Over the years, VSiN has provided all kinds of historical trends for bettors to use when handicapping bowl games. That continues this year, just on a different schedule. This piece focuses on the trends and systems that have developed in each of the bowl series in recent years. You’ll see that along with the details of the games, the teams/lines, etc. I have listed some trends that have formed and which side or total betting option they favor. The games are listed in date and board order and not all games are included, only those in which a definitive pattern has formed in the series. If you don’t see the game listed here, I couldn’t derive a useful angle.
Friday, Dec. 16
Duluth Trading Cure Bowl at Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)
(203) TROY vs. (204) TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO (+1, 54.5)
RECENT CURE BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* SUN BELT teams have lost the last four Cure Bowl games SU and ATS — FAVORS UTSA
* UNDERDOGS have pulled outright upsets in four of the last six Cure Bowl games and are 5-1 ATS — FAVORS UTSA
Saturday, Dec. 17
Celebration Bowl at Mercedes Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
(207) NC CENTRAL vs. (208) JACKSON STATE (-16.5, 55)
RECENT CELEBRATION BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* The SWAC representative is just 1-5 SU and 1-4 ATS in the last six Celebration Bowl games — FAVORS NC CENTRAL
LendingTree Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Ala.)
(213) RICE vs. (214) SOUTHERN MISS (-7, 46)
RECENT LENDINGTREE BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* SUN BELT teams are 8-1 SU and 6-3 ATS in the last nine years of the LendingTree Bowl — FAVORS SOUTHERN MISS
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
(215) FLORIDA vs. (216) OREGON STATE (-10, 52)
RECENT LAS VEGAS BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* The last 17 Las Vegas Bowl games with totals of 58 or less are 12-5 UNDER — FAVORS UNDER
* Pac-12 teams are on a run of 6-2 ATS in their last eight Las Vegas Bowl games — FAVORS OREGON STATE
Tuesday, Dec. 20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
(221) EASTERN MICHIGAN vs. (222) SAN JOSE STATE (-3.5, 54.5)
RECENT FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* MOUNTAIN WEST teams have won their last four Famous Idaho Potato Bowl games ATS — FAVORS SAN JOSE STATE
* OVER the total is 11-4 in the last 14 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl games — FAVORS OVER
* OUTRIGHT WINNERS are on a 23-2 ATS surge in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl series
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Fla.)
(223) TOLEDO vs. (224) LIBERTY (+5, 53.5)
RECENT BOCA RATON BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* Favorites are 5-1 SU and ATS in the last five installments of the Boca Raton Bowl — FAVORS TOLEDO
* All eight Boca Raton Bowl games have been decided by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 25.7 PPG
Wednesday, Dec. 21
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
(225) SOUTH ALABAMA vs. (226) WESTERN KENTUCKY (+8, 54.5)
RECENT NEW ORLEANS BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* Sun Belt teams are 13-4 ATS in the New Orleans Bowl game dating to ’05 — FAVORS SOUTH ALABAMA
* Favorites are on a 7-game SU winning streak (6-1 ATS) in the New Orleans Bowl — FAVORS SOUTH ALABAMA
* New Orleans Bowl games are 13-4 OVER the total since ’05 – FAVORS OVER
Friday, Dec. 23
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium (Shreveport, La.)
(229) HOUSTON vs. (230) LOUISIANA (+6.5, 61)
RECENT INDEPENDENCE BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* Independence Bowl totals are 7-2-1 OVER in the last 10 — FAVORS OVER
Tuesday, Dec. 27
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
(239) UTAH STATE vs. (240) MEMPHIS (-7, 62)
RECENT FIRST RESPONDERS BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* Favorites are a perfect 9-0 SU in the First Responders Bowl series, going 6-2-1 ATS — FAVORS MEMPHIS
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl at Protective Life Stadium (Birmingham, Ala.)
(241) EAST CAROLINA vs. (242) COASTAL CAROLINA (+10.5, 59.5)
RECENT BIRMINGHAM BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* FAVORITES are on an 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS surge in the last nine years of the Birmingham Bowl — FAVORS EAST CAROLINA
Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field (Phoenix)
(243) OKLAHOMA STATE vs. (244) WISCONSIN (-3, 43)
RECENT GUARANTEED RATE BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* FAVORITES have swept the last four Guaranteed Rate Bowl games SU and ATS — FAVORS WISCONSIN
* Nine of the last 10 Guaranteed Rate Bowl games went UNDER the total — FAVORS UNDER
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Military Bowl Presented by Peraton at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Md.)
(245) UCF vs. (246) DUKE (-1, 62.5)
RECENT MILITARY BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* Favorites are 10-2 SU and 8-4 ATS in the first 12 installments of the Military Bowl series — FAVORS DUKE
* Bettors have been correct in moving the line in six straight Military Bowl games — FAVORS DUKE
* Ten of the last 12 Military Bowl games went OVER the total, including the last five — FAVORS OVER
AutoZone Liberty Bowl at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tenn.)
(247) KANSAS vs. (248) ARKANSAS (-3, 69)
RECENT LIBERTY BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* UNDERDOGS are 13-5 ATS in the last 18 Liberty Bowl games — FAVORS KANSAS
* Bettors have moved the opening total incorrectly in seven straight Liberty Bowl games — FAVORS OVER
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl at Petco Park (San Diego)
(249) NORTH CAROLINA vs. (250) OREGON (-13.5, 70)
RECENT HOLIDAY BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* UNDERDOGS are 6-2 SU and 7-1 ATS in the last eight installments of the Holiday Bowl series — FAVORS NORTH CAROLINA
* Pac-12 teams have lost nine straight Holiday Bowl games ATS while going 1-8 SU — FAVORS NORTH CAROLINA
* Bettors are just 1-6 ATS in the last seven Holiday Bowl games when moving the opening point spread — FAVORS NORTH CAROLINA
TaxAct Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium (Houston)
(251) OLE MISS vs. (252) TEXAS TECH (+3, 70)
RECENT TEXAS BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* Outright winners are 19-1-1 ATS in the history of the Texas Bowl series
Thursday, Dec. 29
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium (New York)
(253) MINNESOTA vs. (254) SYRACUSE (+7, 42)
RECENT PINSTRIPE BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* BIG TEN teams are 6-1 SU and ATS vs. ACC teams in the last seven years of the Pinstripe Bowl game — FAVORS MINNESOTA
Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)
(255) OKLAHOMA vs. (256) FLORIDA STATE (-7.5, 65.5)
* UNDER the total has converted in 14 of last 17 Cheez-It Bowl games — FAVORS UNDER
* FAVORITES have swept the last six Cheez-It Bowl games, both SU and ATS — FAVORS FLORIDA STATE
* Outright winners have covered the point spread in 14 straight Cheez-It Bowl games
Valero Alamo Bowl at Alamodome (San Antonio)
(257) WASHINGTON vs. (258) TEXAS (-6, 68.5)
RECENT ALAMO BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* BIG 12 TEAMS are on a 10-3 SU and ATS surge in Alamo Bowl games — FAVORS TEXAS
* Totals of 57 or less are 12-5 UNDER in the Alamo Bowl since ’93, above 57 are 8-4 OVER — FAVORS OVER
Friday, Dec. 30
Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)
(259) MARYLAND vs. (260) NC STATE (+1.5, 48)
RECENT DUKE’S MAYO BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* ACC reps are just 4-9 ATS in the last 13 games of the Duke’s Mayo bowl series — FAVORS MARYLAND
* UNDERDOG ATS winners are also 8-1 OVER the total in previous Duke’s Mayo Bowl games FAVORS OVER/NC STATE CORRELATED PARLAY
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
(261) PITTSBURGH vs. (262) UCLA (-6.5, 58)
RECENT SUN BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* FAVORITES of 5 points or more are just 1-12 ATS in the Sun Bowl game since ’95 — FAVORS PITTSBURGH
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Fla.)
(263) SOUTH CAROLINA vs. (264) NOTRE DAME (-2.5, 52)
RECENT GATOR BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* Eleven of the last 14 Gator Bowl games have gone UNDER the total – FAVORS UNDER
* FAVORITES are on a run of 21-3 SU and 17-7 ATS in Gator Bowl games — FAVORS NOTRE DAME
* Designated HOME TEAMS have won the last eight Gator Bowl games ATS — FAVORS NOTRE DAME
Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)
(267) CLEMSON vs. (268) TENNESSEE (+6.5, 64)
RECENT ORANGE BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* ACC TEAMS are on a 6-2 ATS run in last eight Orange Bowl appearances — FAVORS CLEMSON
Saturday, Dec. 31
TransPerfect Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tenn.)
(269) IOWA vs. (270) KENTUCKY (+2, 31.5)
RECENT MUSIC CITY BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* OUTRIGHT WINNER is 20-2-1 ATS in previous 23 Music City Bowl games
Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
(271) KANSAS STATE vs. (272) ALABAMA (-3.5, 54.5)
RECENT SUGAR BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* Designated road teams are on a run of 12-2 SU and 11-2-1 ATS in the last 14 Sugar Bowl games — FAVORS KANSAS STATE
* OUTRIGHT WINNERS are 21-1-1 ATS since 2000
* UNDER the total is 6-1 in the last seven installments of the Sugar Bowl — FAVORS UNDER
CFP SEMIFINALS, PEACH BOWL at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
(273) OHIO STATE vs. (274) GEORGIA (-6.5, 62)
RECENT PEACH BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* UNDERDOGS own 19-9-1 ATS edge in the Peach Bowl series since ’93 — FAVORS OHIO STATE
* SEC teams are just 3-10-1 ATS when favored in Peach Bowl games since ’92 — FAVORS OHIO STATE
CFP SEMIFINALS, FIESTA BOWL at University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Ariz.)
(275) TCU vs. (276) MICHIGAN (-8, 58.5)
RECENT FIESTA BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* BIG TEN teams are 7-2 ATS in their last nine Fiesta Bowl opportunities — FAVORS MICHIGAN
* Outright winners have lost ATS just twice in the last 30 Fiesta Bowl games
* FAVORITES have won the last five Fiesta Bowl games SU and ATS – FAVORS MICHIGAN
Monday, Jan. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Fla.)
(277) MISSISSIPPI STATE vs. (278) ILLINOIS (-2, 46.5)
RECENT RELIAQUEST BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* Underdogs own a 16-7 ATS edge in the Reliaquest Bowl series since ’00 and have gone 4-1 SU and ATS in the last five – FAVORS MISSISSIPPI STATE
* OVER the total is 14-7 in the last 20 Reliaquest Bowl games — FAVORS OVER
* SMALL FAVORITES of 3.5 points or less have gone 8-4 SU ATS in Reliaquest Bowl since ’93 — FAVORS ILLINOIS
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
(279) TULANE vs. (280) USC (-1.5, 61.5)
RECENT COTTON BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* FAVORITES are on runs of 7-0 SU and ATS and 11-2 SU and ATS in Cotton Bowl series – FAVORS USC
* OUTRIGHT WINNERS are on a 19-0-1 ATS run in the last 20 Cotton Bowl games
Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)
(281) PURDUE vs. (282) LSU (-10, 58)
* OUTRIGHT winners are on a 21-0 ATS run in Citrus Bowl games since ’02
* BIG TEN teams are just 2-8 SU and ATS in their last 10 Citrus Bowl appearances — FAVORS LSU
* FAVORITES are on 9-3 SU and ATS run in the last nine Citrus Bowl games — FAVORS LSU
Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
(283) UTAH vs. (284) PENN STATE (+2.5, 52)
RECENT ROSE BOWL SERIES TRENDS
* BIG TEN teams have gone OVER the total in 10 of the last 14 Rose Bowl games — FAVORS OVER
* FAVORITES are on a 12-3 SU and 9-6 ATS run in the last 15 years of Rose Bowl games — FAVORS UTAH