Opening College Football Bowl Game Odds, Lines & Predictions for 2025-26

• The College Football Bowl season kicks off on Saturday, December 13th
• LSU ranks 117th in points per game, and 118th in total offense
• See the Opening College Football Bowl Game odds, lines and predictions for 2025-26

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, not Christmas, but rather College Football Bowl Season. The action officially kicks off on Saturday, December 13th and runs all the way until a National Champion is crowned on January 19th.

Odds have been released for many of the matchups already, so keep reading for all the available opening College Football Bowl Game lines, plus my early predictions.

Opening College Football Bowl Game Odds – 2025-26

Odds as of 5:55 pm ET at DraftKings. Claim the DraftKings promo code before betting on the College Football Bowl Season.

Utah -13.5 over Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl is the largest spread among early 2025-26 college football bowl game odds, while the UNLV vs. Ohio Frisco Bowl carries the highest total at 62.5.

If you don’t see odds for the bowl game you’re looking for, keep the page bookmarked and return later. We are updating live as data comes in on our college football odds page.

Kinder’s Texas Bowl Prediction

• Houston -4.5 vs LSU (-110 at DraftKings)

My first early prediction is a fade of LSU. The Tigers will take on #21 Houston in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl, and nothing we’ve seen in recent weeks suggests they’ll be able to cover the 4.5 point spread.

LSU has scored 13 or fewer points in three of their last four games. Quarterback Michael Van Buren has failed to complete 60% of his passes in three of four games since taking over for Garrett Nussmeier, while the Tigers’ rushing attack has been nonexistent.

LSU ranks 117th in points per game, 118th in total offense and 109th in yards per play. They average just 3.6 yards per carry and are one of the least efficient offenses in the red zone.

That spells trouble against a Houston program that does an excellent job of stopping the run and tightening up inside their own-20. The Cougars rank 16th in opponent red zone scoring and yield just 5.2 yards per play.

On the other side of the ball, defense is the Tigers’ calling card, but that unit will eventually wear down because they’ll constantly be on the field. Houston’s offense is above average in both rushing and passing metrics, and won’t have to put up many points to lock up a cover.

Valero Alamo Bowl Prediction

• USC vs TCU Over 58.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

Points might be tough to come by in the Kinder Texas Bowl, but I don’t anticipate that being the case in the Valero Alamo Bowl. That’s where #16 USC will take on TCU, in a nightmare matchup for the Horned Frogs’ defense.

The Trojans were one of the highest scoring teams in the nation all season and were in serious contention for a spot in the CFP odds before fading late. Their offense certainly wasn’t to blame, as they finished the regular season ranked 10th in points per game, and top-6 in total offense and yards per play.

USC Offense Stats

USC is especially dangerous through the air, and that’s where TCU is very exploitable. Jayden Maiava averages 9.1 yards per attempt and nearly 300 passing yards per game (297.3). When the Trojans get into the red zone they don’t mess around, converting 91.2% of their possessions into scores.

The Horned Frogs, meanwhile, don’t generate pressure and are a liability in coverage. TCU ranks 94th in sack rate, 97th in passing yards allowed, and 80th in opponent red zone scoring percentage.

As for the Horned Frogs’ offense, they can find success through the air in this matchup as well. Josh Hoover threw for 3,472 yards this season and 29 TDs. He’s 27th in QBR, and 11th in passing yards per outing.

On paper, USC’s defense looks strong, but they’ve crumbled against good offenses. Against Oregon and Notre Dame, the best two offenses they faced, they allowed an average of 38 points and 439 yards per game.