NCAAF Bowl System: College Football Bowl Games Explained

The end of the regular season in college football is never fun for fans, but the blow is softened by the fact that there is still plenty of action to come, as well as a ton of games to wager on. The NCAAF bowl system has evolved into one of the most popular betting propositions, often delivering cool matchups that we would never ordinarily see. If you need college football bowl games explained, we are here to break it all down for you, so let’s get to it.

What Is the Bowl System in College Football and How Does It Work?

There are several factors, including conference tie-ins, rankings, and Academic Progress Rate that dictate who plays who, but it all begins with teams required to win at least 6 games in order to become bowl eligible. This is how teams are selected for bowl games, and while it seems totally random, certain bowls are tied to conferences. For example, a 7-5 SEC team might land in the Liberty Bowl, while a Big Ten team with a similar record goes to the Citrus Bowl. The college football odds for bowl games are set once the matchups are decided.

What Is the Difference Between the “New Year’s Six” Bowls and Other Bowl Games?

If you look at the bowl game schedule, you see a lot of smaller teams in the early games, with the bigger schools and better matchups coming later. The New Year’s Six bowls are the cream of the crop and include the playoff semifinals. The top bowl games rotate on an annual basis. The college football bowl games odds tend to get tighter as bowl season progresses, while also drawing the majority of the betting action.

How Does the College Football Playoff Affect the Traditional Bowl-Game Structure?

The landscape changed in 2014 with the introduction of a 4-team playoff, and now that it has been expanded to 12 teams, the college football playoff bowl games are the highlight of the entire bowl season. The expansion of the playoff system was welcomed by fans, but also by bettors, who loved the opportunity to wager on elite matchups. The expansion to 12 teams also impacts the college football future odds all through the season.

What Qualifies a Team for Bowl Eligibility?

Simply put, a team must win 6 regular season games to become bowl eligible, although 5-7 teams can sneak in if there are not enough 6-game winners to meet the college football bowl eligibility requirements. Toward the end of the regular season, look for teams fighting to become eligible, as they may become value bets against teams already eligible or out of the conversation.

How Do Conference Tie-Ins Determine Which Teams Go to Which Bowl?

Generally speaking, each conference has tie-ins with a particular bowl game, such as the SEC with the Sugar Bowl. Conference bowl game tie-ins go back to the days when these games were more often than not regional matchups. Familiarity with the bowls and the locations they are played fan give teams an edge, so think of that when making your college football bowl game picks.

How Has the Bowl System Evolved Historically (BCS → CFP → 12-Team Playoff)?

Arguments used to rage during the BCS era about which two teams deserved to go to the National Championship, so it was good to see a 4-yeam playoff put in place. The CFP became so successful that the fans wanted more, and they got their wish when it was expanded to 12 teams. More important games mean more value for fans and bettors alike.

What Strategic Betting Angles Exist During Bowl Season?

People who pay attention to the news can adopt a college football bowl betting strategy that is successful. Players heading to the draft might opt out, while coaches moving on may hand over the reins to an interim. Overall, some teams are more inspired to play well than others, and all of this information can impact the betting lines on college football bowl games and help you spot over- or undervalued teams and lines.

Final Thoughts

MyBookie delivers all the information you need to make informed online sports betting on college football bowl games. With the knowledge provided here, we hope we have provided you with all you need to make smarter wagers.

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