What Are ‘College Bowls’ in Sports Betting?
In sports betting, “College Bowls” refer to the series of postseason games in American NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). These games are the climax of the college football season, pitting top-ranked teams against each other in standalone, often high-profile matchups. For bettors, this period, stretching from mid-December to early January, represents a highly popular and action-packed wagering season.
Key Concepts of College Bowls
College bowl games are distinct from the regular season and conference championships. They serve as a reward for teams that have had a successful season, typically defined by achieving a winning record (usually six wins or more).
- Standalone Matchups: Each bowl game is a one-off event, often featuring teams from different conferences that would not normally play each other. This creates unique and intriguing matchups for analysis and betting.
- Neutral Sites: The majority of bowl games are played at neutral venues, often in cities with favorable winter weather, which is a key factor for bettors to consider when handicapping the games.
- Hierarchy and Prestige: The bowls vary significantly in prestige. The most elite are the “New Year’s Six” bowls, which include the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Peach Bowl. These games typically feature the highest-ranked teams. The pinnacle of the season is the College Football Playoff (CFP), a tournament whose semi-final and final games are hosted by these rotating bowl games.
College Bowls from a Betting Perspective
The bowl season is one of the most exciting times for sports bettors for several reasons, offering a wide array of betting opportunities.
Popular Bet Types
All the standard football betting markets are available for every bowl game:
- Point Spread: Betting on a team to win by a certain number of points, or to lose by less than that number.
- Moneyline: A straightforward bet on which team will win the game outright.
- Totals (Over/Under): Wagering on whether the combined total score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the bookmaker.
Why Bowl Games Are Unique for Bettors
Betting on bowl games presents a different challenge compared to the regular season:
- Unique Matchups: With teams from different conferences facing off, there is less common-opponent data to rely on. Bettors must analyze how different styles of play (e.g., a fast-paced offense vs. a dominant defense) will match up.
- Player Motivation: A key factor to consider is team motivation. Is a team excited to be in a particular bowl, or are they disappointed with their placement? Key players might also opt out of playing to prepare for the NFL Draft, which can significantly impact a team’s performance and the betting odds.
- Long Layoffs: Teams often have a layoff of three or more weeks between their final regular-season game and their bowl game. This extended break can affect team rhythm and provides significant time for preparation and for injuries to heal.
Proposition (Prop) Bets
Bowl season is also famous for a vast array of proposition bets. These are wagers on specific events within a game that don’t necessarily relate to the final outcome. Examples include:
- Which team will score first?
- Will a specific player score a touchdown?
- Over/under on a quarterback’s total passing yards.
- The result of the opening coin toss.
In summary, college bowls are the postseason of American college football, and for sports bettors, they represent a concentrated period of unique, high-stakes games filled with diverse betting opportunities.