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College football's bowl season finally gets underway this weekend; here's a look at some early matchups on the bowl schedule with their updated betting lines. For full betting previews for every bowl game for December and January head to OddsShark.com.
New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico (7-5) vs Arizona (6-6)
A disappointing season in Tucson for the Arizona Wildcats has led them to the New Mexico Bowl against the New Mexico Lobos, where they're 8.5-point betting favorites. The Wildcats have gone 1-4 against the spread in their last five bowls, and they had a losing record in the Pac-12 this year at 3-6 to finish fifth in the South Division.
The Lobos were second in the MWC's Mountain Division at 5-3, and they too have struggled in the postseason with six losses in their last seven bowls. New Mexico is winless in its past six meetings with Pac-12 schools but 3-0 ATS in its last three games against Arizona.
Las Vegas Bowl: BYU (9-3) vs Utah (9-3)
Two of the premier college football programs in the state of Utah will invade Vegas when the Utah Utes take on the BYU Cougars in the Las Vegas Bowl. Utah is a consensus 2.5-point favorite, but that is not necessarily a good thing considering the underdog has gone 5-0 against the spread in the past five meetings.
However, BYU has been the favorite in the last three games between the teams, losing all of them en route to going 3-7 ATS in the past 10 meetings. Another positive trend for the Utes involves the favorite in the Las Vegas Bowl, which has won the last 10 straight-up and gone 7-3 ATS during that stretch.
Camellia Bowl: Ohio (8-4) vs Appalachian State (10-2)
The Appalachian State Mountaineers will be making their first bowl appearance at the FBS level when they square off against the Ohio Bobcats as 7.5-point betting favorites in the Camellia Bowl. The Mountaineers are best known for upsetting Michigan 34-32 as 33-point road underdogs in 2007, but they are coming off an outstanding campaign that saw them finish second in the Sun Belt, winning nine of their last 10 games.
The Bobcats placed second in the MAC's East Division and closed out the regular season strong with three straight wins following a three-game losing streak. Ohio has also enjoyed past success versus Sun Belt foes, going 5-0 straight-up and against the spread in their last five games.
AutoNation Cure Bowl: San Jose State (5-7) vs. Georgia State (6-6)
The San Jose State Spartans face the Georgia State Panthers in the AutoNation Cure Bowl as one of three teams playing in a bowl without earning the requisite six wins. The Spartans, 2.5-point favorites for this matchup, have gone 4-1 straight-up and against the spread in their last five games following a loss.
Meanwhile, the Panthers were the fourth-best team in the Sun Belt at 5-3, and six of their seven wins over their past 30 games came this season. Georgia State is 5-0 ATS in its last five games after a win while San Jose State has gone 3-7 ATS in its past 10 versus the Sun Belt.
New Orleans Bowl: Arkansas State (9-3) vs Louisiana Tech (8-4)
The Arkansas State Red Wolves will square off against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on Saturday, hoping to become the sixth underdog in eight years to win the New Orleans Bowl. The dog is 5-2 straight-up and against the spread in the past seven New Orleans Bowls, although that trend could take another loss here considering how well Louisiana Tech has performed versus Sun Belt teams.
The Bulldogs have won nine in a row against the conference, and they have also gone 8-0 ATS in their last eight games after losing as a favorite. However, Arkansas State brings an eight-game winning streak into the game and has won in two of its last three bowl appearances both SU and ATS.
Miami Beach Bowl: South Florida (8-4) vs Western Kentucky (11-2)
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will look to stop a three-game postseason winning streak for the South Florida Bulls when they meet in the Miami Beach Bowl on Monday. The Bulls, set as 3-point underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com, are 3-0 straight-up and against the spread in their last three bowl appearances, and they have also won four in a row SU and ATS heading into this game.
The Hilltoppers won Conference USA after going 8-0 and beating the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 45-28 in the title game. Western Kentucky has covered three straight and went 8-4-1 ATS during the regular season overall.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Akron (7-5) vs Utah State (6-6)
The Akron Zips have won four straight games heading into the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against the Utah State Aggies on Tuesday. The Zips have also gone 4-0 against the spread during their winning streak yet find themselves as 6.5-point underdogs versus a Utah State team with one less victory.
The Aggies have dropped three of four SU and ATS, but they have won an impressive 15 of their last 18 following a loss. The favorite has won eight of the past 11 Potato Bowls, which also works in Utah State's favor.
Boca Raton Bowl: Temple (10-3) vs Toledo (9-2)
The Toledo Rockets bring an incredible spread record into Tuesday's Boca Raton Bowl as they take on the Temple Owls. The Rockets have covered the number in all of their nine wins this season, also going 11-2 against the spread in their past 13 dating back to last year.
Despite being a small underdog in this matchup, Toledo has won five of the past six meetings with Temple straight up and ATS as well. The Owls got off to their best start in school history this year at 7-0 before going 3-3 in their last six games.
