College Football Bowl Game Picks Against The Spread: RotoWire Staff Picks

College Football Bowl Game Picks Against The Spread: RotoWire Staff Picks

This article is part of our Bowl Game Pick 'Em series.

College Football Bowl Picks: Staff Picks for the 2025-26 Bowl Season

The holiday season has arrived, and with it, what everyone really craves: bowl games with random sponsors like the "Xbox Bowl" and the "Pop-Tarts Bowl."

Unfortunately, multiple teams have opted against playing in bowls this season, for various reasons, and there may be some questions as to how long bowls in their current format will continue to exist, especially if the College Football Playoff expands further.

While we still have it, let's enjoy the fun times and  get into some picks for the 2025

  • All picks are against the spread
  • Losing picks are noted as such
  • Pushes are italicized
  • All odds as of 12/10

Before we get into this season, here's a look at how our staff of writers fared last season against the spread if you had bet each game at the time we picked, for those interested in following certain picks.

2024-25 Final Standings

Now, let's get into bowl season with selections for the 2025-26 bowl season.

2025-26 Leaderboard

Updated every few days once games start

Note: All picks are based on information available at the time of posting, so best bets, spreads, etc., may not remain the same if opt-outs and other conditions change.

College Football Bowl Odds

As of Monday, Dec. 8

Bowl GameFavoriteSpreadUnderdogCorrect PickFV Pick CtUD Pick Ct
LA BowlWashington8.5Boise State 116
Veterans BowlTroy4Jax State 116
Cure Bowl

College Football Bowl Picks: Staff Picks for the 2025-26 Bowl Season

The holiday season has arrived, and with it, what everyone really craves: bowl games with random sponsors like the "Xbox Bowl" and the "Pop-Tarts Bowl."

Unfortunately, multiple teams have opted against playing in bowls this season, for various reasons, and there may be some questions as to how long bowls in their current format will continue to exist, especially if the College Football Playoff expands further.

While we still have it, let's enjoy the fun times and  get into some picks for the 2025

  • All picks are against the spread
  • Losing picks are noted as such
  • Pushes are italicized
  • All odds as of 12/10

Before we get into this season, here's a look at how our staff of writers fared last season against the spread if you had bet each game at the time we picked, for those interested in following certain picks.

2024-25 Final Standings

Now, let's get into bowl season with selections for the 2025-26 bowl season.

2025-26 Leaderboard

Updated every few days once games start

Note: All picks are based on information available at the time of posting, so best bets, spreads, etc., may not remain the same if opt-outs and other conditions change.

College Football Bowl Odds

As of Monday, Dec. 8

Bowl GameFavoriteSpreadUnderdogCorrect PickFV Pick CtUD Pick Ct
LA BowlWashington8.5Boise State 116
Veterans BowlTroy4Jax State 116
Cure BowlSouth Florida6.5Old Dominion 143
68 Ventures BowlLouisiana3Delaware 512
Xbox BowlArkansas State2.5Missouri State 107
Myrtle Beach BowlWestern Michigan4Kennesaw State 89
Gasparilla BowlNC State5.5Memphis 89
Famous Idaho Potato BowlUtah State3.5Washington State 98
Boca Raton BowlLouisville9Toledo 116
New Orleans BowlWestern Kentucky4Southern Miss 710
Frisco BowlUNLV4.5Ohio 107
Hawai'i BowlCalifornia2.5Hawaii 107
Gameabove Sports BowlNorthwestern12.5Central Michigan 89
Rate BowlMinnesota3New Mexico 125
First Responder BowlUTSA9.5FIU 611
Military BowlPittsburgh6East Carolina 125
Pinstripe BowlClemson3.5Penn State 710
Fenway BowlArmy3UConn 611
Pop-Tarts BowlBYU3Georgia Tech 107
Arizona BowlFresno State3.5Miami (Ohio) 107
New Mexico BowlNorth Texas3.5San Diego State 107
Gator BowlMissouri7Virginia 98
Texas BowlHouston3LSU 89
Birmingham BowlGeorgia Southern2.5App State 116
Independence BowlLouisiana Tech7.5Coastal Carolina 116
Music City BowlTennessee5.5Illinois 89
Alamo BowlUSC6.5TCU 98
Reliaquest BowlVanderbilt4Iowa 134
Sun BowlDuke1.5Arizona State 98
Citrus BowlTexas5.5Michigan 107
Las Vegas BowlUtah14Nebraska 116
Armed Forces BowlTexas State10.5Rice 107
Liberty BowlCincinnati1.5Navy 89
Duke's Mayo BowlMississippi State3Wake Forest 98
Holiday BowlArizona3SMU 134
CFP First RoundAlabamaEvenOklahoma 116
CFP First RoundTexas A&M3.5Miami 98
CFP First RoundOle Miss16.5Tulane 116
CFP First RoundOregon21James Madison 125

Examining the Odds and Pick Dispersal

While pick dispersal tends to be erratic across the board, with a healthy 12 of the bowls showing a 9-8 split on opinions against the spread, that's just what Vegas wants to see. On the other hand, our staff seems to have stronger opinions on certain games, with 14 games featuring an 11-6 split in picks or greater for the favorite of the contest and only three underdogs with such a hefty split. 

Perhaps there is some favorite bias here, and perhaps some of these lines have baked-in opt-out expectations that our staff hasn't completely accounted for yet. In any event, it's interesting to see the consensus weighs heavily toward the favorites.

College Football Bowl Picks

Without further ado, here are the staff's selections for the 2025-25 bowl season, broken down individually.

Writers' most confident pick in bold. Selections made based on info available by Dec. 10

Chris BenzineChris MorganDaniel DobishMichael CoyleChris Bennett
WashingtonBoise StateBoise StateWashingtonBoise State
TroyJax StateJax StateTroyJax State
South FloridaSouth FloridaOld DominionSouth FloridaSouth Florida
DelawareLouisianaDelawareDelawareDelaware
Missouri StateArkansas StateMissouri StateArkansas StateMissouri State
Western MichiganWestern MichiganKennesaw StateKennesaw StateWestern Michigan
NC StateNC StateMemphisMemphisNC State
Utah StateWashington StateUtah StateUtah StateWashington State
LouisvilleLouisvilleToledoLouisvilleLouisville
Southern MissWestern KentuckySouthern MissSouthern MissWestern Kentucky
UNLVUNLVOhioUNLVUNLV
HawaiiHawaiiHawaiiHawaiiCalifornia
Central MichiganNorthwesternCentral MichiganNorthwesternNorthwestern
New MexicoMinnesotaNew MexicoMinnesotaMinnesota
FIUFIUFIUFIUFIU
East CarolinaEast CarolinaEast CarolinaPittsburghPittsburgh
ClemsonPenn StateClemsonClemsonClemson
UConnUConnUConnUConnUConn
BYUGeorgia TechGeorgia TechBYUGeorgia Tech
Fresno StateFresno StateFresno StateFresno StateFresno State
San Diego StateSan Diego StateNorth TexasNorth TexasSan Diego State
VirginiaVirginiaVirginiaVirginiaMissouri
HoustonHoustonHoustonHoustonLSU
Georgia SouthernGeorgia SouthernApp StateGeorgia SouthernGeorgia Southern
Coastal CarolinaLouisiana TechCoastal CarolinaLouisiana TechLouisiana Tech
TennesseeIllinoisIllinoisTennesseeIllinois
TCUUSCTCUTCUUSC
IowaVanderbiltIowaVanderbiltVanderbilt
DukeArizona StateDukeDukeArizona State
TexasMichiganMichiganTexasTexas
UtahUtahNebraskaUtahUtah
Texas StateRiceRiceTexas StateTexas State
NavyCincinnatiNavyCincinnatiNavy
Wake ForestWake ForestWake ForestWake ForestWake Forest
ArizonaArizonaArizonaArizonaSMU
OklahomaOklahomaAlabamaOklahomaAlabama
Texas A&MTexas A&MTexas A&MTexas A&MMiami
Ole MissTulaneTulaneOle MissOle Miss
James MadisonOregonJames MadisonOregonOregon
Steven BorodkinHenry BredemeierSeamus RohrerRJ CarrelEd Kensik
WashingtonWashingtonWashingtonWashingtonWashington
Jax StateTroyTroyTroyTroy
Old DominionSouth FloridaSouth FloridaSouth FloridaSouth Florida
DelawareDelawareDelawareDelawareLouisiana
Arkansas StateArkansas StateMissouri StateArkansas StateArkansas State
Western MichiganKennesaw StateKennesaw StateWestern MichiganWestern Michigan
MemphisMemphisMemphisMemphisMemphis
Utah StateWashington StateWashington StateWashington StateUtah State
LouisvilleLouisvilleLouisvilleLouisvilleLouisville
Western KentuckyWestern KentuckySouthern MissWestern KentuckyWestern Kentucky
UNLVOhioUNLVUNLVOhio
HawaiiCaliforniaCaliforniaCaliforniaHawaii
NorthwesternCentral MichiganNorthwesternNorthwesternNorthwestern
New MexicoMinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota
FIUUTSAFIUUTSAUTSA
PittsburghEast CarolinaPittsburghPittsburghEast Carolina
Penn StatePenn StateClemsonPenn StatePenn State
UConnArmyUConnArmyArmy
BYUGeorgia TechBYUGeorgia TechBYU
Fresno StateMiami (Ohio)Fresno StateFresno StateMiami (Ohio)
North TexasNorth TexasNorth TexasNorth TexasNorth Texas
VirginiaVirginiaVirginiaMissouriMissouri
LSUHoustonLSULSULSU
Georgia SouthernApp StateApp StateApp StateGeorgia Southern
Coastal CarolinaCoastal CarolinaCoastal CarolinaLouisiana TechLouisiana Tech
TennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeIllinois
TCUUSCUSCUSCUSC
VanderbiltVanderbiltVanderbiltVanderbiltVanderbilt
Arizona StateArizona StateArizona StateDukeDuke
TexasTexasMichiganTexasMichigan
UtahNebraskaUtahUtahUtah
Texas StateRiceTexas StateTexas StateRice
CincinnatiNavyCincinnatiNavyNavy
Mississippi StateMississippi StateMississippi StateMississippi StateMississippi State
SMUArizonaArizonaArizonaArizona
AlabamaAlabamaAlabamaAlabamaOklahoma
Texas A&MMiamiMiamiMiamiTexas A&M
Ole MissTulaneOle MissOle MissOle Miss
OregonOregonJames MadisonOregonOregon
Ohio StateOhio StateOhio StateOhio StateIndiana
Jake BlanchardNick GraysGreg VaraSam KleinJeff Edgerton
WashingtonBoise StateBoise StateWashingtonWashington
TroyTroyTroyTroyJax State
South FloridaOld DominionSouth FloridaSouth FloridaSouth Florida
LouisianaLouisianaDelawareLouisianaDelaware
Arkansas StateMissouri StateArkansas StateArkansas StateMissouri State
Kennesaw StateKennesaw StateKennesaw StateKennesaw StateWestern Michigan
NC StateNC StateNC StateMemphisNC State
Utah StateWashington StateUtah StateUtah StateUtah State
LouisvilleToledoToledoLouisvilleToledo
Southern MissSouthern MissSouthern MissSouthern MissSouthern Miss
OhioOhioUNLVUNLVOhio
CaliforniaHawaiiCaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia
Central MichiganCentral MichiganCentral MichiganCentral MichiganNorthwestern
MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesotaNew MexicoMinnesota
UTSAFIUFIUUTSAFIU
PittsburghPittsburghPittsburghPittsburghPittsburgh
Penn StatePenn StatePenn StateClemsonClemson
UConnUConnArmyArmyArmy
Georgia TechBYUBYUGeorgia TechBYU
Miami (Ohio)Miami (Ohio)Miami (Ohio)Fresno StateMiami (Ohio)
North TexasNorth TexasSan Diego StateSan Diego StateNorth Texas
MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
LSULSUHoustonLSUHouston
Georgia SouthernApp StateGeorgia SouthernGeorgia SouthernGeorgia Southern
Louisiana TechLouisiana TechCoastal CarolinaLouisiana TechLouisiana Tech
TennesseeIllinoisIllinoisIllinoisTennessee
TCUTCUUSCTCUUSC
VanderbiltIowaVanderbiltVanderbiltVanderbilt
DukeArizona StateDukeArizona StateDuke
MichiganMichiganTexasTexasTexas
NebraskaNebraskaNebraskaNebraskaUtah
Texas StateRiceRiceRiceTexas State
NavyNavyCincinnatiCincinnatiCincinnati
Mississippi StateWake ForestWake ForestMississippi StateMississippi State
SMUArizonaArizonaSMUArizona
AlabamaAlabamaOklahomaAlabamaAlabama
MiamiTexas A&MTexas A&MMiamiTexas A&M
TulaneTulaneTulaneOle MissOle Miss
James MadisonOregonOregonOregonOregon
Ohio StateGeorgiaOhio StateGeorgiaOhio State
John McKechnieLuke Nemoir
Boise StateWashington
Jax StateTroy
South FloridaSouth Florida
DelawareDelaware
Missouri StateArkansas State
Kennesaw StateWestern Michigan
MemphisNC State
Washington StateWashington State
ToledoToledo
Western KentuckySouthern Miss
UNLVOhio
CaliforniaCalifornia
Central MichiganCentral Michigan
New MexicoMinnesota
FIUUTSA
PittsburghPittsburgh
Penn StatePenn State
UConnUConn
BYUBYU
Fresno StateMiami (Ohio)
San Diego StateSan Diego State
VirginiaMissouri
HoustonLSU
App StateGeorgia Southern
Louisiana TechLouisiana Tech
IllinoisIllinois
USCTCU
VanderbiltIowa
DukeArizona State
MichiganTexas
UtahUtah
Texas StateTexas State
CincinnatiNavy
Mississippi StateWake Forest
ArizonaArizona
OklahomaAlabama
MiamiMiami
Ole MissOle Miss
James MadisonOregon
GeorgiaIndiana

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Benzine
Chris is the college football editor and the Kansas City Chiefs beat writer. He's a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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