Beginners Guide to College Football Betting

In the US and Canada, college football betting is second only to NFL betting in terms of popularity at sportsbooks. As a result, many novice bettors are interested in learning how to bet on college football.

College football teams compete weekly, typically participating in a 12-game regular season and, contingent upon sufficient performance, may qualify for a bowl game.

The interval between games facilitates significant fluctuations in NCAA football betting odds, and given that college football is akin to a religion in many states, the wagering activity is always expected to be intense and rapid.

We understand—it's a lot to take in. For those new to college football wagering, determining the most advantageous odds and comprehending the various betting options can be somewhat intimidating due to the abundance of information. Fear not; we have compiled this guide to break down the most prevalent and favored methods for wagering on college football.

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Understanding college football odds

The three fundamental methods for wagering on college football are the moneyline, point spread, and the Over/Under (also known as the total). The point spread refers to wagering on the margin by which one team wins or loses a game. Wagering on the moneyline entails selecting the outright winner of the game, while betting the total (over/under) entails forecasting the aggregate points that will be scored in the game.

The Moneyline: The Simple Approach

Moneyline betting is not the predominant method for wagering on college football or football in general; rather, due to its simplicity, it serves as an excellent entry point for novice bettors.

In moneyline betting, you must forecast the victor of a game unequivocally. Select the outright winner, and you secure the wager. It is as simple as that.

For instance, one may select the Alabama Crimson Tide or Clemson Tigers as the definitive victor in a specific game within the framework of a moneyline wager.

To address variations in skill or other discrepancies among contestants, distinct betting odds will be allocated to each party based on their probability of winning the event. A larger reward is awarded for betting on a team deemed less likely to win (the underdog). At the same time, a smaller payoff is given for a team anticipated to prevail decisively (the favorite).

Point Spread: Handicap Betting

The point spread for college football is the amount of points that oddsmakers from the best online sportsbooks predict a team will win or lose by in a particular match. This equalizes the competitive landscape between the two teams participating.

Suppose the Clemson Tigers are anticipated to defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide by 1.5 points. In that case, oddsmakers will designate Clemson as the favored team with a point spread of -1.5 (denoted by the negative amount). Clemson must win the game by two or more points to cover the spread.

In contrast, Alabama is designated as the point spread underdog at +1.5 (as denoted by the positive value). This indicates that the Crimson Tide may either secure a victory or lose by one point or fewer to meet the spread requirement.

$110 wager on -110 odds = $100 profit and your initial stake ($210 total)

Totals (Over/Under)

An alternative method to bet on college football games is totals (or over/under). Totals represent the projected aggregate points achieved by both sides in a match.

In this instance, oddsmakers anticipate that Clemson and Alabama will collectively score 63 points in the game. If a college football bettor anticipates that more than 63 points will be scored in the game, they will wager on the Over. They would wager on the Under if they expect a score below 63.

Proposition Wagers (Prop Bets)

Proposition bets are among the most enjoyable wagers to place in college football. Prop betting enables you to concentrate on aspects outside the ultimate score of a game. Rather, you are betting on specific player performances, such as whether a particular player will score a touchdown, whether Player X or Y will carry for over or under 75.5 yards, or if Player X will throw an interception.

Prop bets typically display as over/under totals, such as passing yards or receptions, yes/no prop situations, or other particular occurrences, such as identifying the first player to score a touchdown or the outcome of the initial offensive play of the game.

Parlays: High Risk, High Reward

College football parlays enable the amalgamation of many wagers to enhance the prospective return. A higher number of bets in the parlay increases the possible payout and amplifies the risk.

Parlays necessitate that all wagers succeed to yield a payout. Regardless of the success of all other bets in the parlay, if one loses, the entire parlay is classified as a loss.

In the following scenario, Alabama and Florida must exceed 60 points, Ohio State must either win or lose by six points or fewer, and Michigan must get a victory against Penn State to complete all three components of the parlay and win the +507 wager.

Wagering on College Football Futures

Futures are wagers on the distant prospects of collegiate football. They are straightforward propositions that require bettors to predict the result of a distant event. The two predominant college football futures wagers involve accurately forecasting the National Champion and betting on the Heisman Trophy recipient.

Although betting on distant events can be quite exciting, it is remarkably simple to identify poor futures bets and exceedingly challenging to discover value unless a truly exceptional team or player is significantly discounted, which is uncommon.

Most bookmakers will publish odds on futures lines after the conclusion of the college football season, forecasting outcomes for the subsequent year. Monitoring and juxtaposing the odds with your own analytical assessments is the most effective method for identifying value, whether seeking national championship odds or Heisman Trophy winner odds.

Before Betting on College Football

Among all sports betting activities, American football is the most favored among bettors. Throughout the weekend for five months, wagering on sports is available for both the NFL and NCAA.

However, it can be perplexing, particularly in the context of college football. Numerous games are available on Saturday afternoons; nevertheless, the greater the number of games played, the lower the likelihood of concluding the day with a profit. As a novice, it is essential to understand what you are observing and to identify the most straightforward and advantageous solutions.

Remember that each player is only trying to win by one

The fundamental principle for college football bettors to acknowledge is that the players are not attempting to assist you in winning your point-spread wagers, regardless of how disheartening it may be. The players are solely focused on securing an outright victory, and a single point will suffice. This news is not particularly reassuring for those who have supported a side favored by 1.5 or 2.5 points, as it can frequently result in distressing outcomes.

Remember, they are kids

It is essential to acknowledge that wagering on college football involves betting on inexperienced, youthful athletes. In any sport, collegiate competitions are inherently more disorganized and susceptible to fluctuations than professional contests, and this is particularly true of football.

I (AKA CatBurg) have a lifelong passion for sports, especially football and basketball. I enjoy the thrill and excitement of sports betting and everything in between. My teams are (Packers #GoPackGo) and who I am betting on!