For athletes, college football bowl season is a reward to cap a successful season. For the fans, bowls are the last chance to bet on college football and settle in for some great matchups. There are barnburner games featuring smaller schools, heavyweight showdowns between national powerhouses and intriguing crossover games between programs in both categories. When you add in the College Football Playoff to cap things off, betting interest truly goes through the roof.

While there are lots of bowl games to consider betting on, the bowl schedule is also spaced out more than the regular season. That’s a huge bonus for sports bettors as that directly translates into more time to analyze the lines.

This page covers everything you need to know about betting on college football in VA, from the bowl schedule to how the odds work and all points in between. We’ll also point you in the right direction for the best places to legally and safely place your bets online.

Latest college football odds at VA online sportsbooks

See below for the latest college football bowl game odds direct from VA online sportsbooks. Use the drop-down menu to change your odds board between spread, moneyline and over/under. Click on any odds to go directly to the sportsbook and make your bets

How do you read college football bowl odds & lines?

Soon after the bowl game pairings are announced, sportsbooks will begin releasing college bowl odds for each of the matchups. Generally, the games are announced a few weeks in advance, so you have more time to digest what the oddsmakers have to say.

For each game there will be a main line that lists the odds for the three big bet types. It’ll look something like this.

	Spread	Moneyline	Total
Ohio State	+2.5 (-110)	+120	O 54.5 (-110)
Clemson	-2.5 (-110)	-140	U 54.5 (-110)

Next to the two names is a series of numbers. Starting from the left, these are the lines for the point spread bet, moneyline bet, and totals (over/under) bet. In this case, Clemson is favored by less than a field goal on the spread.

Clemson is also the overall favorite on the moneyline and the total combined score for the game is estimated to be in the mid-50s.

For the point spread and moneyline, negative numbers point to favorites, while positive numbers indicate underdogs. On the total, oddsmakers set a benchmark number, and bettors then get to choose the over or under.

Next to the numbers for the spread and total are the actual odds for the bets. At most sportsbooks, the starting point for odds is -110 on both sides. The numbers can move as betting action comes in. The same holds true for the moneyline odds, as well as the spread or total.

As an example, let’s say that Clemson attracted a lot of betting action. In response, the sportsbook tweaks the numbers a bit so that they now look something like this.

	Spread	Moneyline	Total
Ohio State	+2.5 (-105)	+135	O 54.5 (-110)
Clemson	-2.5 (-115)	-155	U 54.5 (-110)

Since the book has taken in most of the action on favored Clemson, it has responded by making the wagers on the Ohio State side more attractive. The hope is that it will be able to even out the action a little more, thereby reducing the liability on its end in the case of a Clemson win and cover.

In order to make sure that you are getting the best possible prices, a good habit to get into is what’s known as line shopping. This simply means that you are checking out the college bowl game odds at multiple books to find the best ones.

Bets you can make on college bowl games 

For each of the games, you’ll have several options to consider for your wagers. Let’s begin by taking a closer look at the big three bet types.

Moneyline bet

This is a bet in which you simply choose the winner. Odds are negative for favorites and positive for underdogs. When the two numbers are close, it could be a tight game. If there’s a big difference, that means a mismatch on paper.

• Michigan +190
• Alabama -240

For this fictitious matchup, Alabama is a pretty big favorite over Michigan. A winning $100 bet on Alabama would return a total of $141.70. If you bet $100 on Michigan, the return would be a total of $290 should Michigan win.

Point spread

Oddsmakers install a spread on each game that reflects both the perceived difference between the two sides and an estimated margin of victory. For bettors, the choice is to go with the favorite minus the points or the underdog plus the number.

• West Virginia +4.5 (-110)
• Maryland -4.5 (-110)

In order to cover this spread, underdog West Virginia would have to keep the margin to four points or fewer or win the game outright. Maryland has to win by five points or more to cover. A winning $100 bet at odds of -110 returns a total of $190.90.

Totals (Over/under)

This is a bet on the total combined points that will be scored in the game. Oddsmakers set an estimated number, and bettors then get to pick if they think the two sides will combine for over or under that amount.

• Over 59.5 (-110)
• Under 59.5 (-110)

If you choose the over, then you’re hoping for 60 or more points to be scored. A final of 31-29 gets it done, but a score of 28-27 misses the mark. For the under, it’s the opposite, as you want the total to come in at 59 points or fewer.

More college bowl bets

Another restriction in VA sports betting law has to do with prop bets on college sports. Props are essentially side bets on things that might happen during a game or by its conclusion. Betting on props for any college game is prohibited in VA, regardless of where the team resides.

As such, you won’t be able to bet on any props during bowl game season. However, that doesn’t mean that the fun stops with the three bet types we walked through up above. There are other ways to get in the game, including via the following:

• Parlays: Wagers in which you include multiple outcomes on a single betting slip.
• Round robin bets: Similar to a parlay, but multiple combos of several teams.
• Teasers: You get to shift the point spread on a series of games by designated amounts.

Each of these bet types can offer up a nice return, but there is risk involved. After all, it can be challenging enough to hit on a single-game bet. When you begin adding multiple outcomes on a single slip, the risk rises accordingly.

That said, there is absolutely a place for each of these bet types in an overall handicapping strategy. When you have a series of games on the same slate that you feel strongly about, then these bet types offer up the chance to get bigger payouts.

College football bowl game schedule 2024-23

The bowl game schedule appears set for the upcoming season. Networks can still change a detail here and there, but let’s take a look at what we know for now.

Date	Game	Location	Conference Tie-Ins
Dec. 16	Bahamas Bowl	Nassau, Bahamas	Conference USA vs. MAC
Dec. 16	Cure Bowl	Orlando, FL	At-Large vs. At-Large or Army
Dec. 17	Fenway Bowl	Boston	ACC or Notre Dame vs. AAC
Dec. 17	New Mexico Bowl	Albuquerque, NM	Mountain West vs. C-USA
Dec. 17	Celebration Bowl	Atlanta	FCS: MEAC vs. SWAC
Dec. 17	LA Bowl	Inglewood, CA	Mountain West vs. Pac-12
Dec. 17	LendingTree Bowl	Mobile, AL	At-Large vs. Sun Belt
Dec. 17	Las Vegas Bowl	Las Vegas	Pac-12 vs. SEC
Dec. 17	Frisco Bowl	Frisco, TX	At-Large vs. At-Large
Dec. 19	Myrtle Beach Bowl	Conway, SC	At-Large vs. At-Large
Dec. 20	Famous Idaho Potato Bowl	Boise, ID	MAC vs. Mountain West
Dec. 20	Boca Raton Bowl	Boca Raton, FL	At-Large vs. At-Large
Dec. 21	New Orleans Bowl	New Orleans	C-USA vs. Sun Belt
Dec. 22	Armed Forces Bowl	Fort Worth, TX	AAC vs. At-Large
Dec. 23	Independence Bowl	Shreveport, LA	ACC vs. Army
Dec. 23	Gasparilla Bowl	Tampa, FL	ACC/SEC vs. At-Large
Dec. 24	Hawai’i Bowl	Honolulu, HI	C-USA vs. Mountain West
Dec. 26	Quick Lane Bowl	Detroit	Big Ten vs. MAC
Dec. 27	Camellia Bowl	Montgomery, AL	At-Large vs. At-Large
Dec. 27	First Responder Bowl	Dallas	Big 12 vs. At-Large
Dec. 27	Birmingham Bowl	Birmingham, AL	At-Large vs. SEC/ACC
Dec. 27	Guaranteed Rate Bowl	Phoenix	Big Ten vs. Big 12
Dec. 28	Military Bowl	Annapolis, MD	ACC vs. AAC
Dec. 28	Liberty Bowl	Memphis, TN	Big 12 vs. SEC
Dec. 28	Holiday Bowl	San Diego	Pac-12 vs. ACC
Dec. 28	Texas Bowl	Houston	Big 12 vs SEC
Dec. 29	Pinstripe Bowl	New York City	ACC vs. Big Ten
Dec. 29	Cheez-It Bowl	Orlando, FL	ACC vs. Big 12
Dec. 29	Alamo Bowl	San Antonio, TX	Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Dec. 30	Duke’s Mayo Bowl	Charlotte, NC	ACC vs. Big Ten
Dec. 30	Sun Bowl	El Paso, TX	ACC vs. Pac-12
Dec. 30	Gator Bowl	Jacksonville, FL	ACC vs. SEC
Dec. 30	Arizona Bowl	Tucson, AZ	MAC vs. Mountain West
Dec. 30	Orange Bowl	Miami Gardens, FL	CFP: ACC vs. Big Ten or Notre Dame or SEC
Dec. 31	Sugar Bowl	New Orleans	CFP: SEC vs. Big 12
Dec. 31	Music City Bowl	Nashville, TN	Big Ten vs. SEC
Dec. 31	Peach Bowl (CFP semifinal)	Atlanta	CFP Top 4 vs. CFP Top 4
Dec. 31	Fiesta Bowl (CFP semifinal)	Glendale, AZ	CFP Top 4 vs. CFP Top 4
Jan. 2	ReliaQuest Bowl	Tampa, FL	SEC vs. Big Ten or ACC
Jan. 2	Cotton Bowl	Arlington, TX	CFP: At-Large vs. Highest Go5 Champion
Jan. 2	Citrus Bowl	Orlando, FL	Big Ten vs. SEC
Jan. 2	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, CA	Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Jan. 9	National Championship	Los Angeles	CFP semifinal winners

How do teams qualify for bowl games?

An invite to a bowl game is similar to a postseason berth in other sports. In order to get one, college football teams have to earn it. For a normal season in which the Division I schools are playing a 12-game schedule, schools need to have at least six wins to qualify.

Beyond the college bowls, a new wrinkle has emerged in recent years. Starting in the 2014-15 season, the College Football Playoff was introduced to determine a true national champion. The four best teams in the land make it this far, and the games are part of bowl season. We’ll cover the details on how teams make the cut in a bit.

What are the New Year’s Six bowl games?

The marquee matchups for college football bowl season have come to be known as the New Year’s Six. These are the biggest contests featuring the best teams, and each of the games has a strong tradition and rich history. Here’s the scoop on each.

• Rose Bowl: The first incarnation of the Rose Bowl took place in 1902. It was then known as the Tournament East-West Football Game. It’s held annually at the aptly named Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. For last year’s game, it was Ohio State winning a 48-45 thriller over Utah.
• Sugar Bowl: The inaugural Sugar Bowl was held in 1935. Tulane was the host and took down Temple by a score of 20-14. These days, the game is held annually at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. In the last edition,  Baylor got the best of Ole Miss to the tune of a 21-7 win.
• Orange Bowl: The Orange Bowl also made its debut in 1935. In the inaugural game, Bucknell took Miami to the woodshed and won in a 26-0 laugher at Miami Field. The game is now held each year at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Last year, the game did double-duty as a College Football Playoff semifinal in which Georgia took down Michigan by a score of 34-11.
• Cotton Bowl: The first Cotton Bowl was played in Dallas in 1937 as TCU defeated Marquette by a score of 16-6. The venue changed to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in 2009 for the annual game. For the last edition was a College Football Playoff semifinal. Alabama beat Cincinnati in a 27-6 affair that lit up the scoreboard.
• Peach Bowl: The first Peach Bowl was held in 1968. LSU upended Florida State by a final of 31-27 in a game that was held at Grant Field in Atlanta. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the same city serves as the permanent venue these days. Michigan State got past Pitt 31-21 in 2024.
• Fiesta Bowl: The first edition of the Fiesta Bowl came in 1971 as Arizona State defeated Florida State by a score of 45-38. State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is now the host for the annual affair. Last year, Oklahoma State won a 37-35 shootout over Notre Dame.

College Football Playoff

A few years back, the powers that be in college football took steps to ensure that a true national champion would be crowned each season. The College Football Playoff was introduced following the 2014-15 campaign.

The four top teams, as decided by the College Football Playoff selection committee, get to settle it on the field. Semifinal matchups are held at a rotating pair of the New Year’s Six bowls. Then the National Championship Game follows a week later. This season, the college football national champion will be crowned Monday, Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.

But how are the New Year’s Six and CFP teams selected?

About midway through the regular season, the CFP committee begins releasing a top 25 poll for teams in the running. The final edition of that poll gets unveiled when conference championships are in the books. The No. 1 team in the final poll faces the No. 4 team, while No. 2 faces No. 3.

The College Football Playoff Committee uses its final rankings to decide the other New Year’s Six Bowls, too. The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC conference championship game winners all get an automatic spot in a NY6 bowl.

Essentially teams have to finish in or around the CFP final top 10 to land in one of the big bowls. Once the NY6 matchups are set, the rest of the bowl pairings are set. Bowl hosts and conferences do the matchmaking. It isn’t always based on conference standings or a team’s rankings.

Ratings are generally through the roof for the College Football Playoff games, each of which takes in a ton of wagering action. The semifinals are on New Year’s Eve. Be sure to circle these contests as ones to bet on during bowl season.

Best college football bowl handicapping tips

As you get set to bet on bowl season, you can break down the games just like you would normally. For example, you’ll want to look at the overall matchup and find edges while realistically assessing the strengths and weaknesses on both sides.

Beyond the basic stuff, there are some other factors you’ll want to really zero in on this time of the year. Here are three tips to keep in your back pocket as you get set to place your bets.

1. Watch for line moves

Bowl game odds come out well in advance of the contests, so there’s a good chance there will be some movement before kickoff. Take some time to examine the opening college bowl lines versus where it stands at the present time, and pay particularly close attention to really big shifts in the numbers.

2. Pay careful attention to players who are in or out

Many Division I college football players have aspirations of playing in the NFL. Those who are in a prime position to be selected in the next NFL Draft may have their sights more set on the future. As such, it’s not uncommon for players to opt-out of playing in bowl games as opposed to risking injury. Closely monitor the news for developments.

3. Dive deep and examine team mindset

While a bowl game is a reward for a team having a solid regular season, there can be times when the contest a team is scheduled for isn’t quite what it had in mind. On the other hand, some clubs can be more than tickled with where they have landed. Try to gain a sense of the overall motivation level as it can be a difference-maker on the field.

Handicapping the games can be a very worthwhile endeavor, especially for those who enjoy doing research. There’s always the chance you might find something that others have missed, and that can be the difference between winning and losing wagers. For those who don’t have time or simply are not fans of breaking down the contests, there are free and paid resources that you can lean on. When looking at those in the latter category, shop carefully and stick to trusted resources with good reputations.

History of college football in Virginia

The roots of college football in Virginia go all the way back to the early days of the sport in the late 1800s. These days, there are four schools playing at the top FBS level, and a handful of others that play in the FCS. Here are some of the key details about the schools that fall into the former category.

• University of Virginia
  • Nickname: Cavaliers
  • Established: 1888
  • Location: Charlottesville
  • Conference: ACC
  • Home games: Scott Stadium
  • All-time record: 675–618–48
  • Bowl game record: 8–13
  • Conference titles: Five, last in 1995

• Virginia Tech
  • Nickname: Hokies
  • Established: 1892
  • Location: Blacksburg
  • Conference: ACC
  • Home games: Lane Stadium
  • All-time record: 760–485–46
  • Bowl game record: 13–21
  • Conference titles: 11, last in 2010

• Liberty University
  • Nickname: Flames
  • Established: 1973
  • Location: Lynchburg
  • Conference: Independent
  • Home games: Williams Stadium
  • All-time record: 279–248–4
  • Bowl game record: 3-0
  • Conference titles: Eight, last in 2016

• Old Dominion University
  • Nickname: Monarchs
  • Established: 1930
  • Location: Norfolk
  • Conference: Conference USA
  • Home games: S.B. Ballard Stadium
  • All-time record: 125–99–4
  • Bowl game record: 1-1
  • Conference titles: 0

Unfortunately, you can’t bet on any of the local college teams here in VA. The sports betting law specifically prohibits betting on contests involving programs from the state. However, there’s nothing stopping you from rooting along whenever they take the field.