College Football New Year's Day Preview

The new year delivers plenty of college football bowl action on Monday, including the two college football playoff semifinals in the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.

In the Rose Bowl the Michigan Wolverines face the Alabama Crimson Tide as 1.5-point favorites at the Bovada Sportsbook.

Michigan was undefeated this season at 13-0 straight up with a 7-5-1 record against the spread. That included going 7-2 ATS in their last nine games. The Wolverines haven’t had much luck in bowl games lately with six straight losses both SU and ATS, and they’re 1-8 SU and 2-7 ATS in their last nine bowls.

Alabama was 12-1 SU and 9-4 ATS this season. They finished the regular season with 11 straight wins and an 8-3 ATS record. As an underdog the Crimson Tide are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games, and as bowl game underdogs they’re 3-4 SU and ATS in their last seven.

In the 2020 Citrus Bowl Alabama defeated Michigan 35-16 as 7.5-point favorites.

Longhorns are betting favorites in the Sugar Bowl

In the Sugar Bowl the Texas Longhorns face the Washington Huskies as 4-point favorites.

Texas was 12-1 SU and 7-6 ATS this season. They’ve won seven straight with a 4-3 ATS record. As bowl game favorites the Longhorns are 9-1 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10.

Washington was undefeated this season at 13-0 SU with a 6-6-1 ATS record. In their last nine games they were a money-losing 3-5-1 ATS. As an underdog the Huskies have won four straight both SU and ATS, but as bowl game underdogs they’re 1-5 SU and 3-3 ATS in their last six.

Washington and Texas met in last year’s Alamo Bowl and the Huskies won 27-20 as 3-point underdogs.

Fiesta Bowl has the Ducks set as the betting chalk

Also on Monday in the Fiesta Bowl the Oregon Ducks face the Liberty Flames as 17-point favorites.

Oregon was 11-2 SU and 9-3-1 ATS this season. When favored the Ducks are 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games. In their last eight bowl games the Ducks are 2-6 ATS and as bowl game favorites they’ve lost four straight ATS.

Liberty was undefeated this season at 13-0 SU with a 9-4 ATS record. As underdogs the Flames have won five straight ATS and nine of their last 10 games. In four bowl games the Flames are 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS.

Volunteers favored over Hawkeyes in Citrus Bowl

And in the Citrus Bowl the Tennessee Volunteers face the Iowa Hawkeyes as 8-point favorites.

Tennessee was 8-4 SU and 6-6 ATS this season. The Volunteers have lost three straight ATS, and when favored they’re 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS in their last seven. In their last six bowl games they’re 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS.

Iowa was 10-3 SU and 6-6-1 ATS this season. They’ve been a solid UNDER play for totals bettors lately with eight straight UNDER results, and they’re 9-1 UNDER in their last 10 as an underdog. In their last five bowl games the Hawkeyes are 4-1 SU and 4-0-1 ATS.

In the 2014 TaxSlayer Bowl the Volunteers defeated the Hawkeyes 45-28 as 3-point favorites.