Bowl season has been declining in relevance since college football decided to try and figure out a way to crown a true national champion in the late 1990s. Check the NCAAF Bowl bets.
In the last ten years, that has accelerated with players opting out to focus on the draft and others moving schools in the transfer portal.
However, there are plenty of fun matchups between programs that had strong regular seasons on the schedule.
Determining which games are fit for college football picks and parlays requires finding matchups where teams and coaches are motivated to win games.
Here’s a look at a few NCAAF bowl bets that can be combined to get better NCAAF odds.
SMU Mustangs vs. BYU Cougars
BYU and SMU play a game on the NCAAF schedule for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
While the Cougars are 3-0 all-time against the Mustangs, the two programs have produced a memorable bowl game before. In the 1980 Holiday Bowl, BYU won 46-45.
Behind future Chicago Bears legend Jim McMahon, the Cougars outscored SMU 27-7 in the fourth quarter to complete a come-from-behind win.
This year’s matchup could produce a similar outcome in terms of points scored.
SMU Mustangs is a four-point favorite, and the over/under has been set at 64 points.
SMU Mustangs
People looking at NCAAF standings may be initially puzzled at only seeing SMU with a 7-5 record.
Mustangs quarterback Tanner Mordecai has been effective all season. He’s passed for 3,306 yards, along with 31 touchdowns and only nine interceptions.
Senior wide receiver Rashee Rice has also hauled in 96 passes for 1,355 yards and ten touchdowns.
People looking to make NCAAF bowl bets are likely to be scared away from betting SMU as four-point favorites based on its defense. The Mustangs have been routinely gashed by their opponents this season.
SMU allows 203.3 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 121st nationally. The Mustangs also allow their opponents to put up 34.7 points per game, which ranks 123rd.
SMU will likely see this game against BYU turn into another track meet.
BYU Cougars
BYU Cougars is likely grateful it won’t have to work as hard to schedule NCAAF games in the near future. The Cougars are gearing up to join the Big 12 and have a more secure football future.
But BYU will have to make some tweaks from where it is now to compete with the top dogs of the Big 12.
BYU, which is 7-5 overall this season, has an excellent offense.
The Cougars score 31.9 points per game and are in the top 60 nationally in most offensive categories. However, much like SMU, BYU has a hard time stopping people.
The Cougars allow 30 points per game, which ranks 100th nationally. BYU allows opponents to gain 410 yards per game and puts up 235.8 passing yards per game.
NCAAF Pick: Over 64 (-109)
Washington State Cougars vs. Fresno State Bulldogs
College football odds show that Fresno State is highly regarded enough by oddsmakers to be 3.5-point favorites in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.
The Bulldogs are -167 on the moneyline, while Washington State is +135. The over/under is 52 points.
Washington State
When it comes to NCAAF bowl bets, anyone backing the Cougars will need to believe in Washington State’s air raid offense. Washington State has started to roll on offense in the last month, putting up 30 or more points in three of their last four games.
The Washington State Cougars‘ offense has hit its rough patches this season, as Washington State is 72nd nationally in scoring at 72.8 points per game.
The Cougars’ defense has been solid, ranking 33rd nationally by allowing 22.4 points per game.
Fresno State
The Bulldog’s run to a Mountain West crown was solidified when quarterback Jake Haener returned from one of the season’s most damaging college football injuries. Fresno State responded by ripping off eight straight wins. Anyone making NCAAF bowl bets will be happy to know Haener is playing for the Bulldogs.
Fresno State Bulldogs, which is 9-4 overall and 6-7 against the spread, is a well-rounded team. The Bulldogs are especially excellent on defense.
Fresno State ranks 23rd nationally in passing yards allowed and 25th in points allowed. The Bulldogs will be able to pull away and win this one. Fresno State will prove to have too much for the Cougars.
NCAAF Pick: Fresno State -3.5 (-112)
Parlay Pick
NCAAF Pick: Two-legged Parlay (+263)
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