College football bowl games: Odds, analysis and predictions

A record 43 college football bowl games will be played over the next few weeks. 17 of them will feature a team without a winning record. A number of coaches and coordinators have already quit their schools. Some players have also announced their intentions of finding a new campus.

Toledo has won each of its last three games by double digits. Middle Tennessee's underwhelming offense won't help them against Toledo's less-than-stellar defense.

Northern Illinois is an underdog to win the MAC title over Coastal Carolina.

Appalachian State is going for a seventh straight season with a bowl win. Western Kentucky's offense is losing both of its coordinators and its defense is allowing the fifth-lowest completion rate in the country.

Jake Haener is back at Fresno State after entering the transfer portal. The team is celebrating the return of its star quarterback.

BYU is 3-6 against the spread as a favorite, but the 13th-ranked Cougars are worth the risk. UAB is 8-3-1 against numbers overall.

Liberty is playing in a bowl game against E. Michigan. Malik Willis needs to perform well to avoid a losing streak.

Utah State is the favorite to win the game against Oregon State.

Louisiana is going to win despite not having Billy Napier. Marshall's inconsistent attack will struggle to sustain drives against a defense that has allowed an average of 14 points over the past six games.

Old Dominion is a 9.5-point favorite over Tulsa. The Monarchs have won five straight games. Tulsa has won just one game by double digits this season.

Kent State is a favorite over Wyoming. The Golden Flashes' defense is among the worst in the nation. Wyoming's defense allows 23.5 points per game.

UTSA is favored to beat San Diego State. The Aztecs are losing defensively and they gave up 46 points to Utah State in the previous game.

Missouri is an underdog against Army. The Black Knights are the overwhelming favorite.

North Texas plays Miami (Ohio) in Frisco. The Mean Green are on a six-game winning streak. Miami has one road win this season.

UCF is favored to beat Florida in the Liberty Bowl. The game is named after a mythical pirate.

Hawaii is favored to beat Memphis on Christmas Eve. Memphis hasn't won a game away from home in more than three months. Hawaii went 4-2 at home this season, with its losses coming by a total of 10 points.

Ball State is favored to beat Georgia State. The game is on the biggest social night of the year.

Western Michigan is a slight favorite over Nevada. Nevada is without star quarterback Carson Strong and star tight end Cole Turner. Nate Cox is the Wolf Pack's backup quarterback. Western Michigan's defense is ranked ninth in the nation in sack percentage.

East Carolina is a trendy upset pick over Boston College. The Pirates have won four of their past five games. Boston college is ranked fourth in the nation in passing yards allowed (173.5).

Houston is favored to beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Quarterback Bo Nix, whose father played for the Tigers, wants to transfer.

Air Force's triple-option will be a constant headache for Louisville's front. Louisville has only one win over a team with a winning record.

Mississippi State is playing in a mid-tier bowl. Mike Leach's team is favored by 8.5 points.

NC State is the favorite to win the game against UCLA. UCLA has a poor record and a bad secondary.

Minnesota is the favorite to win the game against West Virginia.

Virginia is playing in the new Boston Bowl. The Mustangs had a bad season and are going to Boston without their head coach and two leading receivers.

Virginia Tech is favored to beat Maryland in the college football bowl game. The Terps are in a bowl for the first time in five years.

Iowa State is playing in the Cheese Nips Bowl. Clemson is not in a college football playoff. The Tigers' loss of defensive coordinator Brent Venables gives Iowa State's quarterback Brock Purdy and offensive player Breece Hall a greater chance to win.

Oklahoma is playing without a full-time head coach. Caleb Williams is the best player on the field for Oklahoma. Oregon is without potential No. 1 pick Kayvon Thibodeaux.

North Carolina is playing in the most revoltingly named bowl. The Tar Heels' top-10 offense is going to play against South Carolina's 118th-ranked attack.

Purdue is favored to beat Tennessee. The game will be played on the home field. Purdue's two All-Americans, George Karlaftis and David Bell, have opted out of the game. Aidan O'Connell has 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions in his past five games.

Kenneth Walker III and Kenny Pickett will both sit out, robbing the game of two of the top six finishes in the Heisman voting. Pittsburgh's quarterback will be absent. Michigan State has the worst pass defense.

Wisconsin is the favorite to beat Arizona State. The Badgers have won seven of their past eight games and five of six bowl games under Paul Chryst.

Wake Forest is a +5 favorite over Texas A&M. Zach Calzada will transfer, forcing Jimbo Fisher to start a walk-on freshman.

Miami (Fla.) is playing in the college football bowl game against Washington State. Neither team has the same head coach it had before. Miami's star freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke has thrown for 20 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Boise State is playing Central Michigan in the BCS Championship Game. The Broncos won 7-5, but they won by an average of 22 points.

Cincinnati is a heavy favorite over Alabama. The Bearcats have been waiting for this opportunity for two years. Alabama is without star receiver John Metchie. Cincinnati has been to two bowl games this season.

Michigan is the most confident team in the nation since dominating Ohio State. Georgia lost its lone game against a top-15 team.

Penn State is favored by 2.5 points over Arkansas. Sean Clifford should have more success through the air against the Hogs. Jahan Dotson will play for Penn State. Arkansas' top receiver, Treylon Burks, has opted out.

Iowa is favored by 2.5 points over Kentucky. Iowa's wins over Iowa State, Penn State and Minnesota carry more weight than Kentucky's.

Oklahoma State is a favorite over Notre Dame. The Cowboys' defense is unlike anything Notre Notre Ireland has seen since being held to 13 points against Cincinnati.

Ohio State (-6.5) over Utah. Utah surrendered 401 yards, but easily won because the opponent was USC. C.J. Stroud's teammates won't let a masterpiece go to waste.

Baylor is playing in the college football bowl game against Mississippi. Dave Aranda's defense has been more reliable than Lane Kiffin's offense. Matt Corral has mostly been a single threat since developing a nagging ankle injury.

Kansas State is favored to beat LSU. LSU's starting quarterback, Max Johnson, is leaving the team without Ed Orgeron and multiple assistants. If Garrett Nussmeier sits to retain his redshirt season, the Tigers will resort to using a walk-on at quarterback.