Jimmy Boyd in 
When it comes to handicapping bowl games, there’s a lot of different factors you have to take into account. In this article I’m going to focus on how teams respond against the betting odds after playing in their league title game.
Performance of Conf Championship Game Winners/Losers in Bowl Games
I’ve went all the way back to the 2000 campaign and compiled the numbers. Below you will find a list of every conference winner and loser (each have own list) and how they performed in bowl play. I’ve included both the SU and ATS records. As well as their postseason opponent, betting line and final score.
Handicapping Tip
I believe that bowl games are more about motivation than the actual talent on the field. There’s no question that winning or losing a championship contest can add or take away motivation.
The key thing to keep in mind is you have to look at how the win/loss impacted what bowl game they are in. It’s no secret that the playoffs are the ultimate goal, but that’s not all that matters. There’s several other big bowls that teams get excited to play for.
The biggest thing I look for is whether or not a loss had an impact on a team potentially making the playoffs. If so, the chances of this team showing up in any other bowl is unlikely. I also want to note that this goes for any team who suffered a defeat late in the year that knocked them out of contention. Regardless if they play in their leagues title game, they typically won’t show up.
For the Group of 5 schools, be sure to check if a loss cost them that coveted New Year’s Six bowl spot.
While I like to focus more on fading teams that lose their title game, I don’t ignore the winners. You just have to dig a little deeper. Click on the following link to get a full list of this year’s bowl predictions.
Bowl History: Performance of Conference Title Winners & Losers
Losers
| Year | Team | Opponent | Conf. | Line | Score | W/L | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | UAB | Appalachian State | CUSA | +16.5 | |||
| 2019 | Central Michigan | San Diego State | MAC | +3.5 | |||
| 2019 | UL-Lafayette | Miami (OH) | SB | -14 | |||
| 2019 | Hawaii | BYU | MWC | +2 | |||
| 2019 | Cincinnati | Boston College | AAC | -7 | |||
| 2019 | Baylor* | Georgia | B12 | +7.5 | |||
| 2019 | Virginia | Florida | ACC | +14.5 | |||
| 2019 | Georgia* | Baylor | SEC | -7.5 | |||
| 2019 | Wisconsin | Oregon | B10 | -2.5 | |||
| 2019 | Utah | Texas | P12 | -7.5 | |||
| 2018 | Middle Tennessee | Appalachian State | CUSA | +7 | 13-45 | L | L |
| 2018 | UL-Lafayette | Tulane | SB | +3 | 24-41 | L | L |
| 2018 | Boise State | Boston College | MWC | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 2018 | Memphis | Wake Forest | AAC | -3 | 34-37 | L | L |
| 2018 | Northwestern* | Utah | B10 | +6.5 | 31-20 | W | W |
| 2018 | Texas* | Georgia | B12 | +11 | 28-21 | W | W |
| 2018 | Pittsburgh | Stanford | ACC | +3 | 13-14 | L | W |
| 2018 | Georgia* | Texas | SEC | -11 | 21-28 | L | L |
| 2018 | Buffalo | Troy | MAC | -1 | 32-42 | L | L |
| 2018 | Utah* | Northwestern | P12 | -6.5 | 20-31 | L | L |
| 2017 | North Texas | Troy | CUSA | +6 | 30-50 | L | L |
| 2017 | Akron | Florida Atlantic | MAC | +22 | 3-50 | L | L |
| 2017 | Fresno State | Houston | MWC | +2 | 33-27 | W | W |
| 2017 | Memphis | Iowa State | AAC | -3.5 | 20-21 | L | L |
| 2017 | Wisconsin* | Miami | B10 | -6.5 | 34-24 | W | W |
| 2017 | TCU* | Stanford | B12 | -2.5 | 3-14 | L | L |
| 2017 | Auburn | UCF | SEC | -10 | 27-34 | L | L |
| 2017 | Miami* | Wisconsin | ACC | +6.5 | 24-34 | L | L |
| 2017 | Stanford | TCU | P12 | +2.5 | 14-3 | W | W |
| 2016 | Louisiana Tech* | Navy | C-USA | -6 | 48-45 | W | L |
| 2016 | Ohio | Troy | MAC | +5 | 23-28 | L | P |
| 2016 | Wyoming | BYU | MWC | +9.5 | 21-24 | L | W |
| 2016 | Navy* | Louisiana Tech | AAC | +6 | 45-48 | L | W |
| 2016 | Virginia Tech | Arkansas | ACC | -7.5 | 35-24 | W | W |
| 2016 | Colorado | Oklahoma St | P12 | -3 | 8-38 | L | L |
| 2016 | Wisconsin | Western Michigan | B10 | -8 | 24-16 | W | P |
| 2016 | Florida | Iowa | SEC | -2.5 | 30-3 | W | W |
| 2015 | North Carolina | Stanford | ACC | +2.5 | 23-25 | L | W |
| 2015 | Iowa | USC | B10 | +6.5 | 16-45 | L | L |
| 2015 | Southern Miss | Washington | C-USA | +8 | 31-44 | L | L |
| 2015 | Northern Illinois | Boise State | MAC | +8 | 7-55 | L | L |
| 2015 | Air Force | California | MWC | +6.5 | 36-55 | L | L |
| 2015 | USC | Wisconsin | P12 | -3.5 | 21-23 | L | L |
| 2015 | Florida | Michigan | SEC | +4 | 7-41 | L | L |
| 2015 | Temple | Toledo | AAC | -2 | 17-32 | L | L |
| 2014 | Wisconsin | Auburn | B10 | +6 | 34-31 | W | W |
| 2014 | Missouri | TCU | SEC | +3.5 | 3-42 | L | L |
| 2014 | Georgia Tech | Mississippi State | ACC | +7 | 49-34 | W | W |
| 2014 | Arizona | Boise State | P12 | -3 | 30-38 | L | L |
| 2014 | Fresno State | Rice | MWC | +1 | 30-6 | L | L |
| 2014 | Louisiana Tech | Illinois | C-USA | -6.5 | 35-18 | W | W |
| 2014 | Bowling Green | South Alabama | MAC | +2.5 | 33-28 | W | W |
| 2013 | Arizona State | Texas Tech | P12 | -16 | 23-37 | L | L |
| 2013 | Missouri | Georgia Tech | SEC | -3 | 25-17 | W | W |
| 2013 | Ohio State | Clemson | B10 | -2 | 35-40 | L | L |
| 2013 | Duke | Texas A&M | ACC | +12 | 48-52 | L | W |
| 2013 | Northern Illinois* | Utah State | MAC | +1 | 14-21 | L | L |
| 2013 | Utah State* | Northern Illinois | MWC | -1 | 21-14 | W | W |
| 2013 | Marshall | Maryland | C-USA | -3 | 31-20 | W | W |
| 2012 | Nebraska* | Georgia | Big 10 | +9.5 | 31-45 | L | L |
| 2012 | Georgia* | Nebraska | SEC | -9.5 | 45-31 | W | W |
| 2012 | Kent State | Arkansas St | MAC | -4 | 13-17 | L | L |
| 2012 | Georgia Tech | USC | ACC | +7.5 | 21-7 | W | W |
| 2012 | UCLA | Baylor | Pac-12 | -2 | 26-49 | L | L |
| 2012 | UCF | Ball State | C-USA | -7.5 | 38-17 | W | W |
| 2011 | Virginia Tech | Michigan | ACC | +2.5 | 20-23 | L | L |
| 2011 | Houston | Penn State | C-USA | -7 | 30-14 | W | W |
| 2011 | Michigan State | Georgia | Big 10 | +2.5 | 33-30 | W | W |
| 2011 | Georgia* | Michigan St | SEC | -2.5 | 30-33 | L | L |
| 2011 | UCLA | Illinois | Pac-12 | +3 | 14-20 | L | L |
| 2011 | Ohio | Utah State | MAC | +1.5 | 24-23 | W | W |
| 2010 | Florida State* | S. Carolina | ACC | +3 | 26-17 | W | W |
| 2010 | S. Carolina* | Florida St | SEC | -3 | 17-26 | L | L |
| 2010 | Nebraska | Washington | Big 12 | -13.5 | 19-7 | L | L |
| 2010 | SMU | Army | C-USA | -7 | 14-16 | L | L |
| 2010 | N. Illinois | Fresno St | MAC | -2 | 40-17 | W | W |
| 2009 | Florida | Cincinnati | SEC | -12.5 | 54-21 | W | W |
| 2009 | Houston | Air Force | C-USA | -4.5 | 20-47 | L | L |
| 2009 | Nebraska | Arizona | Big 12 | -2 | 33-12 | W | W |
| 2009 | Clemson | Kentucky | ACC | -7 | 21-13 | W | W |
| 2009 | Ohio | Marshall | MAC | -4 | 17-21 | L | L |
| 2008 | Ball State* | Tulsa | MAC | +1.5 | 13-45 | L | L |
| 2008 | Tulsa* | Ball State | C-USA | -1.5 | 45-13 | W | W |
| 2008 | Alabama | Utah | SEC | -9 | 17-31 | L | L |
| 2008 | Boston College | Vanderbilt | ACC | -4.5 | 14-16 | L | L |
| 2008 | Missouri | Northwestern | Big 12 | -13 | 30-23 | W | L |
| 2007 | Tulsa | Bowling Green | C-USA | -6 | 63-7 | W | W |
| 2007 | Tennessee | Wisconsin | SEC | -2.5 | 21-17 | W | W |
| 2007 | Missouri | Arkansas | Big 12 | -4 | 38-7 | W | W |
| 2007 | BC | Michigan State | ACC | -4.5 | 24-21 | W | L |
| 2006 | Ohio* | S. Miss | MAC | +6 | 28-Jul | L | L |
| 2006 | S. Miss* | Ohio | C-USA | -6 | 28-7 | W | W |
| 2006 | Georgia Tech | West Virginia | ACC | +10 | 35-38 | L | W |
| 2006 | Nebraska | Auburn | Big 12 | +1.5 | 14-17 | L | L |
| 2006 | Arkansas | Wisconsin | SEC | -1.5 | 14-17 | L | L |
| 2005 | Virginia Tech | Louisville | ACC | -9.5 | 35-24 | W | W |
| 2005 | LSU | Miami (FL) | SEC | +6 | 40-3 | W | W |
| 2005 | Colorado | Clemson | Big 12 | +10.5 | 19-10 | L | W |
| 2005 | UCF | Nevada | C-USA | +4 | 48-49 | L | W |
| 2004 | Tennessee | Texas A&M | SEC | +4.5 | 38-7 | W | W |
| 2004 | Colorado | UTEP | Big 12 | -4 | 33-28 | W | W |
| 2004 | Miami (OH) | Iowa State | MAC | -1 | 13-17 | L | L |
| 2003 | Oklahoma | LSU | Big 12 | -7 | 14-21 | L | L |
| 2003 | Georgia | Purdue | SEC | -3.5 | 34-27 | W | W |
| 2003 | Bowling Green | Northwestern | MAC | -7 | 28-24 | W | L |
| 2002 | Arkansas | Minnesota | SEC | -7.5 | 14-29 | L | L |
| 2002 | Colorado | Wisconsin | Big 12 | -7.5 | 28-31 | L | L |
| 2002 | Toledo | B. College | MAC | +4 | 25-51 | L | L |
| 2001 | Tennessee | Michigan | SEC | -3 | 45-17 | W | W |
| 2001 | Texas | Washington | Big 12 | -13 | 47-43 | W | L |
| 2001 | Marshall | East Carolina | MAC | +2 | 64-61 | W | W |
| 2000 | Kansas State | Tennessee | Big 12 | -3.5 | 35-21 | W | W |
| 2000 | Auburn | Michigan | SEC | +7.5 | 28-31 | L | W |
*Denotes two losers who face each other
Winners
| Year | Team | Opponent | Conf. | Line | Score | W/L | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Florida Atlantic | SMU | CUSA | +3 | |||
| 2019 | Miami (OH) | UL-Lafayette | MAC | +14 | |||
| 2019 | Appalachian State | UAB | SB | -16 | |||
| 2019 | Boise State | Washington | MWC | +3.5 | |||
| 2019 | Memphis | Penn State | AAC | +6.5 | |||
| 2019 | Oklahoma* | LSU | B12 | +13.5 | |||
| 2019 | Clemson* | Ohio State | ACC | -2 | |||
| 2019 | LSU* | Oklahoma | SEC | -13.5 | |||
| 2019 | Ohio State* | Clemson | B10 | +2 | |||
| 2019 | Oregon | Wisconsin | P12 | +2.5 | |||
| 2018 | UAB | Northern Illinois | CUSA | -2 | 37-13 | W | W |
| 2018 | Appalachian State | Middle Tennessee | SB | -7 | 45-13 | W | W |
| 2018 | Fresno State | Arizona State | MWC | -6 | 31-20 | W | W |
| 2018 | UCF | LSU | AAC | +7.5 | 32-40 | L | L |
| 2018 | Ohio State* | Washington | B10 | -5.5 | 28-23 | W | L |
| 2018 | Oklahoma | Alabama | B12 | +13 | 34-45 | L | W |
| 2018 | Clemson | Notre Dame | ACC | -12 | 30-3 | W | W |
| 2018 | Alabama | Oklahoma | SEC | -13 | 45-34 | W | L |
| 2018 | Northern Illinois | UAB | MAC | +2 | 13-37 | L | L |
| 2018 | Washington* | Ohio State | P12 | +5.5 | 23-28 | L | W |
| 2017 | Florida Atlantic | Akron | CUSA | -22 | 50-3 | W | W |
| 2017 | Toledo | Appalachian State | MAC | -7 | 0-34 | L | L |
| 2017 | Boise State | Oregon | MWC | +7 | 38-28 | W | W |
| 2017 | UCF | Auburn | AAC | +10 | 34-27 | W | W |
| 2017 | Ohio State* | USC | B10 | -9.5 | 24-7 | W | W |
| 2017 | Oklahoma* | Georgia | B12 | +2 | 48-54 | L | L |
| 2017 | Georgia* | Oklahoma | SEC | -2 | 54-48 | W | W |
| 2017 | Clemson | Alabama | ACC | +3 | 6-24 | L | L |
| 2017 | USC * | Ohio State | P12 | +9.5 | 7-24 | L | L |
| 2016 | Western Kentucky | Memphis | C-USA | -7 | 51-31 | W | W |
| 2016 | W Michigan | Wisconsin | MAC | +8 | 16-24 | L | P |
| 2016 | San Diego St | Houston | MWC | +4.5 | 34-10 | W | W |
| 2016 | Temple | Wake Forest | AAC | -10.5 | 26-34 | L | L |
| 2016 | Clemson | Ohio State | ACC | +2 | 31-0 | W | W |
| 2016 | Washington* | Alabama | P12 | +14 | 24-7 | L | L |
| 2016 | Penn State | USC | B10 | +7 | 49-52 | L | W |
| 2016 | Alabama* | Washington | SEC | -14 | 24-7 | W | W |
| 2015 | Clemson* | Oklahoma | ACC | +3 | 37-17 | W | W |
| 2015 | Michigan State* | Alabama | B10 | +10 | 0-38 | L | L |
| 2015 | Western Kentucky | South Florida | C-USA | -3 | 45-35 | W | W |
| 2015 | Bowling Green | Georgia Southern | MAC | -4.5 | 27-58 | L | L |
| 2015 | San Diego St | Cincinnati | MWC | -2.5 | 42-7 | W | W |
| 2015 | Stanford | Iowa | P12 | -6.5 | 45-16 | W | W |
| 2015 | Alabama* | Michigan St | SEC | -10 | 38-0 | W | W |
| 2015 | Houston | Florida State | AAC | +7 | 38-24 | W | W |
| 2014 | Ohio State* | Alabama | B10 | +8 | 42-35 | W | W |
| 2014 | Alabama* | Ohio State | SEC | -8 | 35-42 | L | L |
| 2014 | Florida State* | Oregon | ACC | +7 | 20-59 | L | L |
| 2014 | Oregon* | Florida State | P12 | -7 | 59-20 | W | W |
| 2014 | Boise State | Arizona | MWC | +3 | 38-30 | W | W |
| 2014 | Marshall* | Northern Illinois | C-USA | -9.5 | 52-23 | W | W |
| 2014 | Northern Illinois* | Marshall | MAC | +9.5 | 23-52 | L | L |
| 2013 | Stanford* | Michigan St | P12 | -6 | 20-24 | L | L |
| 2013 | Auburn* | Florida State | SEC | +10.5 | 31-34 | L | W |
| 2013 | Michigan State* | Stanford | B10 | +6 | 24-20 | W | W |
| 2013 | Florida State | Auburn | ACC | -10.5 | 34-31 | W | L |
| 2013 | Bowling Green | Pittsburgh | MAC | -5.5 | 27-30 | L | L |
| 2013 | Fresno State | USC | MWC | +6 | 20-45 | L | L |
| 2013 | Rice | Mississippi St | C-USA | +7.5 | 7-44 | L | L |
| 2012 | Alabama | Notre Dame | SEC | -10 | 42-14 | W | W |
| 2012 | Wisconsin * | Stanford | B10 | +5.5 | 14-20 | L | L |
| 2012 | Stanford* | Wisconsin | P12 | -5.5 | 20-14 | W | W |
| 2012 | N. Illinois* | Florida State | MAC | +14 | 10-31 | L | L |
| 2012 | Florida St* | N. Illinois | ACC | -14 | 31-10 | W | W |
| 2012 | Tulsa | Iowa State | C-USA | -1.5 | 31-17 | W | W |
| 2011 | LSU | Alabama | SEC | +2 | 0-21 | L | L |
| 2011 | N. Illinois | Arkansas St | MAC | +1 | 38-20 | W | W |
| 2011 | Clemson | West Virginia | ACC | -2.5 | 33-70 | L | L |
| 2011 | Wisconsin* | Oregon | B10 | +5.5 | 38-45 | L | L |
| 2011 | Oregon* | Wisconsin | P12 | -5.5 | 45-38 | W | W |
| 2011 | S. Miss | Nevada | C-USA | -7.5 | 24-17 | W | L |
| 2010 | Auburn | Oregon | SEC | -1 | 22-19 | W | W |
| 2010 | Miami (OH) | Middle Tenn | MAC | +1 | 35-21 | W | W |
| 2010 | Virginia Tech | Stanford | ACC | +3.5 | 12-40 | L | L |
| 2010 | Oklahoma | Connecticut | B12 | -15.5 | 48-20 | W | W |
| 2010 | UCF | Georgia | C-USA | +6.5 | 6-10 | W | W |
| 2009 | Texas* | Alabama | B12 | +4 | 21-37 | L | L |
| 2009 | Alabama* | Texas | SEC | -4 | 37-21 | W | W |
| 2009 | C. Michigan | Troy | MAC | -3 | 44-41 | W | P |
| 2009 | Ga Tech | Iowa | ACC | -5 | 14-24 | L | L |
| 2009 | E. Carolina | Arkansas | C-USA | +7 | 17-20 | L | W |
| 2008 | Oklahoma* | Florida | B12 | +5 | 14-24 | L | L |
| 2008 | Florida* | Oklahoma | SEC | -5 | 24-14 | W | W |
| 2008 | Buffalo | Connecticut | MAC | +7 | 20-38 | L | L |
| 2008 | E. Carolina | Kentucky | C-USA | -6 | 19-25 | L | L |
| 2008 | Virginia Tech | Cincinnati | ACC | +13 | 20-7 | W | W |
| 2007 | LSU | Ohio State | SEC | -4 | 38-17 | L | W |
| 2007 | Virginia Tech | Kansas | ACC | -3 | 21-24 | L | L |
| 2007 | Oklahoma | West Virginia | B12 | -7 | 28-48 | L | L |
| 2007 | UCF | Mississippi St | C-USA | -2 | 10-3 | L | L |
| 2007 | C. Michigan | Purdue | MAC | +7.5 | 48-51 | W | W |
| 2006 | Florida | Ohio State | SEC | +7 | 41-14 | W | W |
| 2006 | Wake Forest | Louisville | ACC | +10 | 13-24 | L | L |
| 2006 | Oklahoma | Boise State | B12 | -7.5 | 42-43 | L | L |
| 2006 | Houston | S. Carolina | C-USA | +5.5 | 36-44 | L | L |
| 2006 | C. Michigan | Middle Tenn | MAC | -9 | 31-14 | W | W |
| 2005 | Texas | USC | B12 | +7 | 41-38 | W | W |
| 2005 | Florida St | Penn St | ACC | +9 | 23-26 | L | W |
| 2005 | Georgia | West Virginia | SEC | -7 | 35-38 | L | L |
| 2005 | Tulsa | Fresno State | C-USA | +7.5 | 31-24 | W | W |
| 2005 | Akron | Memphis | MAC | +4 | 31-38 | L | L |
| 2004 | Oklahoma | USC | B12 | +1 | 19-55 | L | L |
| 2004 | Auburn | Virginia Tech | SEC | -6 | 16-13 | W | L |
| 2004 | Toledo | Connecticut | MAC | -3.5 | 10-39 | L | L |
| 2003 | LSU | Oklahoma | SEC | +7 | 21-14 | W | W |
| 2003 | Kansas State | Ohio State | B12 | -7 | 28-35 | L | L |
| 2003 | Miami (OH) | Louisville | MAC | -14 | 49-28 | W | W |
| 2002 | Oklahoma | Washington St | B12 | -6.5 | 34-14 | W | W |
| 2002 | Georgia | Florida State | SEC | -8 | 26-13 | W | W |
| 2002 | Marshall | Louisville | MAC | -2.5 | 38-15 | W | W |
| 2001 | LSU | Illinois | SEC | -2 | 47-34 | W | W |
| 2001 | Colorado | Oregon | B12 | -3 | 16-38 | L | L |
| 2001 | Toledo | Cincinnati | MAC | -4 | 23-16 | W | W |
| 2000 | Oklahoma | Florida State | B12 | +10 | 13-2 | W | W |
| 2000 | Florida | Miami (FL) | SEC | +7 | 20-37 | L | L |
| 2000 | Marshall | Cincinnati | MAC | +2.5 | 25-14 | W | W |
*Denotes two winners who face each other
