College football picks, schedule: Predictions against the spread, odds for New Year’s Day bowl games

Happy New Year, college football fans! There is not better way to kick off 2022 than five Jan. 1 college football bowl games that you can enjoy watching and even wager on, if that’s your thing. With three appropriately-named New Year’s Six bowl games set for a triple-header starting at 1 p.m. ET and lasting late until the evening, there will be no shortage of excitement across the first day of 2022.

The College Football Playoff finalists have been decided after a pair of exciting games Friday, and with the CFP National Championship more than a week away, plenty of attention can be paid to these 10 teams that have played tremendous football this past season. Among the huge programs in action are Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State and Ole Miss, but that’s not to short change anyone else.

Saturday’s finals will not only serve as cappers to the 2021 season but jumping off points for 2022 and beyond. Notre Dame, for example, will play its first game without Brian Kelly at the helm since 2009 as it starts a new era under Marcus Freeman. Oklahoma State lost its defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, to Ohio State and will look to maintain its same dominant presence on that side of the ball.

While winning is all that matters for most, we care about whether these teams will cover their spreads. Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the day for college football coverage from the opening kickoff onward. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for a loaded New Year’s Day as the 2021 season nears its conclusion.

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All times Eastern