Betting guide to bowl season
Bowl season is here! With playoff expansion and constant player and coach movement diminishing the importance of bowl games, this year could see more absences than ever before. Still, plenty of prominent players are eager to compete for pride and showcase their talents.
Keeping track of who's in and who's out is more challenging than ever before. That's what we're here for. Over the next three weeks, we'll provide the necessary information for most of the relevant bowl games, including injuries, opt-outs, spread insights, and more.
In addition to the playoff games (which we'll cover in separate previews), there are 35 bowl matchups this season. We'll provide key betting info for at least 25 of them, so check back here throughout for all the information you need!
👉 Find the entire bowl schedule and odds on theScore bet here
Wednesday Dec. 31
ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa Bay)
Game time: 12 p.m.
What to know:
- Line opened with Vanderbilt as 3.5-point favorites.
- Very few opt-out concerns on both sides of the field, aside from Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers. Heisman candidate Diego Pavia should start for the Commodores.
Sun Bowl (El Paso)
Game time: 2 p.m.
What to know:
- Offensive standout Jordyn Tyson declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and will miss this game for Arizona State. As did running back Raleek Brown, who rushed for 1,141 yards for the Sun Devils this season.
- Arizona State starting quarterback Sam Leavitt entered the portal. Backup Jeff Sims should start in his place.
- No notable roster concerns for Duke.
Citrus Bowl (Orlando)
Game time: 3 p.m.
What to know:
- Michigan hired former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham to fill the vacancy left by the firing of Sherrone Moore.
- Starting quarterback Bryce Underwood will start for the Wolverines.
- Three opt-outs (edge Derrick Moore, linebacker Jaishawn Barham, and guard Giovanni El-Hadi) will not play. Michigan's roster remains intact aside from opt-outs and injuries.
- Texas will be without seven of its top 11 defenders in terms of snap counts.
- Longhorns will also have a new defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp.
- Texas will likely be without its leading rusher, Quintrevion Wisner, who entered the transfer portal.
Las Vegas Bowl
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
What to know:
- Morgan Scalley will fill in for the departed Whittingham as Utah's head coach.
- Nebraska's starting running back, Emmett Johnson, won't play after declaring for the draft.
- Utah is missing both starting offensive tackles, Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, who both declared for the NFL draft.
CFP quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Our betting preview of the CFP quarterfinals can be found here.
Thursday Jan. 1
CFP quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl
Game time: 12 p.m.
Our betting preview of the CFP quarterfinals can be found here.
CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl
Game time: 4 p.m.
Our betting preview of the CFP quarterfinals can be found here.
CFP quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl
Game time: 8 p.m.
Our betting preview of the CFP quarterfinals can be found here.
Friday Jan. 2
Liberty Bowl (Memphis)
Game time: 4:30 p.m.
What to know:
- No notable issues with Navy's roster.
- Cincinnati is missing six starters, including quarterback Brendan Sorsby and four defensive backs.
- Line opened with Cincinnati as a 1.5-point favorite.
Duke's Mayo Bowl (Charlotte)
Game time: 8 p.m.
What to know:
- Wake Forest will be without running back Demond Claiborne, who declared for the draft.
Holiday Bowl (San Diego)
Game time: 8 p.m.
What to know:
- No notable roster concerns as of Dec. 29.
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