College Football Bowl Expert Picks: December 30–January 2

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They’re the final bowl games of the season outside of the College Football Playoff, and the CFN experts make their picks for each one.

What’s the call on each of the last ten games from December 30th to January 2nd (again, other than the CFP games)?

Expert Bowl Picks and Predictions for December 30–January 2

Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) walks off the field after 24-7 win over Washington at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl

Illinois vs Tennessee

Game Time: 5:30 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Consensus Line: Tennessee -2.5
– Game Preview & Prediction
Big Game Ben: Tennessee
E: Illinois
Pete Fiutak: Illinois
John Kennedy: Tennessee
Jackson Langendorf: Tennessee
Andrew Margolick: Tennessee
Jake Margolick: Illinois
Doug Millen: Illinois
Johnny Rosenstein: Tennessee
Joshua Schulman: Illinois
Nick Shepkowski: Illinois
Clucko the Chicken: Illinois
CONSENSUS PICK: Illinois

– Independence Bowl Preview and Pick: Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana Tech

Valero Alamo Bowl

USC vs TCU

Game Time: 9:00 PM ET
TV: CBS
Consensus Line: USC -6.5
– Game Preview & Prediction

Big Game Ben: USC*
E: USC
Pete Fiutak: USC
John Kennedy: USC
Jackson Langendorf: USC
Andrew Margolick: USC
Jake Margolick: USC
Doug Millen: USC
Johnny Rosenstein: USC
Joshua Schulman: USC
Nick Shepkowski: USC
Clucko the Chicken: USC
CONSENSUS PICK: USC

ReliaQuest Bowl

Iowa vs Vanderbilt

Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Consensus Line: Vanderbilt -5.5
– Game Preview & Prediction

Big Game Ben: Vanderbilt
E: Vanderbilt
Pete Fiutak: Vanderbilt*
John Kennedy: Vanderbilt
Jackson Langendorf: Vanderbilt
Andrew Margolick: Iowa
Jake Margolick: Vanderbilt
Doug Millen: Vanderbilt
Johnny Rosenstein: Vanderbilt*
Joshua Schulman: Vanderbilt
Nick Shepkowski: Vanderbilt*
Clucko the Chicken: Iowa
CONSENSUS PICK: Vanderbilt

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Arizona State vs Duke

Game Time: 2:00 PM ET
TV: CBS
Consensus Line: Duke -3
– Game Preview & Prediction

Big Game Ben: Duke
E: Arizona State
Pete Fiutak: Arizona State
John Kennedy: Duke
Jackson Langendorf: Duke
Andrew Margolick: Duke
Jake Margolick: Duke
Doug Millen: Arizona State
Johnny Rosenstein: Arizona State
Joshua Schulman: Arizona State
Nick Shepkowski: Duke
Clucko the Chicken: Duke
CONSENSUS PICK: Duke

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Michigan vs Texas

Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
TV: ABC
Consensus Line: Texas -7.5
– Game Preview & Prediction

Big Game Ben: Texas*
E: Texas
Pete Fiutak: Texas
John Kennedy: Texas
Jackson Langendorf: Texas*
Andrew Margolick: Texas
Jake Margolick: Michigan
Doug Millen: Michigan
Johnny Rosenstein: Texas*
Joshua Schulman: Texas*
Nick Shepkowski: Texas
Clucko the Chicken: Texas
CONSENSUS PICK: Texas

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

Nov 22, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback TJ Lateef (14) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium.© Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

Nebraska vs Utah

Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Consensus Line: Utah -14
– Game Preview & Prediction
Big Game Ben: Utah
E: Utah
Pete Fiutak: Utah
John Kennedy: Utah*
Jackson Langendorf: Utah*
Andrew Margolick: Utah*
Jake Margolick: Utah
Doug Millen: Utah*
Johnny Rosenstein: Utah*
Joshua Schulman: Utah
Nick Shepkowski: Utah *
Clucko the Chicken: Utah
CONSENSUS PICK: Utah *

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Rice vs Texas State

Game Time: 1:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Consensus Line: Texas State -11.5
– Game Preview & Prediction Coming

Big Game Ben: Texas State*
E: Texas State
Pete Fiutak: Texas State
John Kennedy: Texas State
Jackson Langendorf: Rice
Andrew Margolick: Texas State
Jake Margolick: Texas State*
Doug Millen: Texas State
Johnny Rosenstein: Texas State*
Joshua Schulman: Texas State
Nick Shepkowski: Texas State*
Clucko the Chicken: Texas State
CONSENSUS PICK: Texas State

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Navy vs Cincinnati

Game Time: 4:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Consensus Line: Navy -7
– Game Preview & Prediction Coming

Big Game Ben: Navy*
E: Navy*
Pete Fiutak: Cincinnati
John Kennedy: Navy
Jackson Langendorf: Cincinnati
Andrew Margolick: Navy
Jake Margolick: Cincinnati
Doug Millen: Navy
Johnny Rosenstein: Navy*
Joshua Schulman: Navy
Nick Shepkowski: Navy*
Clucko the Chicken: Cincinnati
CONSENSUS PICK: Navy*

Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Wake Forest vs Mississippi State

Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Consensus Line: Mississippi State -3
– Game Preview & Prediction Coming

Big Game Ben: Mississippi State
E: Wake Forest
Pete Fiutak: Wake Forest
John Kennedy: Mississippi State
Jackson Langendorf: Mississippi State
Andrew Margolick: Mississippi State
Jake Margolick: Mississippi State
Doug Millen: Mississippi State
Johnny Rosenstein: Mississippi State
Joshua Schulman: Wake Forest
Nick Shepkowski: Wake Forest
Clucko the Chicken: Mississippi State
CONSENSUS PICK: Mississippi State

Trust & Will Holiday Bowl

Nov 8, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) against the Kansas Jayhawks at Arizona Stadium. © Mark J&period; Rebilas-Imagn Images

Arizona vs SMU

Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
TV: FOX
Consensus Line: Arizona -3
– Game Preview & Prediction Coming

Big Game Ben: Arizona
E: Arizona
Pete Fiutak: Arizona
John Kennedy: SMU
Jackson Langendorf: Arizona
Andrew Margolick: SMU
Jake Margolick: SMU
Doug Millen: Arizona
Johnny Rosenstein: Arizona
Joshua Schulman: Arizona
Nick Shepkowski: Arizona
Clucko the Chicken: SMU
CONSENSUS PICK: Arizona

Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This story was originally published by College Football News on Dec 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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