Game: Bowl Mania
From: ESPN
Link to Play: Bowl Mania
How does it work?: The College Football bowl season runs from the beginning of December until the National Championship game in early January. There are 40+ bowl games that the contestant must select a winner. For Bowl Mania, there are two possible scoring systems that can be chosen. We describe each below.
Strategy: Our numbers in the analysis table are based on the strategy of maximizing score. Thus, we always take the favorites and assign the confidence level by giving the most points to the team with highest odds of winning. In the case of ties, we present the confidence level as the average and leave you to choose which game to assign higher confidence.
How to Play
The college bowl pick’em game can be played under two scoring systems on ESPN. The simplest approach is to make picks for the winner of each game, and you are scored based on the number of correct picks. The second scoring system requires you to both make picks and provide your confidence by ranking the games in the order of most to least likely to be correct. This adds a little more of a twist in the scoring to makes things more interesting.
In our analysis table below, we have provided you with a good starting point for making your own picks. These are our recommended picks based on a combination of odds for each game using DRatings.
For those using the confidence based scoring system, be aware that you must make your pick and confidence before each game begins.
There is obviously some strategy involved in picking confidence since we do not know who will play in the National Championship game. For our pick on that game, we used a weighted average of all the possible scenarios to provide you with the current expectation on who is likely to win in case you want to go ahead and make all your picks and confidence selections now. Of course it’s likely better to wait on this game as far as the winner goes, but you may want to go ahead and lock the confidence position ahead of time or if you’re fully uncertain then you can always make this one have the lowest confidence.
2023-2024 College Football Bowl Mania Predictions
Confidence |
Team |
|
Implied Odds |
|
Win Prob |
N/A |
Ohio Bobcats |
+155 |
38.4% |
50.5% |
42% |
13 |
Georgia Southern Eagles |
-170 |
61.6% |
49.5% |
58% |
25 |
Florida A&M Rattlers |
-205 |
64.5% |
67.8% |
65.5% |
N/A |
Howard Bison |
+170 |
35.5% |
32.2% |
34.5% |
N/A |
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns |
+135 |
41.5% |
56.7% |
46.1% |
7 |
Jacksonville State Gamecocks |
-150 |
58.5% |
43.3% |
53.9% |
23 |
Appalachian State Mountaineers |
-210 |
65.5% |
58.2% |
63.3% |
N/A |
Miami (OH) Redhawks |
+180 |
34.5% |
41.8% |
36.7% |
N/A |
Fresno State Bulldogs |
+140 |
40.7% |
49.5% |
43.3% |
12 |
New Mexico State Aggies |
-155 |
59.3% |
50.5% |
56.7% |
N/A |
Boise State Broncos |
+120 |
44.2% |
48.7% |
45.6% |
10 |
UCLA Bruins |
-135 |
55.8% |
51.3% |
54.5% |
15 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders |
-140 |
57.8% |
60.6% |
58.6% |
N/A |
California Golden Bears |
+135 |
42.2% |
39.4% |
41.4% |
4 |
Old Dominion Monarchs |
-130 |
55.4% |
44% |
52% |
N/A |
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers |
+120 |
44.6% |
56% |
48% |
N/A |
Marshall Thundering Herd |
+300 |
24.6% |
28% |
25.6% |
33 |
UTSA Roadrunners |
-330 |
75.4% |
72% |
74.4% |
19 |
Syracuse Orange |
-155 |
59.3% |
67.6% |
61.8% |
N/A |
South Florida Bulls |
+140 |
40.7% |
32.4% |
38.2% |
28 |
UCF Knights |
-185 |
64.5% |
74.3% |
67.4% |
N/A |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |
+180 |
35.5% |
25.7% |
32.6% |
N/A |
Northern Illinois Huskies |
-105 |
49.4% |
45.1% |
48.1% |
3 |
Arkansas State Red Wolves |
-110 |
50.6% |
54.9% |
51.9% |
N/A |
Duke Blue Devils |
+255 |
27.7% |
26.9% |
27.5% |
31 |
Troy Trojans |
-280 |
72.3% |
73.1% |
72.5% |
N/A |
Air Force Falcons |
+135 |
41.8% |
35.7% |
40% |
16 |
James Madison Dukes |
-145 |
58.2% |
64.3% |
60% |
N/A |
Utah State Aggies |
-110 |
50.6% |
41.1% |
47.8% |
5 |
Georgia State Panthers |
-105 |
49.4% |
58.9% |
52.3% |
N/A |
Eastern Michigan Eagles |
+550 |
15% |
10.9% |
13.8% |
42 |
South Alabama Jaguars |
-700 |
85% |
89.1% |
86.2% |
N/A |
Northwestern Wildcats |
+230 |
29.3% |
17.4% |
25.7% |
32 |
Utah Utes |
-270 |
70.7% |
82.6% |
74.3% |
37 |
San Jose State Spartans |
-330 |
76.1% |
75.5% |
75.9% |
N/A |
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers |
+315 |
23.9% |
24.5% |
24.1% |
26 |
Minnesota Golden Gophers |
-180 |
62.6% |
75.7% |
66.5% |
N/A |
Bowling Green Falcons |
+160 |
37.4% |
24.3% |
33.5% |
N/A |
Rice Owls |
+165 |
37% |
40.1% |
37.9% |
21 |
Texas State Bobcats |
-180 |
63% |
59.9% |
62.1% |
N/A |
UNLV Rebels |
+380 |
20.4% |
19.5% |
20.1% |
39 |
Kansas Jayhawks |
-440 |
79.6% |
80.5% |
79.9% |
N/A |
Tulane Green Wave |
+255 |
27.3% |
38.7% |
30.7% |
30 |
Virginia Tech Hokies |
-300 |
72.7% |
61.3% |
69.3% |
6 |
West Virginia Mountaineers |
-150 |
59.5% |
40.1% |
53.7% |
N/A |
North Carolina Tar Heels |
+145 |
40.5% |
59.9% |
46.3% |
N/A |
USC Trojans |
+240 |
28.6% |
40% |
32% |
29 |
Louisville Cardinals |
-275 |
71.4% |
60% |
68% |
N/A |
Oklahoma State Cowboys |
+140 |
41% |
25.5% |
36.4% |
24 |
Texas A&M Aggies |
-150 |
59% |
74.5% |
63.7% |
N/A |
Boston College Eagles |
+330 |
22.5% |
16.1% |
20.6% |
38 |
SMU Mustangs |
-400 |
77.5% |
83.9% |
79.4% |
14 |
Miami Hurricanes |
-140 |
56.8% |
61.3% |
58.2% |
N/A |
Rutgers Scarlet Knights |
+125 |
43.2% |
38.7% |
41.9% |
22 |
Kansas State Wildcats |
-150 |
59.5% |
71.8% |
63.2% |
N/A |
NC State Wolfpack |
+145 |
40.5% |
28.2% |
36.8% |
N/A |
Oklahoma Sooners |
+135 |
41.5% |
55.5% |
45.7% |
8 |
Arizona Wildcats |
-150 |
58.5% |
44.5% |
54.3% |
N/A |
Kentucky Wildcats |
+196 |
32.9% |
32.7% |
32.8% |
27 |
Clemson Tigers |
-220 |
67.1% |
67.3% |
67.2% |
36 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
-310 |
74.7% |
78.4% |
75.8% |
N/A |
Oregon State Beavers |
+290 |
25.3% |
21.6% |
24.2% |
34 |
Iowa State Cyclones |
-310 |
73.7% |
77.2% |
74.8% |
N/A |
Memphis Tigers |
+270 |
26.3% |
22.8% |
25.3% |
N/A |
Ohio State Buckeyes |
+125 |
43.2% |
51.3% |
45.6% |
9 |
Missouri Tigers |
-140 |
56.8% |
48.7% |
54.4% |
17 |
Penn State Nittany Lions |
-165 |
60.9% |
60% |
60.6% |
N/A |
Ole Miss Rebels |
+150 |
39.1% |
40% |
39.4% |
N/A |
Maryland Terrapins |
+115 |
45.1% |
58.1% |
49% |
2 |
Auburn Tigers |
-130 |
54.9% |
41.9% |
51% |
N/A |
Florida State Seminoles |
+475 |
16.9% |
15.8% |
16.6% |
41 |
Georgia Bulldogs |
-600 |
83.1% |
84.2% |
83.4% |
1 |
Wyoming Cowboys |
-150 |
58% |
34.2% |
50.9% |
N/A |
Toledo Rockets |
+130 |
42% |
65.8% |
49.1% |
40 |
LSU Tigers |
-365 |
77.1% |
91.9% |
81.5% |
N/A |
Wisconsin Badgers |
+330 |
22.9% |
8.1% |
18.5% |
43 |
Oregon Ducks |
-800 |
86.2% |
88% |
86.7% |
N/A |
Liberty Flames |
+600 |
13.8% |
12% |
13.3% |
35 |
Tennessee Volunteers |
-305 |
73.1% |
79.9% |
75.1% |
N/A |
Iowa Hawkeyes |
+260 |
26.9% |
20.1% |
24.9% |
11 |
Michigan Wolverines |
-120 |
52.8% |
63.9% |
56.1% |
N/A |
Alabama Crimson Tide |
+105 |
47.2% |
36.1% |
43.9% |
N/A |
Washington Huskies |
+165 |
37.2% |
43.9% |
39.2% |
18 |
Texas Longhorns |
-175 |
62.8% |
56.1% |
60.8% |
20 |
MICH/ALA |
|
|
|
62% |
N/A |
WASH/TEX |
|
|
|
38% |
Results
2023-2024 Bowl Season Pick Results
Pick |
Probability |
Confidence |
Result |
Georgia Southern Eagles |
58% |
13 |
Loss |
Florida A&M Rattlers |
65.5% |
25 |
Win |
Jacksonville State Gamecocks |
53.9% |
7 |
Win |
Appalachian State Mountaineers |
63.3% |
23 |
Win |
New Mexico State Aggies |
56.7% |
12 |
Loss |
UCLA Bruins |
54.5% |
10 |
Win |
Texas Tech Red Raiders |
58.6% |
15 |
Win |
Old Dominion Monarchs |
52% |
4 |
Loss |
UTSA Roadrunners |
74.4% |
33 |
Win |
Syracuse Orange |
61.8% |
19 |
Loss |
UCF Knights |
67.4% |
28 |
Loss |
Arkansas State Red Wolves |
51.9% |
3 |
Loss |
Troy Trojans |
72.5% |
31 |
Loss |
James Madison Dukes |
60% |
16 |
Loss |
Georgia State Panthers |
52.3% |
5 |
Win |
South Alabama Jaguars |
86.2% |
42 |
Win |
Utah Utes |
74.3% |
32 |
Loss |
San Jose State Spartans |
75.9% |
37 |
Loss |
Minnesota Golden Gophers |
66.5% |
26 |
Win |
Texas State Bobcats |
62.1% |
21 |
Win |
Kansas Jayhawks |
79.9% |
39 |
Win |
Virginia Tech Hokies |
69.3% |
30 |
Win |
West Virginia Mountaineers |
53.7% |
6 |
Win |
Louisville Cardinals |
68% |
29 |
Loss |
Texas A&M Aggies |
63.7% |
24 |
Loss |
SMU Mustangs |
79.4% |
38 |
Loss |
Miami Hurricanes |
58.2% |
14 |
Loss |
Kansas State Wildcats |
63.2% |
22 |
Win |
Arizona Wildcats |
54.3% |
8 |
Win |
Clemson Tigers |
67.2% |
27 |
Win |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
75.8% |
36 |
Win |
Iowa State Cyclones |
74.8% |
34 |
Loss |
Missouri Tigers |
54.4% |
9 |
Win |
Penn State Nittany Lions |
60.6% |
17 |
Loss |
Auburn Tigers |
51% |
2 |
Loss |
Georgia Bulldogs |
83.4% |
41 |
Win |
Wyoming Cowboys |
50.9% |
1 |
Win |
LSU Tigers |
81.5% |
40 |
Win |
Oregon Ducks |
86.7% |
43 |
Win |
Tennessee Volunteers |
75.1% |
35 |
Win |
Michigan Wolverines |
56.1% |
11 |
Win |
Texas Longhorns |
60.8% |
18 |
Loss |
MICH/ALA |
62% |
20 |
Win |
2023-2024 College Football Bowl Mania Results
Total Possible Points (TPP): |
946 |
Expected Points: |
669.4 |
Actual Points: |
575 |
Point Diff: |
-94.4 |
Projected Wins: |
28.0 |
Actual Wins: |
25 |
Win Diff: |
-3.0 |
Projected Losses: |
15.0 |
Actual Losses: |
18 |
2022-2023 College Football Bowl Mania Results
Total Possible Points (TPP): |
946 |
Expected Points: |
661.5 |
Actual Points: |
598 |
Point Diff: |
-63.5 |
Projected Wins: |
27.9 |
Actual Wins: |
27 |
Win Diff: |
-0.9 |
Projected Losses: |
15.1 |
Actual Losses: |
16 |
2019-2020 College Football Bowl Mania Results
Total Possible Points (TPP): |
861 |
Expected Points: |
615.1 |
Actual Points: |
672 |
Point Diff: |
+56.9 |
Projected Wins: |
27.0 |
Actual Wins: |
32 |
Win Diff: |
-5.0 |
Projected Losses: |
14.0 |
Actual Losses: |
9 |
2018-2019 College Football Bowl Mania Results
Total Possible Points (TPP): |
861 |
Expected Points: |
583.9 |
Actual Points: |
461 |
Point Diff: |
-122.9 |
Projected Wins: |
26.0 |
Actual Wins: |
20 |
Win Diff: |
-6.0 |
Projected Losses: |
15.0 |
Actual Losses: |
20 |
2017-2018 College Football Bowl Mania Results
Total Possible Points (TPP): |
861 |
Expected Points: |
589.4 |
Actual Points: |
494 |
Point Diff: |
-95.4 |
Projected Wins: |
26.0 |
Actual Wins: |
24 |
Win Diff: |
-2.0 |
Projected Losses: |
15.0 |
Actual Losses: |
17 |
2016-2017 College Football Bowl Mania Results
Total Possible Points (TPP): |
903 |
Expected Points: |
645.2 |
Actual Points: |
615 |
Point Diff: |
-30.2 |
Projected Wins: |
28.0 |
Actual Wins: |
26 |
Win Diff: |
-2.0 |
Projected Losses: |
14.0 |
Actual Losses: |
16 |
2015-2016 College Football Bowl Mania Results
Total Possible Points (TPP): |
903 |
Expected Points: |
626.3 |
Actual Points: |
678 |
Point Diff: |
+51.7 |
Projected Wins: |
27.3 |
Actual Wins: |
29 |
Win Diff: |
+1.7 |
Projected Losses: |
14.7 |
Actual Losses: |
13 |