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How to Bet on College Football
College Football Betting Guide: Tips, Terms, and Top Sportsbooks
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Introduction to College Football Betting
There is no question that football -- both the NFL and college football -- rule sports in the United States. While the NFL has more of a global reach, college football has been one of the most popular sports in the US for decades now. There are way more teams -- over 300, to be exact -- in just Division I alone, and a large chunk of fans actually attended the schools they root for or live/lived near the campus.
Football can be a complicated sport to understand, especially with all the penalties and rules that seem confusing at first.
But what's even more important than knowing how the game works? How to make money on it. This page will help you learn more about NCAA football betting. Use the information below to get a grasp of the game and how to increase your college football betting win percentage.
Jump Ahead: NCAAF Betting 101 | Best Sportsbooks to Bet NCAAF | NCAAF Futures Odds | NCAAF Betting Tools | NCAAF Team Odds | FAQs
NCAAF Betting 101: The College Football Betting Basics
There are three different answers you may want when trying to figure out how to bet on college football:
- “I see Clemson -180 and Syracuse +160. What on earth does that mean? Is that a point spread?
- “I know how to bet and what all those college football odds mean, but I don’t know where to bet.”
- “I know how to bet, but I want to sharpen my handicapping skills and become a more profitable college football bettor.”
Let’s start with the basics.
How Do Moneyline Odds Work?
A popular bet in college football is the moneyline, which requires you to pick the winner of the game. But it’s not a 50-50 proposition in most cases – you won’t get paid the same for taking Alabama to beat Vanderbilt at home as you would for taking the Alabama to beat Georgia on the road, given the ability of each team.
So each team is assigned moneyline odds by the sportsbook based on their ability, and bettors have to pay a corresponding price. Here’s how they work:
- Michigan -300
- Michigan State +250
American odds like these are centered around $100. So if you bet $300 on Michigan at -300, you’d win $100 if they win. If you bet $100 on Michigan State at +250 and they win, you’d win $250.
You don’t have to bet $100, of course. If you bet $3 on Michigan, you’d win $1. Bet $1 on Michigan State, win $2.50.
Are There Point Spreads in College Football?
In football and basketball (both in the pros and college), the most popular betting option is the point spread – it’s a bet on the margin of victory in that game.
Let’s use that same example from above.
- Michigan -10.5 (-110)
- Michigan State +10.5 (-110)
Because Michigan is so much better than Michigan State, sportsbooks are saying it’s about a 50-50 chance that they will win by 11 points or more.
What About Over/Unders?
Another popular betting option in NCAA football betting is wagering on the total (aka the over/under).
You’re betting on the total points scored by both teams going over or under the number set by sportsbooks.
With college football scoring on the rise over the last two decades, most totals are set at about 55 points, with each team expected to score, on average, at least 27.5 points per game.
Continuing with our example, if Michigan is playing Michigan State, most sportsbooks would predict a fairly low-scoring game due to the teams' running ability and superior defenses.
But depending on the teams and situation, you may have to risk a different amount on the over or under.
Michigan vs. Michigan State
- Total: 50.5
- Over odds: -115
- Under odds: -105
Like the moneyline example above, you have to pay more for betting the over than the under. Sportsbooks and bettors have determined the game going over 50.5 is more likely than it going under.
For every $1.15 risked, you’d win $1. For every $1.05 risked on the under, you’d win $1. Here is another example:
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
- Total: 55
- Over odds: -105
- Under odds: -115
Sportsbooks believe the game is more likely to go under than over, so you have to pay a bit more to take the under.
Totals are not just limited to the full game. You can bet the first quarter over/under, alternate totals, and more.
For additional explanation, check out the articles below.
![How to Bet on College Football Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/376514_naty.png)
![Moneyline Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/761154_line.png)
![Over/Under aka Total Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/629873_mich.png)
![Spread Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/191056_team.png)
![Advanced Stats Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/72682_tackle.png)
Best Sportsbooks for College Football Betting
Different sportsbooks provide different NCAA odds for game lines, player props, futures, and more. Take a look at our college football betting options and picks for where to go to find different NCAAF bets and make the most profit.
![Best NCAAF Book #1: FanDuel Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/417381_910318_fanduel-book.png)
![Best NCAAF Book #2: Caesars Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/975620_977409_caesars-book.png)
NCAAF Futures Betting Odds
Futures betting lets you select champions, awards and more across different parts of NCAAF ahead of time, meaning you'll get huge odds and the potential to win big. Futures can be bet on at nearly any point in a season, but you'll find the best odds during the preseason -- which also makes predicting things like who will win the College Football Playoff or be named the Heisman Trophy winner even more fun when you make the call before the season's even started.
![National Championship Odds Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/276083_ncaaf-naty.png)
![Heisman Trophy Odds Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/797139_ncaa-heisman.png)
![To Make Playoff Odds Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/466819_ncaa-cfp.png)
![Most Wins Odds Image](https://assets.actionnetwork.com/776607_ncaa-wins.png)
NCAAF Team Odds
While the NFL rules Sundays in the fall, college football is the king of Saturdays. Hundreds of football games are played throughout the fall. Once winter hits, it's time for bowl season and the CFP Playoff, which will include 12 teams for the first time ever.
Find your favorite team's college football odds for the upcoming season below:
PAC-12 Teams | ||
Oregon State Beavers |
Washington State University |
NCAAF Betting Tools & Utility
Betting Calculators
Figuring out the correct wager you want to place on a straight bet can be tough based on the odds, and gets even harder when you want to create one of your favorite 10-leg parlays. The Action Network's got you covered with out betting calculator that will do the math for you!
NCAAF Against The Spread
With football's scoring coming in increments of 1,2,3 and 6, figuring out spreads to bet on can be tough. Check out our standings for NCAAF teams records against the spread to see which teams look like the best options to place bets on.
NCAAF Public Betting
It's always a good idea to check out what the public consensus is on a particular game you're thinking of betting on. The Action Network has you covered here as well. Side with the public or fade them to get an edge. Win or lose, make your choice.
NCAAF Picks
Sometimes, having experts share their insights on a game can help you take a side in a game you're undecided on. The Action Network has a panel of experts that share their takes and picks on every game being played on the field each day. Take a look at their records and history, and see who you'd like to follow or fade as the season moves forward.
NCAAF Odds
You want to get the best bang for your buck when betting on a game, but it's tough to tap through each sportsbook on your phone to find the best line. The Action Network's Odds page will show you all the lines available for the biggest sportsbooks out there, as well as the two best options on each side of a game.
NCAAF Injuries
Injuries are a part of any sport, and besides for the implications they have on the field, they can also effect betting lines and how you should wager on a game. Keeping track of injuries every day can be tough, so check out The Action Network's Injury Report each day to make sure you don't suffer a bad beat that could've been avoided.