New Year’s Day Bowl Betting Preview

College football kicks off the new year with four bowl games on Wednesday, including the Rose Bowl between the Oregon Ducks and the Wisconsin Badgers.

At Bovada Sportsbook, the Badgers are a 3-point favorite. The Badgers were a disappointing 3-4 against the spread in their last seven games, and when favored they’re 9-1 straight up and 7-3 ATS in their last 10. Wisconsin has won its last five bowl games while going 4-0-1 ATS.

The Ducks are 5-12 SU and 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 as an underdog. They’re 1-3 SU and ATS in their last four bowl games, and as an underdog in bowls they’re 6-1 ATS in their last seven.

In the 2012 Rose Bowl, Oregon defeated Wisconsin 45-38 as a 4.5-point favorite.

Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs Alabama

In the Citrus Bowl, the Alabama Crimson Tide face the Michigan Wolverines as a 7.5-point favorite. Alabama is only 6-6 ATS in its last 12 and in the Tide’s last seven games in January, they’re 1-5-1 ATS.

Michigan is 5-1 ATS in its last six, but as an underdog has lost 16 in a row while going 7-9 ATS. As an underdog in bowl games, the Wolverines are 2-6 SU and 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight.

In the 2000 Orange Bowl, the Wolverines edged the Crimson Tide 35-24 as a 2.5-point underdog.

Outback Bowl: Minnesota vs Auburn

In the Outback Bowl, the Auburn Tigers face the Minnesota Golden Gophers as a 7.5-point favorite.

Auburn is 11-1 SU and 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games as a favorite. As a bowl game favorite, the Tigers are 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS in their last seven.

Minnesota has lost its last two games as an underdog but in the last eight is 6-2 ATS. During bowl season, the Golden Gophers have won three straight SU and ATS, and they’re 5-2 ATS in their last seven as a bowl game underdog.

Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs Baylor

Finally, in this year’s Sugar Bowl, the Georgia Bulldogs take on the Baylor Bears as a 5-point favorite.

When favored, the Bulldogs have won six straight at 4-2 ATS. As a bowl game favorite, the Bulldogs are 4-2 SU and ATS in their last six, which includes last year’s Sugar Bowl which they lost to the Texas Longhorns 28-21 as a 13.5-point favorite.

Baylor has won five straight ATS, and as an underdog has won nine in a row ATS. As a bowl game underdog, the Bears have won four straight, including last year’s Texas Bowl, a 45-38 upset win over the Vanderbilt Commodores as a 4.5-point underdog.