It is officially Bowl Season, a time of fan getaways, funny photo shoots, and overreactions that will set the narrative into the offseason. Any opportunity to to strap on the pads and determine who is truly the better team is one worth taking, unless of course you are conference-less and scared to compete. One of those narratives that will develop throughout the Bowl campaign will be conference supremacy, just as it comes out during the non-conference portion of the regular season. While there were
some Big 12 schools also scared to compete, as both Kansas State and Iowa State both refused the opportunity due to coaching departures, the league’s teams that are participating will look to represent the conference in some big-time matchups. Which Big 12 teams will head into the offseason on a high note? Predictions for all of the league’s Bowl games
Odds via FanDuel and are subject to change.
Pop-Tarts Bowl: BYU Cougars vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Saturday, December 27 – 2:30 PM – ABC
- Spread: BYU -4.5
- Moneyline: BYU -192; GT +158
- Over/Under: 55.5
BYU is again snubbed for an at-large opportunity in the College Football Playoff, but nobody motivates a squad quite like Kalani Sitake, who remains head coach of the Cougars despite heavy flirtations from Penn State. BYU handled every team on its schedule except the top-four seeded buzzsaw from Lubbock. The Yellow Jackets seemed certain to play in the ACC Championship, climbing into the Top Ten in the rankings before dropping stunners to NC State & Pitt before a narrow loss to Georgia. BYU is the better team with an elite defense that will shut down the dynamic Haynes King-led Yellow Jackets offense.
Prediction: BYU 31 – Georgia Tech 20
Texas Bowl: Houston Cougars vs. LSU Tigers
Saturday, December 27 – 8:15 PM – ESPN
- Spread: Houston -3.5
- Moneyline: Houston -146; LSU +122
- Over/Under: 41.5
Although this game is being played in the Cougars backyard, expect those bayou faithful to make the quick trip across the state line to take over NRG Stadium and turn it into a de facto Tigers home game. Even as this is not the bowl LSU envisioned at the beginning of the season, the fans travel to everything and will be screaming “Tiger Bait” at anything resembling a UH fan. Cougars have had the better season, are ranked in the Top 25, and have a distinct coaching advantage even if newly-minted LSU boss Lane Kiffin were running the show on game day while the Tigers already have confirmed top-tier opt-outs and injuries; Houston as a favorite is a fair position to take. However I saw what that Houston team looked like against TCU and it certainly has the potential to fall on its face when met with a real challenge. LSU is challenge enough and escapes with a notch in the win column for the SEC
Prediction: LSU 28 – Houston 24
Alamo Bowl: TCU Horned Frogs vs. USC Trojans
Tuesday, December 30 – 8:00 PM – ESPN
- Spread: USC -5.5
- Moneyline: USC -215; TCU + 176
- Over/Under: 59.5
We previously broke down the Horned Frogs as underdogs and the Trojans are likely the toughest and most well-rounded opponent TCU has seen this season. While we could be in for an elite WR matchup between Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon of USC and (clearly snubbed) semifinalist in TCU’s Eric McAlister, it’s uncertain if either will participate in the game. I put the motivation factor in TCU’s favor, getting the chance to punch up at a ranked foe and program that considers itself a blue blood, while the Trojans come in more battle-tested. USC does not play up to standard away from home as all three of its losses came in road environments this season. I look for the Horned Frogs to get full buy-in from its roster in this game and pick up a marquee win to propel the squad into the offseason ahead of its Week Zero showdown with North Carolina in Dublin. This one will also be more of a defensive struggle than the numbers suggest, despite the high profile offensive weapons on display.
Prediction: TCU 31 – USC 27
Sun Bowl: Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Duke Blue Devils
Wednesday, December 31 – 1:00 PM – CBS
- Spread: Duke -3.5
- Moneyline: Duke -152; ASU +126
- Over/Under: 49.5
Devils vs. Devils in the Sun Bowl is perfect script-writing. The shocking 2024 Big 12 Champs vs. unimaginable 2025 ACC Champs. The Big 12 was undisputedly superior to the ACC in 2025, boasting a 6-1 record over the beleaguered league, and this is another opportunity for the Big 12 to flex its muscles. If the 6th-place Sun Devils are able to best the ACC Champions despite losing QB Sam Leavitt in the transfer portal and elite WR Jordyn Tyson opting out, it will be another feather in an already dominant cap. With the number of portal additions and opt-outs from ASU, this one becomes an even match and if Kenny Dillingham jumps to the suddenly open Michigan job it could put the Sun Devils even further behind the eight ball, but regardless it’s Forks Up in El Paso.
Prediction: Arizona State 24 – Duke – 23
Las Vegas Bowl: Utah Utes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Wednesday, December 31 – 2:30 PM – ESPN
- Spread: Utah -16.5
- Moneyline: Utah -750; Nebraska +520
- Over/Under: 50.5
Curiously, following Kyle Whittingham’s announcement that he would be retiring as head coach of the Utes, the spread grew in Utah’s favor while the moneyline actually moved towards Nebraska. Whittingham had been desperately hoping for an opportunity to “go out on top” after declaring a coach-in-waiting, but the transition to the Big 12 proved to be much more difficult than the program expected, so this is as close as to “on-top” as Utah can get at the moment. For Nebraska, Matt Rhule was a likely candidate for the Penn State job before signing a lucrative extension to remain in Lincoln before the Cornhuskers’ season went down the toilet, dropping three of the last four games to close the season. If the star-studded Utah offensive line decides to play in this one, including a pair of likely First Round NFL Draft picks, the Utes punish Nebraska with brutal ease.
Prediction: Utah 31 – Nebraska 17
Liberty Bowl: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Navy Midshipmen
Friday, January 2 – 3:30 PM – ESPN
- Spread: Navy -4.5
- Moneyline: Navy -184; Cincinnati +152
- Over/Under: 55.5
This line feels like a clear indication that the marketplace does not expect Bearcats QB Brendan Sorsby to be on the field in Memphis, whether in pursuit of the NFL Draft or a lucrative offer to transfer to another program for one more collegiate season. Even with Sorsby in tow, Cincinnati was looking up at a tough battle with the Midshipmen. While it was disappointing to see Navy fall short of the American championship game, the pairing of elite dual threat QB Blake Horvath and his standout wideout weapon Eli Heidenreich create such a fun product to watch. Cincinnati will be without starting safety Christian Harrison who has already announced for the transfer portal, but if defensive stars Dontay Corleone and Jake Golday choose to play then the Bearcats maintain a major advantage
Prediction: Cincinnati 31 – Navy 28
Holiday Bowl: Arizona Wildcats vs. SMU Mustangs
Friday, January 2 – 3:30 PM – ESPN
- Spread: Arizona -2.5
- Moneyline: Arizona -146; SMU +122
- Over/Under: 51.5
SMU is seeking its first win against a Big 12 opponent this season, going 0-2 with losses to Baylor and TCU, losing as many games to the Big 12 as it did to the ACC during its 8-game conference slate. There is already hype for Mustangs QB Kevin Jennings returning to Dallas next season, so there is little reason for him to skip to bowl opportunity. Arizona made huge strides forward in the second season under Brent Brennan and has an opportunity to finish the regular season ranked in the AP Top 25, perhaps even in the Top 15 with a win in San Diego.
Prediction: Arizona 24 – SMU 20
College Football Playoff
Orange Bowl: Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Oregon Ducks*
Thursday, January 1 – 11:00 AM – ESPN
- Spread: Texas Tech -1.5
- Moneyline: TTU -110; Oregon -110
- Over/Under: 51.5
Ok yes the Ducks will have to win in round one at home in Autzen Stadium over James Madison in order to earn a matchup with the Red Raiders, but look we’re all adults here and Oregon is a 21.5-point favorite in that one. FanDuel already has the odds up for this Quarterfinal match up, and although most of college football media assumes Oregon will roll through the Big 12 Champs into a likely rematch with No. 1 Indiana, I am aligned with the oddsmakers here to suggest Texas Tech is to be feared in this contest. While the Ducks are going to get healthy and will look like world beaters, this team has looked ugly outside of Eugene; barely escaping a terrible Penn State team in 2OT in Happy Valley and needing a walk-off field goal to escape Kinnick Stadium with a win over Iowa. Texas Tech will be fully prepared and Joey McGuire will deliver his squad into the CFP Semifinals with an emphatic win.
FanDuel has the Red Raiders as +310 reach the National Championship game which would mean winning the Orange Bowl and then the Peach Bowl over Indiana, Alabama, or Oklahoma. TTU is +850 to bring home the National Championship, fifth-best odds of the tournament. The favorite to lift the trophy in Miami is 2-seed Ohio State, going for back-to-back Titles.
