Up the ante during bowl season: Tips for betting bowl games

Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Whether you’re a recreational sports bettor, a serious handicapper or someone in between, navigating college bowl games can be tricky.

College games are fraught with an emotional undercurrent less common in professional leagues. Unpredictable and capricious upsets, emotional twists, dramatic turns, desperate Hail Marys right down to the wire: It’s all part of the wild spectacle that is college football.

All the pomp and pageantry is one reason betting college games is so popular, but learning how to see beyond the emotional roller coaster to place a winning bet can require careful consideration.

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Tips for betting college bowl games

Betting bowl games can be a different animal than betting regular-season college football games. There are 40 bowl games in the 2015-2016 season besides the championship, and each offers handicappers an opportunity to hone their skills.

Bowl games in particular lend themselves to a certain amount of unpredictability. Typically, neither team gets a home-stadium advantage, and usually the teams haven’t faced-off during the regular season.

For some teams, it’s the first time they’re playing nationally televised ball. That can be a double-edged sword: For some players, the esteem and attention of playing a bowl game can motivate a better performance; for others, the pressure can be daunting.

Keeping that in mind, there are plenty of ways that the unique circumstances of college bowl games can work in your favor.

Look for match-ups between ranked and unranked teams. Because some bettors might favor a Top-25 ranking team at face value when compared with an unranked team, it can inflate the line, which has the potential to be very profitable for handicappers. Look closely at the individual match-up before putting too much stock in the ranked team.

Look out for teams that are gaining steam. Has one team been on a recent winning streak? How much time have players had off before the bowl game? Did the teams finish their regular seasons with more wins than losses? Momentum matters, especially in college ball.

Just as momentum matters, so does hype. The amount of excitement a team garners for a game can make a big difference in the outcome. Look out for bowl games between rivals, games with teams that have not been to a bowl game in a few years and/or games that are located close to a team’s home stadium.

Remember that college football loves an underdog story and upsets happen often. An underdog team might have more at stake than a dominant favorite and could be more motivated to win.

Pay attention to the totals when you’re making a spread bet. Underdogs typically fare better in low-scoring games. Favorites often are a good pick for high-scoring games.

Keep updated about coaching changes, player injuries, suspensions and lineup changes made once the season ends. Any or all of these factors can change the game in drastic and unforeseeable ways.

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Should you bet your alma mater? Emotions don’t just run heavy for teams and their players during bowl games; there also is a powerful emotional component for fans.

If it’s your alma mater playing, you might feel even more compelled to place a bet as a show of solidarity. Although the whimsy and nostalgia of betting your alma mater is worthwhile for many casual bettors, it’s not enough to guarantee a winning bet.

However, it can be helpful to be aware of large fan bases, because emotional betting during college games can affect the point spreads.

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Teams that have won the most bowl games

Historically, these teams have been the heavy hitters of bowl games, earning the highest percentage of wins in a minimum of 20 post-season bowl appearances.

1. USC: 34-17-0 (0.667 won)

Conference: Pacific-12

2. Penn State: 28-15-2 (0.644 won)

Conference: Big Ten

3. Oklahoma State: 16-9-0 (0.64 won)

Conference: Big 12

4. Mississippi: 23-13-0 (0.639 won)

Conference: Southeastern

5. Syracuse: 15-9-1 (0.62 won)

Conference: Atlantic Coast

6. Florida State: 25-15-2 (.619 won)

Conference: Atlantic Coast

7. Oklahoma: 28-19-1 (0.594 won)

Conference: Big 12

8. Auburn: 22-15-2 (0.59 won)

Conference: Southeastern

9. Georgia: 28-19-3 (0.59 won)

Conference: Southeastern

10. Alabama: 35-24-3 (0.589 won)

Conference: Southeastern