven bowls: the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, and the College Football Playoff National Championship. 

For the 2023–24 season, the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl will serve as national semifinals for the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship in Houston.

That means the teams ranked No. 1 through No. 4 in the final College Football playoff rankings will play in those two bowls, with the winners advancing to the CFP National Championship.

Twelve schools are selected for the major bowls. These include the champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Pac-12 Conference and Southeastern Conference. 

The highest-ranked champion from the "Group of Five" conferences (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) is guaranteed a berth if the group's top team is not in the playoff.

The 2023-24 New Year's Six bowl games

(All Times Eastern)

The 2023-24 College Football Playoff

Semifinals

Championship 

Top College Bowl Games to Bet On

The highlight of the college football bowl season is the New Year’s Six. These are the games played between the Top 12 teams according to the college football playoff committee rankings. Conference champions from the ‘Power Five’ all feature, plus high-ranked teams from other ‘Group of Five’ conferences.

Power Five Conferences

Group of Five Conferences

Two of the bowls are semifinals which lead to the National Championship. The other four New Year’s Six games are classed as non-playoff games.

The best sportsbooks will carry odds and markets on all New Year’s Six games, including moneyline and totals options. You’ll also be able to bet in-play as each game takes place and follow the action live on TV or via the match tracker.

Betting on the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

WHEN: Dec. 29

WHO: At-large vs. At-large

WHERE: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

The Cotton Bowl has been played in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex since 1937. The game was originally played at Cotton Bowl until it moved to Cowboys Stadium in 2010. 

It has been sponsored by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company since 2014.

Betting on the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

WHEN: Dec. 30

WHO: At-large or Group of Five vs. At-large or Group of Five

WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

The Peach Bowl has been played in Atlanta since 1968. 

Chick-fil-A has been the bowl's sponsor since 1997 and is officially known as the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. From 2006 to 2013, it was officially referred to as simply the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Betting on the Capital One Orange Bowl

WHEN: Dec. 30

WHO: ACC vs. Big Ten/SEC/Notre Dame

WHERE: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

The Orange Bowl has been played since 1935 in the metropolitan Miami area. It has been played at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Dolphins, since 2016.

Betting on the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl

WHEN: Jan 1

WHO: At-large vs. At-large

WHERE: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

This year marks the 52nd Fiesta Bowl and is held annually outside Phoenix. State Farm Stadium has hosted the Fiesta Bowl every year since 2007. It also hosts one of the college football playoff games every three years.

Betting on the Rose Bowl

WHEN: Jan. 1

WHO: National semifinal

WHERE: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

The Rose Bowl game is the oldest bowl game. It was first played in 1902. Then it began as an annual game in 1916.

The game is a part of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association's "America's New Year Celebration," which also includes the historic Rose Parade.

Betting on the Allstate Sugar Bowl

WHEN: January 1

WHO: National Semifinal

WHERE: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

The Sugar Bowl is one of the oldest college football bowl games and has been held every year since 1935.

It has been played in New Orleans since the beginning, with Tulane Stadium hosting until 1974 when it moved to the Superdome. 

Allstate has been the sponsor since 2007.

Betting on the CFB Playoff National Championship

WHEN: January 8

WHO: Rose Bowl Winner vs. Sugar Bowl Winner

WHERE: NRG Stadium, Houston

The college football National Championship game takes place on January 8, 2024, with the winners of the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl fighting it out for top honors.

It’s too early to know who will be playing in the final but that won’t stop you from betting on futures at the biggest online bookmakers. 

Recommended College Football Bowl Betting Sites

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NCAAF Bowls Betting Tips

Looking for the best tips for betting on NCAAF bowl games for this year’s finale? Here are a few tips to follow to get ahead of the pack.

Take Advantage of Parlays

Parlay betting is a great way to increase your overall payout by backing several outcomes. All bookmakers allow parlays where multiple legs must win for your whole bet to win. In addition, some online sports betting sites will offer parlay profit boosts or parlay insurance if one leg loses.

Back the No. 1 or No. 2 Team

The College Football Championship is the pinnacle of the NCAAF season for the best teams. For gamblers, it can oftentimes be a case of just choosing the first or second-ranked teams.

Don’t Bet Point Spreads in the Final

In four of the past seven CFB Championships, the winning margin has been 17 or more points. That can make point spread betting a tricky prospect, especially if you want to back the underdog.

Go for Unpopular Underdogs in the Non-CFB Championship Bowls

Casual bettors will always bet on the favorites, and it’s true that in the semis and National Championship final, you should do so too.

However, there is often value to be found in the other college football bowl games. In fact, since the mid-2000s, underdogs have enjoyed a win ratio just slightly higher than 51%. That could mean value, especially if a team has relied all season on their home form.

Make Use of Free Bets

The best online bookmakers who offer special deals on the playoffs and individual bowls. You may enjoy free bets as a new signup or get money back on losing bets. Some bookmakers will also offer enhanced odds on selected teams.

Open Multiple Betting Accounts

You can wager on a college football bowl at various online bookmakers, including NJ sports betting platforms. Keep in mind that odds can differ among sportsbooks, so it's beneficial to explore different options for a comprehensive betting experience.

We always recommend opening accounts with different betting sites. You don’t have to make huge deposits when setting up accounts, but you have the chance of earning a welcome bonus every time.

CFP National Championship 2024 Odds

Who’s your money on in the showpiece of the college football season? The college football bowl odds are out for the National Championship and they make for painful reading if you’re a fan of Georgia, Michigan or Cincinnati.

You’ll favor a safe bet on Alabama if you’ve been studying past form, but there may be better markets out there on props and by betting the point spread.

Best College Bowl Betting Sites

You can bet on college football at all of the top U.S. sportsbooks. Best of all, you won’t be restricted from betting on home teams as all bowl games are played in different states. 

Range of Markets

Whether you’re backing the moneyline on a college football bowl or betting in-play, good bookmakers will offer a range of gambling markets. Each bowl game should offer totals, point spreads and moneyline as standard.

Competitive Odds

College football odds can vary hugely from betting site to betting site. Always compare and contrast several bookmakers before making your bet.

In-Play Betting

Some of the college bowl games will have live betting markets available. These can be a great way of getting favorable odds as the game changes. Lock in a profit by backing the opposing team or bet on the moneyline as the score is updated in real time.

Bonuses & Promotions

All of the best sports betting sites will offer a welcome bonus including free bets or a deposit match. You may also find enhanced odds on selected college football games.

Good Deposit Options

You should be able to get your money in and out easily. You can deposit via your Visa or MasterCard, or send money instantly from your PayPal e-Wallet. Withdrawals will also be possible, and you won’t have to wait weeks to enjoy your winnings.

Mobile Gameplay

Betting on smartphones is the way to go. All the best sportsbooks now offer full mobile support so you can place college football bowl game bets wherever you are.

Customer Support

Great customer support is essential if you run into problems. Speak via live chat to a trained help member or contact the sportsbook by phone or email. The best online sportsbooks will also provide a Help Center listing answers to all the usual queries.

FAQ

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