College football odds, lines, predictions for bowl season, 2021-22: Proven model picks Oklahoma, Auburn

College football bowl season always creates intriguing matchups, and with 44 games on the schedule for 2021-22, there’s something for just about everybody regardless of what style of play you prefer. There are also plenty of different places to find value as a college football bettor. A good place to start is typically SEC vs. Big Ten matchups. The SEC is 59-33 all-time against the Big Ten in college football bowl games and the conferences will go head-to-head four times this bowl season.

The latest college football bowl odds from Caesars Sportsbook lists Tennessee as a three-point favorite over Purdue in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. However, Tennessee went just 4-7 against the spread this season, while Purdue was 7-5, so should you consider fading the trends as you place your college football bets for bowl season? Before making any college football picks for the 2021-22 bowl schedule, be sure to see the latest college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,700 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters the 2021-22 college football bowl season on a 43-29 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, it has turned its attention to the latest bowl season college football odds from Caesars and locked in picks for every FBS matchup. Head here to see every pick.

Top college football predictions for bowl season

One of the top college football picks the model is recommending for the 2021-22 bowl season: No. 16 Oklahoma (-3) covers against No. 14 Oregon in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29 at 9:15 p.m. ET. Former OU head coach Bob Stoops will return to lead the squad after Lincoln Riley bolted to USC last week. The Ducks will also have an interim as well with Mario Cristobal on his way to Miami. 

The model projects that it is Oklahoma’s offense that makes the biggest impact in this matchup. OU quarterback Caleb Williams throws for over 250 yards in the simulations as the Sooners put up 34 points. They cover almost 60 percent of the time, while the under (61.5) also hits in almost 60 percent of simulations.

Another one of the college football predictions from the model: Auburn (-3) covers against No. 23 Houston in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 28 at noon ET. The Tigers made it at high as No. 12 in Bryan Harsin’s first year as the head coach, but lost four consecutive games to end the season, including a heartbreaking loss to Alabama in overtime to end the regular season.

But having an extra month of practice is important for Harsin as he looks to rebuild one of the proudest programs in the nation and finishing the season with a winning record will also be important for momentum on the recruiting trail. Meanwhile, Dana Holgorsen’s Houston squad is coming off a 35-20 loss to Cincinnati in the AAC Championship Game and this could be a letdown spot after an 11-win season.

The Cougars lost and failed to cover in Holgorsen’s first bowl appearance against Hawaii last season and also lost/failed to cover in each of Major Applewhite’s three bowl games at the helm. Auburn will have a talent advantage here and Houston quarterback Clayton Tune’s threw four interceptions against his only other Power Five opponent (Texas Tech) this season. The model predicts he throws for just 228 yards and 1.55 touchdowns against 1.20 interceptions on average to help Auburn cover in nearly 60 percent of simulations.

How to make college football bowl picks 

The model has also made the call on who wins and covers in every other game during bowl season, and it’s projecting multiple shocking upsets. You can only get every pick for every game at SportsLine.

So what college football picks can you make with confidence? And which underdogs do you need to jump on now? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams win and cover the spread, all from a proven computer model that has returned almost $3,700 in profit over the past five-plus seasons, and find out.

College football odds for bowl season (via Caesars)

Here are the college football lines for bowl season:

Dec. 17:

Bahamas Bowl: Toledo vs. MTSU (+9.5, 53.5)

Cure Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Northern Illinois (+10, 62.5)

Dec. 18:

New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana vs. Marshall (+6, 51.5)

L.A. Bowl: Oregon State vs. Utah State (+7.5, 64.5)

LendingTree Bowl: Liberty vs. Eastern Michigan (+8.5, 57)

Independence Bowl: BYU vs. UAB (+7, 54.5)

New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State vs. UTEP (+12.5, 52)

Boca Raton Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Western Kentucky (+2.5, 67.5)

Dec. 20:

Myrtle Beach Bowl: Tulsa vs. Old Dominion (+9.5, 51.5)

Dec. 21:

Frisco Bowl: San Diego State vs. UTSA (-2.5, 49)

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Wyoming vs. Kent State (+3, 58.5)

Dec. 22: 

Armed Force Bowl: Army vs. Missouri (+3.5, 59.5)

Dec. 23: 

Gasparilla Bowl: Florida vs. UCF (+7.5, 56.5)

Frisco Football Classic Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. North Texas (+3.5)

Dec. 24:

Hawaii Bowl: Memphis vs. Hawaii (+3, 60)

Dec. 25:

Camellia Bowl: Ball State vs. Georgia State (-3.5, 49.5)

Dec. 27:

Military Bowl: Boston College vs. East Carolina (+3.5, 49.5)

Quick Lane Bowl: Nevada vs. Western Michigan (+2.5, 63)

Dec. 28:

Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Minnesota vs. West Virginia (+4.5, 44.5)

Liberty Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Texas Tech (+8, 60)

Holiday Bowl: UCLA vs. NC State (-1, 60)

First Responder Bowl: Air Force vs. Louisville (-1.5, 54.5)

Birmingham Bowl: Auburn vs. Houston (+3, 52)

Dec. 29:

Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Oregon (+3, 61.5)

Cheez-It Bowl: Iowa State vs. Clemson (-1, 45.5)

Pinstripe Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Maryland (+1.5, 54)

Fenway Bowl: SMU vs. Virginia (-1, 72.5)

Dec. 30:

Las Vegas Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Arizona State (+7, 43)

Music City Bowl: Tennessee vs. Purdue (+3, 61)

Duke’s Mayo Bowl: South Carolina vs. UNC (-7.5, 58.5)

Peach Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Michigan State (+3.5, 63)

Dec. 31

Tony the Tiger Bowl: Washington State vs. Miami (Fla.) (-2.5, 59)

Arizona Bowl: Boise State vs. Central Michigan (+9.5, 53)

TaxSlayer Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest (+6.5, 58.5)

College Football Playoff semifinal: Alabama vs. Cincinnati (+13.5, 58)

College Football Playoff semifinal: Georgia vs. Michigan (+7.5, 43.5)

Jan. 1:

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame (-1.5, 45.5)

Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Utah (+6.5, 67)

Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Baylor (-1, 52.5)

Citrus Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky (-2.5, 45)

Outback Bowl: Penn State vs. Arkansas (+3, 46)

Jan. 4: 

Texas Bowl: Kansas State vs. LSU (-2.5, 46.5)

Jan. 10:

CFP National Championship Game: Matchup TBD