College Football bowl game opt-outs, transfer portal, line movement
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As we found out the hard way with the UTSA Roadrunners, players can opt out of games with next to no notice.
We saw UTSA move from a 10-point favorite to a seven-point favorite when quarterback Frank Harris decided to sit out the Frisco Bowl.
Bettors will always know information first. If there’s an opportunity to profit, the information will leak.
Whether you got 10 points or seven, UTSA covered in a 35-17 win despite missing its quarterback.
Things can change quickly and without notice.
Use this list as your baseline for players sitting out of their respective bowl games.
But that doesn’t mean players like Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., who coach Ryan Day said he expects to play against Missouri, will actually play. He has not been seen at practice yet ahead of the Cotten Bowl this week.
BetMGM Sportsbook presents all opening and current odds.
Military Bowl
Tulane vs. Virginia Tech
(Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Virginia Tech -5.5
Current Spread: Virginia Tech -10.5
Transfer Portal and Bowl Game opt-outs
Tulane: QB Michael Pratt, Backup QB Kai Horton, WR Chris Brazzell II (44 rec, 711 yds, 5 TDs – first in receptions, yards, T-2nd in TDs), TE Alex Bauman, DB DJ Douglas, DL Devean Deal, DL Keith Cooper Jr.
- Head Coach Willie Fritz departed for Houston.
Virginia Tech: TE Dae’Quan Wright (third-leading receiver).
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
North Carolina vs. West Virginia
(Wednesday, Dec. 27, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: West Virginia -3
Current Spread: West Virginia -6.5
Transfer Portal and Bowl Game opt-outs
North Carolina: QB Drake Maye, WR Tez Walker (leading receiver), C Corey Gaynor, LB Cedric Gray (leading tackler).
West Virginia: C Zach Frazier, DL Mike Lockhart (second in sacks), S Hershey McLaurin.
Holiday Bowl
No. 15 Louisville vs. USC
(Wednesday, Dec. 27, 8 p.m. ET, FOX)
Opening Spread: Louisville -6.5
Current Spread: Louisville -7
Transfer Portal and Bowl Game opt-outs
Louisville: RB Jawhar Jordan (leading rusher), WR Jamari Thrash (leading receiver), EDGE Kameron Wilson, S Josh Minkins
USC: QB Caleb Williams, RB MarShawn Lloyd (leading rusher), WR Brenden Rice (12 rec. TDs), CB Domani Jackson
Texas Bowl
No. 20 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M
(Wednesday, Dec. 27, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Texas A&M -4.5
Current Spread: Texas A&M -2
Transfer Portal and Bowl Game opt-outs
Oklahoma State: WR Ainias Smith (leading receiver), DT McKinley Jackson, OG Layden Robinson, LB Edgerrin Cooper.
- Star running back Ollie Gordon III, once expected to enter the transfer portal, is expected to play in the Texas Bowl.
Texas A&M: QB Max Johnson, backup Conner Weigman is injured, WR Evan Stewart (second leading receiver), WR Jordan Anthony, TE Jake Johnson, DB Deuce Harmon (lead in passes defended), CB Tyreek Chappell, CB Bryce Anderson, EDGE Fadil Diggs, DL Walter Nolen.
- Coach Jimbo Fisher was fired.
- The Aggies opened Tuesday morning as 2.5-point favorites but moved to 2-point underdogs with the Gordon news and sharp money backing the Cowboys as game time approaches.
Fenway Bowl
No. 24 SMU vs. Boston College
(Thursday, Dec. 28, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: SMU -9.5
Current Spread: SMU -10
Transfer Portal and Fenway Bowl Game opt-outs
- Neither team is facing major opt-outs or transfer portal entries, barring last-minute changes. Both teams should be at full strength.
Pinstripe Bowl
Rutgers vs. Miami
(Thursday, Dec. 28, 2:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Miami -4.5
Current Spread: Pick ’em
Transfer Portal and Pinstripe Bowl Game opt-outs
Miami: QB Tyler Van Dyke, backup Emory Williams is injured. WR Colbie Young, EDGE Jahfari Harvey, LB Corey Flagg Jr., S James Williams (tackles leader), S Kamren Kinchens, DT Leonard Taylor.
Rutgers: OT Kamar Missouri, CB Max Melton (Second in passes defended, leader in INTs).
Pop-Tarts Bowl
No. 18 NC State vs. No. 25 Kansas State
(Thursday, Dec. 28, 5:45 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Kansas State -4.5
Current Spread: Kansas State -2.5
Transfer Portal and Pop-Tarts Bowl Game opt-outs
NC State: QB MJ Morris, WR Terrell Timmons Jr., WR Porter Rooks, OL Lyndon Cooper, DL CJ Clark
Kansas State: QB Will Howard, RB Treshaun Ward (second-leading rusher), EDGE Nate Matlack, CB Will Lee, S Kobe Savage (third-leading tackler), WR Phillip Brooks, TE Ben Sinnott (leading receiver).
- OC Collin Klein moved on to Texas A&M.
Alamo Bowl
No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona
(Thursday, Dec. 28, 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Arizona -1
Current Spread: Arizona -2.5
Transfer Portal and Alamo Bowl Game opt-outs
Oklahoma: QB Dillon Gabriel, RB Tawee Walker, OG Cayden Green, CB Key Lawrence, OT Tyler Guyton, C Andrew Raym.
- Coach Jeff Lebby is now the head coach of Mississippi State.
Arizona: LT Jordan Morgan.
Gator Bowl
No. 22 Clemson vs. Kentucky
(Friday, Dec. 29, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Clemson -7.5
Current Spread: Clemson -5.5
Transfer Portal and Gator Bowl Game opt-outs
Clemson: WR Beaux Collins, S Andrew Mukuba, LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (leads team in tackles and sacks), CB Nate Wiggins, DL Ruke Orhorhoro.
Kentucky: EDGE Keaten Wade.
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
No. 16 Notre Dame vs. No. 19 Oregon State
(Friday, Dec. 29, 2 p.m. ET, CBS)
Opening Spread: Notre Dame -10.5
Current Spread: Notre Dame -6.5
Transfer Portal and Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Game opt-outs
Oregon State: QB DJ Uiagalelei, TE Jack Veiling, LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (leading tackeler), S Akili Arnold (second-leading tackeler), K Atticus Sappington, WR Anthony Gould (718 receiving yards), RT Taliese Fuaga.
Notre Dame: QB Sam Hartman, RB Audric Estime (leading rusher), WRs Chris Tyree, Rico Flores Jr., Tobias Merriweather (top-three), TE Mitchell Evans (team leader in receiving yards), TE Holden Staes, C Zeke Correll, EDGE Nana Osafo-Mensah, LB Marist Liufau, OT Joe Alt, OT Blake Fisher, CB Cam Hart
Liberty Bowl
Memphis vs. Iowa State
(Friday, Dec. 29, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Iowa State -6.5
Current Spread: Iowa State -10.5
Transfer Portal and Liberty Bowl Game opt-outs
Memphis: RG Davion Carter, LT Makylan Pounders.
Iowa State: Top-two rushers Eli Sanders and Cartevious Norton.
Cotton Bowl
No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Missouri
(Friday, Dec. 29, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Ohio State -2.5
Current Spread: Ohio State -5.5
Transfer Portal and Cotton Bowl Game opt-outs
Ohio State: QB Kyle McCord (headed to Syracuse), WR Julian Fleming, WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Be advised, there could be many more including WR Marvin Harrison Jr., who was not with the team at practice Tuesday.
Missouri: No major opt-outs at time of writing.
Peach Bowl
No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 11 Ole Miss
(Saturday, Dec. 30, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Penn State -3.5
Current Spread: Penn State -5
Transfer Portal and Peach Bowl Game opt-outs
Penn State: TE Theo Johnson, LT Olu Fashanu, EDGE Chop Robinson,
- Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz moved on to Duke.
Ole Miss: DE Cedric Johnson.
Music City Bowl
Auburn vs. Maryland
(Saturday, Dec. 30, 2 p.m. ET, ABC)
Opening Spread: Auburn -2
Current Spread: Auburn -6.5
Transfer Portal and Music City Bowl Game opt-outs
Auburn: No significant opt-outs.
Maryland: QB Taulia Tagovailoa, CB Tarheeb Still (INT leader), TE Corey Dyches, LB Jaishawn Barham.
Orange Bowl
No. 5 Florida State vs. No. 6 Georgia
(Saturday, Dec. 30, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Georgia -14.5
Current Spread: Georgia -20
Transfer Portal and Orange Bowl Game opt-outs
Florida State: RB Trey Benson (leading rusher), QB Tate Rodemaker, WR Keon Coleman (leading receiver), WR Johnny Wilson, TE Jaheim Bell, EDGE Jared Verse (sack leader), DL Fabien Lovett.
Georgia: No major transfers, although plenty of depth pieces are in the portal, including LB Xavian Sorey Jr. and CB Nyland Green. It would appear the Orange Bowl will feature tons of opt-outs. Tight End Brock Bowers is not traveling with the team, according to multiple reports, and neither is offensive tackle Amarius Mims. This could look like a spring game, with 40 combined opt-outs.
Arizona Bowl
Wyoming vs. Toledo
(Saturday, Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m. ET, CW Network/Barstool)
Opening Spread: Toledo -1.5
Current Spread: Wyoming -3.5
Transfer Portal and Arizona Bowl Game opt-outs
Wyoming: CB Kolbey Taylor
- Head coach Craig Bohl is retiring at the end of the game.
Toledo: QB Dequan Finn, OG Vinny Scuiry
ReliaQuest Bowl
No. 13 LSU vs. Wisconsin
(Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Opening Spread: LSU -10.5
Current Spread: LSU -10
Transfer Portal and ReliaQuest Bowl Game opt-outs
LSU: QB Jayden Daniels
Wisconsin: RB Braelon Allen, WR Chimeke Dike, WR Skyler Bell, OL Trey Wedig, LB Jordan Turner. C Tanor Bortolini, CB Jason Maitre.
Citrus Bowl
No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 21 Tennessee
(Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, 1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Opening Spread: Tennessee -7.5
Current Spread: Tennessee -6
Transfer Portal and Citrus Bowl Game opt-outs
Iowa: WR Diante Vines.
Tennessee: QB Joe Milton, RB Jaylen Wright (leading rusher), S Tamarion McDonald, DE Tyler Baron, DB Wesley Walker.
Fiesta Bowl
No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 23 Liberty
(Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Oregon -16
Current Spread: Oregon -16.5
Transfer Portal and Fiesta Bowl Game opt-outs
Oregon: RB Bucky Irving (leading rusher), C Jackson Powers-Johnson
- At time of writing Bo Nix is expected to play, but subject to change. Be on high alert.
Liberty: No major transfers.
Betting on the NFL?
College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama
(Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Michigan -2.5
Current Spread: Michigan -1.5
Transfer Portal and Bowl Game opt-outs
- No significant players will be sitting out the College Football Playoff games.
College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Sugar Bowl
No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas
(Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, 8:45 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Opening Spread: Texas -4.5
Current Spread: Texas -4.5
Transfer Portal and Bowl Game opt-outs
- No significant players will be sitting out the College Football Playoff games.
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