College Bowl Game Predictions, Picks & Analysis for Every Game

The matchups for every 2025 Bowl Game as well as the College Football Playoff field have been announced.

The only thing left to do is dominate your bowl pick 'em pool.

We are here to help with predictions and analysis for every 2025 Bowl Game as well as some strategies to use in your bowl pick 'em pool.

These picks will continue to be updated throughout bowl season, especially as we get news of players opting out.

Since players opting out and transferring can wildly swing expectations for a game, it's advisable to join a pool in which you can change your selections up until the kickoff of each bowl game.

2025 Bowl Game Picks:

 

 

2025 Bowl Game Analysis and Predictions, Every Bowl Game:

Celebration Bowl: Prairie View A&M vs. South Carolina State

• Predicted Winner: Prairie View A&M
• Confidence Points: 1-5 point range

Celebration Bowl Analysis: 

Prairie View A&M is participating in its first Celebration Bowl after pulling off an upset of Jacksonville State to win the SWAC for the first time since 2009.

South Carolina State is in this game for the third time in the last five years, having lost last year and won in 2021.

Prairie View is the more balanced team, ranking third in scoring defense and 31st in scoring offense, whereas South Carolina State ranks 28th on offense and 63rd on defense. 

The Panther defense should be taken seriously, especially after holding a dangerous Jackson State offense to a season-low 244 yards. 

LA Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington

• Predicted Winner: Washington
• Confidence Points: 41-47 point range

LA Bowl Analysis: 

Boise State wants to run the ball with Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines, but that won’t be easy against a strong Washington defense. 

Check out the Huskies' opponent-adjusted numbers against the run: 

• Yards before contact allowed: ranked 15th
• Yards after contact allowed: ranked 14th

Boise’s offensive line also might take a hit if left tackle Kage Casey opts out (he’s already declared for the NFL Draft). 

Washington is not expected to have any opt-outs, which should allow the Huskies to have their way with a shaky Broncos defense. 

Washington ranks 11th in the country in explosive play rate, while Boise’s defense ranks 121st. 

Salute to Veterans Bowl: Troy vs. Jacksonville State

• Predicted Winner: Jacksonville State
• Confidence Points: 6-10

Salute to Veterans Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Cure Bowl: Old Dominion vs. South Florida

• Predicted Winner: South Florida
• Confidence Points: 21-25

Cure Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

68 Ventures Bowl: Louisiana vs. Delaware

• Predicted Winner: Louisiana
• Confidence Points: 11-15

68 Ventures Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Xbox Bowl: Missouri State vs. Arkansas State

• Predicted Winner: Arkansas State
• Confidence Points: 11-15

Xbox Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Myrtle Beach Bowl: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan

• Predicted Winner: Western Michigan
• Confidence Points: 21-25

Myrtle Beach Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Gasparilla Bowl: Memphis vs. NC State

• Predicted Winner: NC State
• Confidence Points: 21-25

Gasparilla Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP First Round: Alabama at Oklahoma

• Predicted Winner: Alabama
• Confidence Points: 11-15

Alabama-Oklahoma Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP First Round: Miami at Texas A&M

• Predicted Winner: Texas A&M
• Confidence Points: 16-20

Miami-Texas A&M Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP First Round: Tulane at Ole Miss

• Predicted Winner: Ole Miss
• Confidence Points: 41-47

Tulane-Ole Miss Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP First Round: James Madison at Oregon

• Predicted Winner: Oregon
• Confidence Points: 41-47

James Madison-Oregon Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Washington State vs. Utah State

• Predicted Winner: Utah State
• Confidence Points: 31-35

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Boca Raton Bowl: Louisville vs. Toledo

• Predicted Winner: Louisville
• Confidence Points: 41-47

Boca Raton Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss

• Predicted Winner: Western Kentucky
• Confidence Points: 6-10

New Orleans Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Frisco Bowl: UNLV vs. Ohio

• Predicted Winner: UNLV
• Confidence Points: 31-35

Frisco Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Hawaii Bowl: California vs. Hawaii

• Predicted Winner: California
• Confidence Points: 16-20

Hawaii Bowl Analysis:

Coming soon! 

GameAbove Sports Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Northwestern

• Predicted Winner: Northwestern
• Confidence Points: 21-25

GameAbove Sports Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota

• Predicted Winner: Minnesota
• Confidence Points: 36-40

Rate Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

First Responder Bowl: FIU vs. UTSA

• Predicted Winner: UTSA
• Confidence Points: 41-47 point range

First Responder Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Military Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina

• Predicted Winner: Pittsburgh
• Confidence Points: 26-30 point range

Military Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Pinstripe Bowl: Penn State vs. Clemson

• Predicted Winner: Clemson
• Confidence Points: 1-5 point range

Pinstripe Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Fenway Bowl: UConn vs. Army

• Predicted Winner: UConn
• Confidence Points: 1-5 point range

Fenway Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Pop-Tarts Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. BYU

• Predicted Winner: BYU
• Confidence Points: 41-47 point range

Pop-Tarts Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Arizona Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. Fresno State

• Predicted Winner: Fresno State
• Confidence Points: 26-30 point range

Arizona Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

New Mexico Bowl: North Texas vs. San Diego State

• Predicted Winner: North Texas
• Confidence Points: 11-15 point range

New Mexico Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Gator Bowl: Virginia vs. Missouri

• Predicted Winner: Missouri
• Confidence Points: 16-20 point range

Gator Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Texas Bowl: LSU vs. Houston

• Predicted Winner: Houston
• Confidence Points: 26-30 point range

Texas Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State

• Predicted Winner: Georgia Southern
• Confidence Points: 16-20 point range

Birmingham Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech

• Predicted Winner: Louisiana Tech
• Confidence Points: 36-40 point range

Independence Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Music City Bowl: Tennessee vs. Illinois

• Predicted Winner: Tennessee
• Confidence Points: 31-35 point range

Music City Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Alamo Bowl: USC vs. TCU

• Predicted Winner: USC
• Confidence Points: 31-35 point range

Alamo Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

ReliaQuest Bowl: Iowa vs. Vanderbilt

• Predicted Winner: Vanderbilt
• Confidence Points: 26-30 point range

ReliaQuest Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke

• Predicted Winner: Duke
• Confidence Points: 11-15 point range

Sun Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Texas

• Predicted Winner: Texas
• Confidence Points: 21-25 point range

Citrus Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. Utah

• Predicted Winner: Utah
• Confidence Points: 41-47 point range

Las Vegas Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP Quarterfinals: Miami/Texas A&M vs. Ohio State

• Predicted Winner: Coming soon!
• Confidence Points: Coming soon!

Miami/Texas A&M vs. Ohio State Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP Quarterfinals: James Madison/Oregon vs. Texas Tech

• Predicted Winner: Coming soon!
• Confidence Points: Coming soon!

James Madison/Oregon vs. Texas Tech Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP Quarterfinals: Alabama/Oklahoma vs. Indiana

• Predicted Winner: Coming soon!
• Confidence Points: Coming soon!

Alabama/Oklahoma vs. Indiana Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP Quarterfinals: Tulane/Ole Miss vs. Georgia

• Predicted Winner: Coming soon!
• Confidence Points: Coming soon!

Tulane/Ole Miss vs. Georgia Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Armed Forces Bowl: Rice vs. Texas State

• Predicted Winner: Texas State
• Confidence Points: 36-40 point range

Armed Forces Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Liberty Bowl: Navy vs. Cincinnati

• Predicted Winner: Cincinnati
• Confidence Points: 6-10 point range

Liberty Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Holiday Bowl: Arizona vs. SMU

• Predicted Winner: Arizona
• Confidence Points: 26-30 point range

Holiday Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State

• Predicted Winner: Wake Forest
• Confidence Points: 1-5 point range

Duke’s Mayo Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP Semifinals: TBD

• Predicted Winner: Coming soon!
• Confidence Points: Coming soon!

CFP Semifinals Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP Semifinals: TBD

• Predicted Winner: Coming soon!
• Confidence Points: Coming soon!

CFP Semifinals Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

National Championship Game: TBD

• Predicted Winner: Coming soon!
• Confidence Points: Coming soon!

National Championship Game Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

2025 Bowl Game Pick ‘Em Strategy:

In either straight-up bowl pick 'em or confidence pools, the goal is fairly simple.

Pick more correct games or score more points than everyone else.

Accomplishing that goal, however, is more involved than simply picking the games, especially in confidence pools.

In regular pick 'em pools, there will be a lot of overlap between entries.

In Splash Sports' $100K CFB Bowl Pick'em, for instance, there will be several teams with well over a 75% pick rate.

While it is not a great idea to deviate from those heavy favorites just for the fun of it, those games can offer a great opportunity to gain leverage on the field if the public is too confident in a certain team.

Often, this overconfidence is a result of the public missing important news, such as opt-outs or coaching changes.

Betting markets adjust quickly to that kind of news and are a great way to determine if the public is too confident in a specific team, since every moneyline comes with an implied probability of victory.

A -120 favorite (54.6% implied probability) selected by 80% of the field offers a great opportunity to go against the public.

Conversely, a -200 favorite (66.7% implied probability) selected by just 55% of the field is a great opportunity to go with the chalk and pick the favorite.

Identifying those situations is important because it differentiates your entry and increases your chances of winning if you get those swing games correct.

How often you need to make those swings depends on the size of your bowl pool.

In a small pool, it does not make sense to pick a ton of upsets. A few underdog picks should be enough to differentiate from a small number of entries.

A bigger pool, however, might require a bit more risk-taking to separate from the larger field.

Confidence pools add another layer to pick 'em strategy because they require entries to rank their selections, with their most confident pick usually worth 47 points and the least confident worth only 1 point.

The importance of those high-confidence games cannot be overstated. The 47-point pick is worth more than picks 1 through 9 combined.

However, those high-confidence picks also offer a great opportunity.

Assigning a higher point value to an undervalued team maximizes the advantage gained if that underdog can pull out the win.

Like with regular pick 'em pools, the size of a confidence pool affects how aggressive you should be with upset selections and their point values.

2025 Bowl Game Schedule: