College Football Bowl Predictions 2021: Picks Against The Spread For New Year’s Day

This year’s college football bowl schedule is a little different than previous seasons because of the coronavirus pandemic, but there are still some great games set for New Year’s Day 2021. The Peach Bowl, Citrus Bowl and College Football Playoff games provide four exciting holiday matchups.

Alabama is the biggest betting favorite on New Year’s Day, laying nearly 20 points against Notre Dame. The other CFP game features a 7.5-point spread with Clemson given the edge over Ohio State in a rematch from last year’s semifinal.

The betting line is a touchdown for a top-10 matchup between Georgia and Cincinnati. Northwestern is a short favorite over Auburn, the only unranked team set to play on Jan. 1.

Here are picks against the spread for every New Year’s Day bowl game, as well as the latest odds.

Betting lines are courtesy of OddsShark.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 8 Cincinnati (+7) vs. No. 9 Georgia

This is Cincinnati’s chance to show that it belonged in the College Football Playoff conversation. The Bearcats are undefeated on the strength of a weak schedule, but you can be sure they’ll treat the Peach Bowl as if the national title is on the line. Georgia is averaging 41.7 points during its three-game winning streak. The Bulldogs won’t have that kind of success against the defense that ranks first in opponents’ yards per play.

Prediction ATS: Cincinnati

Vrbo Citrus Bowl: No. 14 Northwestern (-3.5) vs. Auburn

Northwestern’s defense is among the country’s best, impressing even in its Big Ten Championship loss. Scoring enough to win this game comfortably, however, could be challenging. The Wildcats rank 110th in yards per play. They’ve been held to fewer than 22 points in all four games against opponents that have more than two wins. Quarterback Bo Nix can give Auburn a chance if he protects the football.

Prediction ATS: Auburn

CFP semifinal (Rose Bowl moved to Texas): No. 1 Alabama (-19.5) vs. No. 4 Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish proved that they can’t hang with the nation’s top two contenders with their 34-10 loss against Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. Ranking second in the FBS in both points per game and yards per play, Alabama’s offense should have its way with the Notre Dame defense. Notre Dame was beaten 30-3 in the CFP semifinal two years ago, and this game could look awfully similar.

Prediction ATS: Alabama

Allstate Sugar Bowl (CFP semifinal): No. 2 Clemson (-7.5) vs. No. 3 Ohio State

Clemson defeated Ohio State, 29-23, in the semifinal of last year’s playoff. Trevor Lawrence is even better than he was a season ago, while Justin Fields hasn’t taken that same step forward. The Buckeyes’ quarterback threw for two touchdown passes and five interceptions in the team’s only two matchups with top-15 opponents. The Tigers are 9-0 with Lawrence under center, winning each game by at least 18 points.

Prediction ATS: Clemson