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: 21-25 point range

Salute to Veterans Bowl Analysis: 

Troy might be without starting quarterback Goose Crowder, who was injured in the Sun Belt Championship game, though backup Tucker Kilcrease started seven games when Crowder was injured earlier this year. 

The potential quarterback change probably doesn’t make a significant impact, as neither handles pressure well, which could be a deciding factor in this contest. 

Check out how these teams stack up in the pass protection battle based on opponent-adjusted data from Sports Info Solutions:

• Troy: ranked 126th in pressure rate allowed
• Jacksonville State: ranked 32nd in pressure rate generated

This is problematic because Kilcrease and Crowder rank 146th and 149th, respectively, out of 153 qualifiers in sack rate versus pressure. 

Troy might also be without starting running back Tae Meadows, who is planning to enter the portal. 

Jacksonville State throws the ball at a rate 12% below expected based on situation data from Campus2Canton, and meets a friendly run defense in Troy. 

The Gamecocks' spread offense creates light boxes for its running backs 62% of the time, which could exploit a weakness in the Trojan defense. 

Troy is used to playing with light boxes due to its 3-3-5 scheme, but has been helpless against the run, allowing 6.0 yards per attempt to running backs when in a light box (ranked 108th). 

Cam Cook, a former four-star recruit who transferred in from TCU, should run all over the Trojan defense.

Cure Bowl: Old Dominion vs. South Florida

• Predicted Winner: Old Dominion
• Confidence Points: 6-10 point range

Cure Bowl Analysis: 

Old Dominion has one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, but will be without starting quarterback Colton Joseph, who has entered the portal, likely in search of a power-conference program to suit up for in 2026. 

Joseph is a capable passer but also led the Monarchs in rushing yards — his 1,107 yards on the ground (excluding sacks) rank third among FBS quarterbacks. 

Redshirt-freshman Quinn Henicle will start in place of Joseph. 

Henicle may keep the offense on track, as we saw his running ability on display in a start against Arkansas State last year when he ran for 220 yards, excluding sacks. 

However, that was a terrible Arkansas State defense (ranked 125th in rushing defense), and the Bulls likely pose more of a challenge. 

Henicle should also have some success with ODU’s quick-strike passing attack, which could exploit a weakness in USF’s defense. 

Old Dominion has relied on quick dropbacks (zero/one-step dropbacks and RPOs) at the nation’s highest rate (79%), and USF’s defense only ranks 66th in yards per attempt allowed against those types of plays. 

Although Joseph is a significant loss for ODU, offseason moves have hit USF considerably harder.

They will be without head coach Alex Golesh and a few other offensive coaches (all headed to Auburn) as well as quarterback Byrum Brown (who is serving as an assistant coach instead). 

Unlike ODU, the Bulls don’t have a similar quarterback to plug in. 

Brown is a run-first quarterback, leading USF with 1,121 yards (excluding sacks). 

Sixth-year senior Gaston Moore, a transfer from Tennessee, will make his first career start in Brown’s place. 

Moore has played 220 offensive snaps in his career, carrying the ball just 11 times for 51 yards, so expect USF to lean more on its running backs and the quick passing game. 

USF utilizes quick dropbacks at the nation’s second-highest rate (62%), but ODU ranks 15th in the country in yards per attempt allowed against those plays. 

It’s also worth noting ODU has just one bowl victory in program history (2016 Bahamas Bowl), so there could be stronger motivation on that side of the field. 

68 Ventures Bowl: Louisiana vs. Delaware

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

68 Ventures Bowl Analysis: 

Louisiana leans heavily on the run, which could be problematic for a struggling Delaware defense. 

According to Campus2Canton, Louisiana runs the ball at a rate 9.2% above expected based on situational data. 

The Ragin' Cajuns certainly don’t have a dominant run game, but they should be able to handle Delaware based on these opponent-adjusted numbers from Sports Info Solutions:

• Louisiana: ranked 76th in yards before contact
• Delaware: ranked 92nd in yards before contact allowed
• Louisiana: ranked 88th in yards after contact
• Delaware: ranked 113th in yards after contact allowed

The Blue Hens might be able to keep pace with their passing attack, however, as Louisiana’s lack of pass rush has made it vulnerable to pass-heavy offenses. 

Delaware throws the ball at a rate 10% above expected, and quarterback Nick Minicucci should have plenty of protection based on these opponent-adjusted stats:

• Delaware: ranked 64th in pressure rate allowed
• Louisiana: ranked 129th in pressure rate generated

Delaware’s ability to protect Minicucci is impressive given the rate at which he takes traditional dropbacks (three or more steps). 

Minicucci’s 65% traditional dropback rate is the 10th highest in the country, which tends to invite more pressure, but that won’t be an issue against Louisiana. 

The Ragin’ Cajuns rank 133rd in pressure rate generated against traditional dropbacks and 89th in yards per attempt allowed. 

Delaware went 4-2 this season when Minicucci was pressured on fewer than 30% of his dropbacks, and Louisiana only generated a pressure rate that high four times. 

Xbox Bowl: Missouri State vs. Arkansas State

• Predicted Winner: Missouri State
• Confidence Points: 11-15 point range

Xbox Bowl Analysis: 

Missouri State runs a pass-heavy offense but struggles to protect quarterback Jacob Clark, which could be an issue in this matchup. 

Check out the pass-protection battle based on opponent-adjusted numbers from Sports Info Solutions:

• Missouri State: ranked 118th in pressure rate allowed
• Arkansas State: ranked 84th in pressure rate generated

When the Bears are able to protect Clark, however, there will be plenty of big plays to be had against this Red Wolves defense. 

Missouri State’s offense ranks 14th in explosive play rate, while Arkansas State’s defense ranks 98th. 

Expect most of those big plays to come in the downfield passing game, as Clark ranks 10th in completion rate at 15 or more yards downfield (53%). 

The Red Wolves defense ranks 91st in completion rate allowed at that depth. 

If Missouri State protects Clark enough to have some success in the downfield passing game, Arkansas State might struggle to keep pace. 

The Red Wolves rank 121st in opponent-adjusted scoring offense and 118th in explosive play rate, so this is not a team built for a shootout. 

Missouri’s State’s weakness on defense is its run defense, but Arkansas State does not appear built to exploit that flaw based on these opponent-adjusted numbers from Sports Info Solutions:

• Arkansas State: ranked 92nd in yards before contact
• Missouri State: ranked 89th in yards before contact allowed
• Arkansas State: ranked 121st in yards after contact
• Missouri State: ranked 100th in yards after contact allowed

Myrtle Beach Bowl: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan

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

Myrtle Beach Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Gasparilla Bowl: Memphis vs. NC State

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

Gasparilla Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP First Round: Alabama at Oklahoma

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

Alabama-Oklahoma Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP First Round: Miami at Texas A&M

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

Miami-Texas A&M Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP First Round: Tulane at Ole Miss

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

Tulane-Ole Miss Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

CFP First Round: James Madison at Oregon

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

James Madison-Oregon Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Washington State vs. Utah State

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

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Boca Raton Bowl: Louisville vs. Toledo

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

Boca Raton Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss

• Predicted Winner: Western Kentucky
• Confidence Points: 11-15 point range

New Orleans Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Frisco Bowl: UNLV vs. Ohio

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

Frisco Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Hawaii Bowl: California vs. Hawaii

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

Hawaii Bowl Analysis:

Coming soon! 

GameAbove Sports Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Northwestern

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

GameAbove Sports Bowl Analysis: 

Coming soon! 

Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota

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

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: 11-15 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: 16-20 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: