Armed Forces Bowl Betting History

The Fort Worth Bowl was inaugurated in 2003, bringing college football bowl game action to Amon G. Carter Stadium, home of the TCU Horned Frogs, for the first time in 82 years. The first edition featured a matchup between the hometown Horned Frogs and Boise State, with the visiting Broncos coming from behind to tally a 34-31 victory as 10-point chalk.

That marked the first time that TCU had enjoyed home-field advantage in a bowl game since falling 63-7 to the Centre College Praying Colonels in the 1921 Fort Worth Classic.

Following the loss of its primary sponsor in 2005, the Fort Worth Bowl was rechristened as the Armed Forces Bowl in 2006, and featured Army, Navy or Air Force in eight of the next 11 years.

The Air Force Falcons struggled in five appearances, losing on four occasions, including three as betting chalk, while Navy and Army combined to claim victories in two of three appearances. However, the Midshipmen dropped a heartbreaking 48-45 decision to Louisiana Tech with no time on the clock in 2016.

Service academies should have plenty of opportunity to improve their record at the Armed Forces Bowl as a result of contractual commitments to the game by the AAC and MWC, the respective homes of the Midshipmen and Falcons, and the independent Army Black Knights.

The list of Armed Forces Bowl MVPs includes Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who claimed the honor in 2015 as a member of the California Golden Bears. Wide receiver Jordan Taylor went on to win Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos after earning MVP honors in 2012 as a member of the Rice Owls.

This year’s edition of the Armed Forces Bowl will see the Houston Cougars take on the Army Black Knights. For the latest odds, a free pick and handicapping information, visit our Armed Forces Bowl Game Center.