Division I college football is a sport known for its passion, with fans throughout the country getting together on Saturdays to enjoy all of the games on the schedule. And sports bettors love college football too, with the ability to bet on a large number of games from the first week of the season all the way through the final playoff matchup. In this guide to college football betting, find out how to take on the college football offerings at your sportsbook and maximize your chances at a nice payout with some smart strategies.
When going for a payout when betting on FBS football, bettors will notice that there are a lot of types of college football wagers that can be made at different betting sites. Whether bettors want to place a single bet or a parlay, these different types of college football bets can all be utilized in different ways in the quest to earn a profit.
Point spread betting is the most common form of college football betting, with all betting sites offering spreads on FBS games. When betting against the spread, bettors have a handicap applied to the score of the team they are backing. Favorites have points subtracted from their score, while underdogs have points added to their total.
What makes spread betting unique in college football is the fact that spreads can be larger in this sport than in any other. Given the huge differences in talent between squads like Clemson, Oklahoma and LSU compared to teams from smaller conferences, spreads often get into the 30s and 40s in the college game. Compared to the NFL, where double digit spreads are less common, college football is a place where laying big numbers is far less taboo.
Moneyline betting in college football can be challenging, given the huge gaps in talent between some of the teams in the sport. But the objective of betting on the moneyline is simple. Bettors only need to accurately predict the winner of their preferred college football matchups, rather than having to predict the winner against a point spread.
When betting on the moneyline in college football, bettors who back a favorite to win have to risk a larger amount to get to their desired payout. Those who back an underdog would have to wager less to receive the same payout. But due to the nature of college football, not every game has a moneyline posted. In games where the spread is over four touchdowns, the presence of the moneyline market may vary by betting site. And on sites where those lopsided matchups do have available moneylines, bettors have to risk a massive amount to win their desired amounts.
One of the things that makes college football great is that the large number of football teams leads to a large number of different styles of play. And those different styles of play can produce extremely different point totals depending on the matchups that take place. That variety makes betting on college football totals particularly fascinating.
Totals betting requires bettors to predict the number of points scored in a game, or a single half, by one or both teams. Oddsmakers at betting sites set a total for each game, and bettors have to determine whether the number of points scored will be over or under that amount. Given that many college football teams play at a fast pace and score touchdowns in bunches, totals in college football tend to be higher than they are in professional football. But it is up to bettors to determine where each individual game will land.
Prop bets allow bettors to wager on college football games from a number of different angles, with the best college football bookmakers providing a wide range of props to choose from. Prop bets can cover individual player performances, as well as questions about the games themselves.
Among the player props bettors might see are options such as whether or not a player will score a touchdown in a game or how many yards they will amass during a contest. And game props may include which team will score the most points in college football in a given week, or what time on the clock will see the first touchdown scored. As a whole, these markets add a lot of flavor to the college football betting experience.
Futures betting odds in college football ask bettors to predict what is going to happen in the sport ahead of time. In many cases, this means that bettors are tasked with predicting which team is going to be crowned champion of the college football season or which team is going to win its conference championship game. But there are other futures markets that can be taken on as well.
Bettors can also wager on the eventual winner of individual awards, including the prestigious Heisman Trophy. With a rich history of winners that include Matt Leinart of USC, Reggie Bush of USC, and Lamar Jackson of Louisville, it is the goal of every player to end the season winning this award. And in the futures market, bettors are able to use their foresight to bet on their preferred candidate, as they are rewarded for thinking outside the box with the potential for generous payouts.
Live betting is another way to bet on NCAA football, and is perhaps the most interesting form of wagering on the market today. With live betting, bettors are able to wager on games after they have started, with odds that are updated based on what is happening on the field. Every play, tackle and touchdown impacts the odds for the game, which bettors can use to find value if they know where to look.
Bettors can wager on constantly updated odds in common markets like spreads, totals, and moneylines. But there is also the ability to wager on live betting specific markets, such as the outcome of each individual drive, or what the next play call will be. With so many options to choose from in many instances, it is important that bettors do not overdo it with their live betting and stick to what they know best.
Another unique aspect of NCAA football is the fact that bowl season and the hunt for the national championship run alongside one another. Where sports like the NFL only have teams still in contention for the Super Bowl keep playing after the regular season, the college game has football teams with six wins or more play exhibitions in addition to the top four teams playing for the national title.
The College Football Playoff features the top four teams in the country, with two semifinal games and a championship game used to determine the season’s champion. These games typically feature the best teams in the sport, with dynastic programs like Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State, LSU and the Clemson Tigers routinely competing for the title. Because of their quality, betting on these games often feels like betting on NFL games.
Bowl games, meanwhile, can be trickier due to the circumstances surrounding each game. These contests often feature teams that do not often play one another, in games held in neutral locations. Add in the fact that the best players on some teams sit these games out in anticipation of the NFL Draft, and bowl betting can be filled with variance. But bowl betting is still incredibly fun, and can produce some great sports betting stories.
The most important tip when betting on college football is to remember that there is a huge difference between the NFL and the college game. When betting on any college football market, during the regular season or the postseason, bettors need to keep in mind that the pacing and strategy of college football differ greatly from the pros.
From a strategic standpoint, bettors are best served by identifying traditional powers in college football that may be poised for a decline. Teams like Michigan, Oregon, Notre Dame, USC and Miami have strong reputations, but are just as susceptible for a down year as other programs. Bettors who can identify when those down years are coming can take advantage of inflated betting lines and turn a nice profit at the expense of those schools.
Another smart strategy is to avoid risky multi-leg bets that can be torpedoed with as little as one bad break. Parlay bets and teasers are fun, but have a lower probability of success than single-leg bets. Because of that, they should be used sparingly.
Finally, bettors should factor strategic differences into their overall betting approach. Teams that play an uptempo style and teams that play more slowly can create unique advantages against one another, and bettors should familiarize themselves with those potential edges whenever they place a bet.
