by Since 2008, 49% of single-digit underdogs cover the spread in bowl games. Among the 49% that cover, 78% win outright.
The SEC is 0-4 vs ranked non-conference Power Five opponents this season.
The Pac-12 Championship loser is 0-11 in bowl games since 2012.
The Pac 12 is 3-10 in the previous 13 bowl games. (Cal is the last team to win a bowl game in the state of California)
The three schools currently with the most player opt outs this bowl season:
- Coastal Carolina (19)
- Texas A&M (18)
- UNC (17)
Oklahoma State is entering its 18th consecutive bowl game under Mike Gundy (longest active streak among FBS coaches at one program).
Since 2015, OKST has had 31 games where the spread landed between -4 and +4. Mike Gundy’s Cowboys won 24 of them and have gone 21–8-3 ATS. The Pokes are 2.5-point dogs against Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl.
New Mexico Bowl
This will be the 20th meeting between Fresno State and New Mexico State. The Bulldogs lead the series 18-1 (R.I.P. the WAC).
Frisco Bowl
UTSA is 0-4 (2-2 ATS) in bowl games in school history.
Boca Raton Bowl
USF is 3-11 straight up as an underdog and Syracuse is 9-1 as a favorite over the past two seasons. ‘Cuse is currently three-point favorites over the Bulls ahead of next Thursday’s contest.
Birmingham Bowl
Troy currently owns the second-longest bowl winning streak with five straight victories. The Trojans are 7.5-point favorites against Duke next weekend.
Quick Lane Bowl
Minnesota has failed to cover in 6 of its last 8 games as a favorite, losing three of them outright. The Golden Gophers are 4.5-point favorites against BGSU.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
North Carolina is 4-10 in bowl games since 2000. A West Virginia win would give the program its first nine-win season since going 10-3 in 2016.
Holiday Bowl
Since 2014, USC has been an underdog 29 times. The Trojans have pulled just three upsets — two vs. Utah and the other at undefeated and eventual CFP semifinalist Washington in 2016. They are 7.5-point dogs against Louisville.
Alamo Bowl
The last 14 Alamo Bowl games have averaged 66.2 points with the winning team averaging 40.3.
Peach Bowl
With a win over Ole Miss, James Franklin would have four different NY6 trophies in 10 seasons.
Rose Bowl
This is the first time Alabama is an underdog to a team not named Georgia since the 2009 SEC title game (beat Florida 32-13 as 4.5-point dogs).
Sugar Bowl
Dating back to 2008, Texas is 6-17-1 ATS as a favorite against ranked teams, losing 11 of its last 18 games outright as a favorite against a ranked opponent (-4.5 vs Washington).
Enjoy bowl season everyone!