College Football New Year’s Day Odds Preview

New Year’s Day delivers the usual college football bowl schedule starting with the annual Rose Bowl, albeit in a different location.

This year’s Rose Bowl, which is being played in Arlington, Texas, because COVID-19 has shut down California, features the Alabama Crimson Tide vs the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first College Football Playoff semifinal. At Bovada Sportsbook, the Crimson Tide are listed as a 20-point favorite.

Alabama finished the season a perfect 11-0 straight up with an 8-3 record against the spread. That includes a 7-1 ATS mark in the last eight. When listed as a double-digit favorite, the Crimson Tide have won 74 straight.

Notre Dame was 10-1 SU this season with a 5-6 ATS record. As an underdog, the Fighting Irish are 2-9 SU and 5-6 ATS in their last 11. The Irish have been a bad bet during bowl season with a 1-7 ATS record in their last eight games in January.

Alabama and Notre Dame last met up in the 2013 BCS championship game. Alabama won 42-14 as a 10-point favorite.

Clemson has covered spread in 10 of last 12 bowl games

In the Sugar Bowl, the Clemson Tigers are a 7.5-point favorite vs the Ohio State Buckeyes in the other CFP semifinal.

The Tigers were 10-1 SU this season with a 5-6 ATS record. In its last 12 bowl games, Clemson is 9-3 SU and 10-2 ATS. In January, Clemson has been a strong OVER play for totals bettors with a 6-1 OVER mark in its last seven.

Ohio State was 6-0 SU this season with a 3-3 record ATS. As an underdog, the Buckeyes are 7-1 SU and ATS in their last eight games.

In three games against Ohio State, Clemson is 3-0 SU and ATS. They last met up in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl, which Clemson won 29-23 as a 2.5-point favorite.

Bulldogs favored over unbeaten Bearcats in Peach Bowl

In the Peach Bowl, the Georgia Bulldogs face the Cincinnati Bearcats as a 7-point favorite.

Georgia was 7-2 SU and 5-4 ATS this season. In their last seven bowl games, the Bulldogs are 5-2 SU and 5-1-1 ATS. As a bowl game favorite, they’re 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five.

Cincinnati was 9-0 SU and 5-4 ATS this season. However, as an underdog, the Bearcats have won four straight ATS. In their last five bowl games, they’re 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS.

Northwestern, Auburn have both been UNDER machines

Finally, in the Citrus Bowl on Friday, the Northwestern Wildcats face the Auburn Tigers as a 3.5-point favorite.

Northwestern was 6-2 SU and 6-1-1 ATS this season. The Wildcats were a solid UNDER play for totals bettors at 7-1 UNDER. In bowl games, the Wildcats have won three straight at 2-1 ATS.

Auburn was only 6-4 SU and 5-5 ATS this season. The Tigers were also a profitable UNDER play for totals bettors at 6-1 UNDER in their last seven. As an underdog, the Tigers are 2-8 SU and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games.

Northwestern and Auburn met up in the 2010 Outback Bowl. The Tigers won 38-35 as a 9-point favorite.