How To Bet On Football: A Beginners Guide To Sports Gambling is presented! Is the internet’s #1 for legal sports betting online. Chat Sports and have. Place Your Bets – There are lots of different options when it comes to betting college football. The most popular form of betting on football is on the point spread. Other options include straight bets.

This page will serve as your guide for betting on college football in the US. It will break down the basics of CFB betting, compare odds at legal sportsbooks in the US, and delineate the strategies that work best in the college game when compared to the NFL.

It’s never easy to consistently beat oddsmakers and win in sports betting, but this guide should help you get closer to cashing 50 percent of the time. Remember that even a 52 percent cash rate is a success in sports betting, and sports betting experts usually only cash 60 percent of the time at most.

We’ll also help you find the best sportsbooks and apps to bet on during the 2019 college football season.

With the current state of things amid a worldwide pandemic, odds and futures betting will remain incredibly fluid and great care should be taken when placing bets. Factors to heavily consider include: players contracting COVID-19, teams canceling games, and upsets due to an increased number of players sitting.

Following college beat reporters on Twitter and frequently checking in here at TheLines will help you stay ahead of the curve during the ever-changing landscape. Most importantly, stay water and taper expectations throughout the season. Even though uncertainty defines this upcoming season, intelligent and adaptable bettors could capitalize on the market.

Best college football betting apps

There are a number of apps available for sports betting in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Iowa, West Virginia and Indiana, with more states planning to go online by the end of the year. Here is a list of some of the top US sportsbooks apps:

College football betting odds

How to bet on college football

There are several ways to bet on most sporting events and college football is no exception. Here are some of the options for CFB betting, including some tips on when you might want to go with that specific type of wage:

• Moneyline: Taking the Moneyline means you’re betting on the winning team regardless of the margin of victory. Underdogs will get plus-odds on the Moneyline and the favorites will have negative odds. For example, if a team is heavily favored they will be listed as Alabama (-2300), meaning that a successful $230 bet on the Crimson Tide would only pay out $10.
• Point Spread: The Point Spread is different in that it accounts for the expected margin of victory. In the NFL, the biggest favorites are usually giving 13-16 points, meaning a bet (likely at something close to -110 odds) is only successful if the favorite wins by 16-plus. These spreads can be much, much bigger in college. When playing the lowly Illinois Fighting Illini, Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State can often be favored by 40 points or more. This changes the game in terms of taking the favorite in the hopes of a truly one-sided affair.
• Point Total:Since these point spreads are often set at such a lofty number, gamblers may lean towards betting the overall total of a game. The total is often presented with an equal odds proposition of taking the Over or Under. Some sites offer the opportunity to bet on the expected point total of one team (23.5 points for example).
• Proposition Bets: There are often an extensive number of Prop (or proposition) Bets where gamblers can wager on the individual performance of a player, the type of score to open a game, and the specific margin of victory. These options are often more expansive in prime time and bowl games. Gamblers can choose to combine multiple propositions on a game, or multiple bets on different games, into a Parlay. This wager is an all-or-nothing proposition which only pays out if all (anywhere between 2 and a dozen) bets are successful. The more bets added to a Parlay, the greater the potential payout.
• Teaser: A form of Parlay that involves a combination of two to ten wagers in which you can adjust the point spread or total to your specifications. These bets are therefore more likely to succeed, but the payouts are smaller than in a Parlay.

NCAA markets and futures betting

The options listed above are for betting on individual games, but gamblers can also wager on NCAA futures. Rather than betting on an individual game, futures offer gamblers the opportunity to bet on the eventual National Champion, conference champions, or the number of wins that a team will accrue during the regular season.
There are also futures bets available on postseason awards, such as the Heisman Trophy. Here is a rundown of the favorites on FanDuel Sportsbook to win the 2020-2021 Heisman Trophy before the season:

• Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) +200
• Spencer Rattler (Oklahoma) +900
• D’Eriq King (Miami) +1400
• Myles Brennan (LSU) +1400
• Sam Ehlinger (Texas) +1400

Odds on futures bets will change throughout the season if a key player gets hurt, or a contender upsets another contender. Since only four teams have a shot at the National Title in the CFB Playoff format, teams that start to fall out of the playoff picture will suddenly have very long odds. COVID-19 could also have a major impact on the award.

The odds for the futures bets on the National Champion came out shortly after the 2019-20 CFB season ended. Here is a quick rundown of the odds:

How these lines will be affected has yet to be released, as the status of the CFP remains up in the air due to the evolving nature of the ongoing pandemic. Keep updated with the goings on at theLines with regards to National Championship odds.

There is also a futures section on most books where you bet the conference champion. The FBS conferences on books are the AAC, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, C-USA, MAC, MWC, Pac 12, and SEC. While most of these conferences have several contenders with relatively even odds, top-heavy conferences such as the Mountain West will have perennial powerhouse Boise State as more likely than not to win the conference. Alabama is also expected to win the SEC for the fifth time in six years.

Strategies differ when betting on individual games versus futures. Timing is of paramount importance when betting futures, since you can effectively “buy low” on a player or team that’s struggling early in the season and get much better odds. Taking a futures bet towards the end of the season when the Heisman candidates are pretty much solidified will not be very profitable. Game lines are much more simple in terms of betting before the opening kickoff, or taking advantage of “live betting” in states where online gambling is legal and available.

College football power rankings

1. Alabama: Alabama is the best team in college football and there’s, to this point, no argument against that. They won the SEC Championship game by a slim margin over Florida, but somehow felt like they dominated wire-to-wire. (Previous: 1)

2. Clemson: When Trevor Lawrence plays for Clemson, there might not be a better team in the nation. They ran all over Notre Dame in a revenge game for the ages and secured their second seed in the CFP. (Previous: 4)

3. Ohio State: Northwestern had Ohio State on the ropes in the first quarter of the Big Ten Championship game, but the Buckeyes proved their might in the second half. Trey Sermon set a program record for 325 yards rushing in a game and Ohio State is in for their fourth CFP berth. (Previous: 2)

4. Cincinnati: The Bearcats topped off an unbeaten season with an AAC Championship game win over #24 Tulsa. It took a last-second field goal, but Cincinnati’s pedigree shouldn’t be questioned. It was unfortunate that they didn’t receive consideration for the CFP, but they get a chance to prove the committee wrong against Georgia in the Peach Bowl. (Previous: 5)

5. Texas A&M: Texas A&M finished the season with their only loss being Alabama. That’s a tough loss, but it was a 28-point blowout. Those who believe the Aggies should have found their way into the fourth CFP spot have a legitimate argument– it was an impressive season for them. (Previous: 6)

6. Notre Dame: The Irish found their way into the College Football Playoff, but are massive underdogs as they face Alabama. They’re a good team, but Clemson proved that they don’t belong in the top tier in the country. (Previous: 3)

7. Indiana: The Hoosiers were left for dead after losing star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. That is, until they weren’t. Indiana proved they’re more than Penix on the back of a sturdy defense. Their only loss this season was a nailbiter to Ohio State and Indiana is in business. (Previous: 8)

8. Oklahoma: Oklahoma was able to take care of business in the Big 12 and bring home their 50th conference title. While their two losses keeps them firmly short of the CFP, they get Florida in the Cotton Bowl in what might be the best bowl matchup of the year. (Previous: 9)

9. Florida: It’s an uncomfortable truth, but the Florida Gators are still an excellent football team. They kept their game with Alabama within one score– something no one else on their schedule has done (not Georgia, not Texas A&M). Their offense is as explosive as any, and three wins or not, they’re a top team. (Previous: 10)

10. Georgia: While 2020 has hardly been Georgia’s best year in recent memory, the Dawgs are still capable of playing with anyone in the nation. Two losses bumps them down the list, but compared to teams like Iowa State or Northwestern, Georgia is coming out on top. (Previous: NR)

ACC power rankings

1. Clemson: A bounceback beatdown of Notre Dame and an ACC Championship solidifies the Tigers as the best team in the conference.

2. Notre Dame: When Clemson is healthy, there’s a clear divide between one and two. Notre Dame is clearly two, but there’s a gap when both teams are at full strength.

3. North Carolina: It’s a major dropoff between two and thee in the ACC, but UNC continues their win-and-move-on recipe this season. They blew the doors off Miami this past week and hurdle them for the third spot.

4. Miami: Despite getting blown out by UNC, Miami doesn’t fall too far. They only have two losses on the year, both to ranked opponents, and have proven their might in a 48-0 win over Duke a couple weeks ago. It’s not the prettiest fourth place, but it’s where they belong.

5. NC State: 8-3 is 8-3. NC State lacks a statement win, but their record is undeniable in the conference.

Big 12 power rankings

1. Oklahoma: The Sooners proved their worth. They brought home their 50th conference championship this season and solidified a spot in the Cotton Bowl.

2. Iowa State: The Cyclones came up just short in the Big 12 title game. It was a good showing, but they ultimately lacked experience enough to take care of Oklahoma twice in one year.

3. Texas: No matter how you dice this one, someone’s going to disagree. They lost to Iowa State and tumbled out of the AP Top 25, but they still have the jump on Oklahoma State. They’re not a pretty third, but third is where they belong.

4. TCU: TCU is 6-4 with wins over Texas and Oklahoma State; they’re also 4-1 over their last five games after starting 1-3. The Horned Frogs are a mid-level team, but they’ve been winning football games.

5. Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State has waffled in every prove-it game this season (vs Oklahoma and vs Texas). Luckily for the Cowboys, the rest of the Big 12 is in rough shape.

Big Ten power rankings

1. Ohio State: The Buckeyes are exactly as good as advertised. It wasn’t an ideal first half, but Ohio State won their fourth straight Big Ten championship and deserve the top spot.

2. Indiana: Indiana competed better with Ohio State than Northwestern did, coming up bigger in the second half as opposed to the first. The Hoosiers are an excellent football team worthy of the second spot.

3. Northwestern: It was an inspiring first half, but the lack of offense and questionable play calling cost the Wildcats a Big Ten championship against a hobbled Ohio State team.

4. Iowa: Iowa held Wisconsin to one score for the third consecutive game (the Badgers’ first time doing so since 1990). The Hawkeyes are a legitimate contender– potentially the last contender in the conference.

5. Minnesota: This is where the Big Ten lays this year. 3-4 Minnesota rounds up the top five based on record alone. There’s no merit in their resume, but the rest of the Big Ten didn’t get the memo that football season had started.

Pac-12 power rankings

1. Washington: Washington had the Pac-12 Championship berth, but COVID complications within the program caused them to drop out. That doesn’t mean they aren’t deserving of the spot– or the second rank on this list– though.

2. Colorado: The Buffs were upended by an inspired performance from a dangerous Utah team for their first loss of the season. Colorado’s still in good shape coming up on the year’s final power rankings.

3. Oregon: Wait– the conference champions third on the list? Yep. Oregon lucked into their championship spot but won it nonetheless. Run it back against USC, or either team above Oregon, and we aren’t confident they would win.

4. USC: Kedon Slovis had a chance, but ultimately choked away a Pac-12 championship. It showed that those close games weren’t just competitive teams, it’s that USC might just be a few possessions away from being sub-0.500.

5. UCLA: Three losses isn’t ideal, but they came at the hands of ranked Colorado, (at the time) ranked Oregon, and unbeaten USC on a final-second touchdown. The Bruins are solid.

SEC power rankings

1. Alabama: Not much needs to be said about Alabama: SEC champions, undefeated season, and top seed in the CFP.

2. Texas A&M: Texas A&M wins, but they win ugly. A 17-14 nail biter with listless Vanderbilt and 20-7 slap fight with unranked LSU isn’t great to see on their resume, but the Aggies are one of just two zero- or one-loss teams in the SEC.

3. Florida: A competitive outing with Alabama wasn’t enough to bury their shoe-gate game from a week ago. Florida is a very good football team, but they’ve lost to both teams above them.

4. Georgia: Georgia has been quiet since being beaten soundly by Alabama and Florida. They’re a talented team, but 2020 isn’t the Dawgs’ year.

5. Auburn: Three of Auburn’s four losses this year have come at the hands of top-5 Georgia, Alabama, and Texas A&M. It’s a tough sledding for the Tigers.

College football betting tips

As mentioned above, CFB has more teams and far less parity than the NFL. That leads to some lopsided scores and lofty spreads. It can be difficult to find the right side of the line, but here are some analytics to consider:

Home Field Advantage — How historically strong is a particular team at home? Are you considering a school with a particularly dedicated fan base such as Auburn? Or betting a mid-major matchup between two schools in the MAC that will likely be played with light fanfare?

Rivalries — There are only a few games during the CFB season, but some count for more than others. The top teams in each conference often schedule a huge H2H rivalry game towards the end of the season, such as “The Game” between Ohio State and Michigan. It doesn’t always have to be the top teams, though, as Alabama has a more fierce rivalry with Auburn than SEC competitor Georgia. The intensity of those rivalry games can often lead to closer finishes and that should be accounted for when betting point spreads.

Weather & Conditions — The weather can play a huge factor in the outcome of games and number of points scored. Obviously, poor weather makes it tougher to pass, catch, and kick, which often leads to fewer points. Some run-heavy teams thrive in inclement weather and teams from the south or west coast could struggle if playing on the road in a harsher climate.

Pace — As the average number of plays a team runs per game, this can primarily help you identify fast-paced games that are likely to go over the total, or slow-paced games that will go Under.

PPP — Another key factor in CFB that can help you determine both the point total and potential winner against the spread is the number of explosive plays a team averages. This can be measured in points per play (PPP) and teams that average more PPP than their opponents tend to win over 80 percent of matchups. If both teams average a lot of explosive plays and both defenses struggle to contain big plays, the Over becomes a much better proposition.

Offensive efficiency — The ability of a team to finish drives (offensive efficiency) can serve as a great indicator for which teams are capable of covering the spread and which games are likely to go Over (or Under) an expected point total. Pass yards per attempt is another indicator of which teams are successful on offense in terms of controlling possession and creating points.

Defensive efficiency — When betting on the point total, consider which teams have greater defensive efficiency. Teams with a consistent ability to create turnovers are far more likely to stay close in games when they’re an underdog, or pull away and cover the spread.

Win Probability — This is an advanced tool that can help tremendously with live betting. Algorithms can provide the likelihood of a team holding on for the win and that makes for a very safe bet.

Injuries and Player Factors — Finally, you have to consider the health of key players and any potential storylines about a rift between a player and the coaching staff. Coaches have all the power in CFB and sometimes players will underperform if they feel slighted or otherwise mistreated.

Each game brings its own criteria in terms of analytics and there is almost always ample time to crunch the numbers and find an edge.

CFB betting vs. NFL betting

With so many more games on a CFB slate, it’s difficult for oddsmakers to dedicate as much time into researching each matchup. Sometimes oddsmakers will nail the line for high-profile games in the “Power Five” conferences, but will lose track of the mid-major games. That opens the door for savvy bettors to hammer a line that they think is off the mark.

There are significant differences in the format of each game. CFB teams can carry up to 70 players and certain programs will use nearly everyone on the team to maintain a fast-paced style (popularized by Chip Kelly at Oregon).

There is slightly less betting activity in college compared to the NFL, and far less coverage in terms of injury updates. Changes might be coming, but right now the NCAA doesn’t require CFB teams to release injury reports. The ACC used to require a pre-game injury report from teams, but has since nixed that requirement.

While information on injuries isn’t nearly as transparent in CFB, savvy bettors can find out information via twitter and websites to indicate if a key player is going to be at all limited or potentially inactive. This is a potential area to gain an edge since there is plenty of local media coverage and fan investment even if the coaches aren’t required to tip their hand.

CFB betting predictions

In recent years, Clemson and Alabama have vied for the title as the undisputed kings of CFB. Last season, we saw LSU put together one of the best college football teams of all time. Now Futures on the CFP are a bit more open and the odds are likely to change throughout the season, especially with such a volatile landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep up to date on developing stories with our betting analysis on PlayPicks.com. We’ll also break down the matchups of individual games to get you primed for bets each Saturday.

Is college football betting legal?

When the Supreme Court overturned the Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May of 2018, it opened the door for individual states to legalize sports gambling. Beginning with New Jersey (the original plaintiff in the PASPA case), several states quickly moved to legalize and regulate the industry within state lines. Betting on college football and professional sports is still not federally legal, but residents in more than 20 states can place bets at live sportsbooks.

Most other states in the U.S. have introduced some sort of bill that would legalize sports gambling. Of course, some states are far closer than others to legalizing the industry. Visit our individual sports betting pages at TheLines.com to get a look at the status in each state.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many college football bowl games are there?

There were 40 bowl games at the end of the 2019-20 CFB season. For the modified 2020-21 season, win eligibility requirements were waived by the NCAA and every team will be considered eligible. However, not every team will be selected for the 39 bowl games, as only 78 teams can fill those spots.

When are college bowl games announced?

The schedule for the 2020-2021 CFB season is available online for every team in the FBS. The college bowl game schedule is typically announced after the conference championship games in December.

How do spreads work in college football?

Favorites are handicapped by a point spread and bettors that take the favorite on a point spread will need the team to win by more than that number (-14 for example). Conversely, underdogs will pay out bets on the spread if they lose by 14 points or fewer in that example.

What is the over / under in college football?

Point totals in CFB are generally much higher than the NFL because of the increased pace of play and lack of even talent and coordination on the defensive side of the ball.

How To Gamble With Cards

How many Division 1 football teams are there?

There are currently 130 FBS football teams in Division 1 and 127 teams in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision). The FCS is comprised of 14 conferences and the FBS is comprised of 10 conferences, plus seven independent teams (note: Notre Dame has officially joined the ACC for 2020-21, but did not specify if this affiliation would last beyond the season).

How many players can be on a college football team?

Programs in the FBS are able to give 85 players financial aid, but only 63 can receive full scholarships. There is no specific limit on how many players can dress for a game per NCAA rules, but conferences such as the Big Ten limit the number to 70 players. The NCAA does require that a maximum of 105 players take part in preseason camp.

Where is the national championship game in 2021?

The 2020 College Football Playoff is scheduled to take place in three different stadiums. The 2020-21 semifinals will be made up of the Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA) and the Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, LA) and are scheduled to take place Jan. 1. The National Championship is scheduled to be held Jan. 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

What is the purpose of college bowl games?

Bowl games have become a holiday tradition and an exciting goal for players, coaches, and fans to cap their seasons. While the CFP has seemingly overshadowed the other bowl games, players remain invested in ending their season or careers on a high note.

What happens to my futures bet should the season be canceled? Postponed?

In the event of a canceled college football season, futures bets would be voided, and all wagers would be returned to the bettor. Should the season be postponed, the futures would hold true until the season is fulfilled.

How will the champion be determined in 2020?

The College Football Playoff intends to be held in 2020-21, as announced by the NCAA. Per the College Football Playoff Committee’s official website, “With recent schedule changes for the regular season, it makes sense for the committee to make its final rankings after the conference championship games, when it can get a complete picture of the season. The selection committee members understand the need to be flexible as we all navigate uncharted waters this season, and this move will allow them to evaluate all the available information.”

Which college football teams are competing in the 2020-21 season?

All conferences have announced a start date for competition after the Big Ten, Pac-12, Mountain West, and MAC announced postponements to their fall football season. 127 of the 130 teams will compete at some point with varied amounts of games played.

Our team at The Sports Geek has spent countless hours combing through tons of online sportsbooks with college football odds, and we are proud to present our selections for the absolute best real money NCAA football betting sites.

Using an extensive list of criteria, we assessed nearly every aspect of each site to ensure the best possible player experience. You can trust that playing on any of these online NCAAF betting sites will be enjoyable.

It is worth mentioning that we don’t get paid for placing any of these sites on our list. Our recommendations are given based on our experience with these sites. We provide you with accurate, objective information. Later, we will discuss some of the criteria we used in making our selections, and we encourage you to use these as a resource when researching for any future NCAAF betting website.

Attributes of High-Quality NCAAF Betting Sites

Strong Website Security

The first important thing you should consider when looking for where to bet on NCAA football games online is website security. You must play on an NCAAF betting website that makes sure to keep all your data privates. The NCAA football betting sites we chose each use state-of-the-art technology to guard against cyber threats. Our security experts have vetted each of the college football betting sites, and all of them are verified secure. We picked the platforms that use cutting-edge software and advanced encryptions to keep your data away from prying eyes. You can be sure that if you choose to play on any site we recommend, you’ll have the safest online gambling experience possible.

Online College Football Betting Platforms

It is also vital that you choose real money NCAAF betting sites that provide multiple ways to play. In this day and age, players want to have access to their accounts from anywhere. You must be able to place bets on your PC but also your phone and tablet. By providing a variety of ways to bet, you’ll have much better access to your account. You will be able to take advantage of any opportunity, even if you can’t get to a computer.

User Interface

In addition to multiple platforms, you want to play on a site that is easy to use. The user experience on your website will be a crucial driver in determining the quality of your playing experience. Each NCAAF betting website we selected has invested in building clean, straightforward, and beautiful CFB betting platforms. Not only will betting on any site we recommend be easy, but you will enjoy spending time on the site as well.

New Player Bonuses

Next, when looking for where to bet on NCAAF, you want to look for valuable new player signup bonuses. These are bonuses that college football betting websites offer to new players as an incentive to choose their site over the competition. Most of the time, these will come in the form of a deposit match when the account is first funded. Let’s say you find a site offering a 50% match on the first $500 deposited. This means if you start with more than $500, they will give you an extra $250 in credit.

Real Money Betting Promotions

Similar to new player bonuses, promos are tools used by online sportsbooks to attract and retain players. These are much less exclusive than new player bonuses, and these generally apply to all players. NCAA football betting websites can offer a wide range of promotions, from boosting odds to bet matches. There is no limit to the creativity of promos, and they can add a fun new twist to your bets. Many times, you will need to opt into a promo, so make sure to check regularly to see which ones may apply to you.

Competitive NCAAF Odds

As you might expect, you also want to bet on an NCAA college football betting website that provides you with the best possible odds. When we talk about odds, we are referring to the data provided by the bookmaker that tells us what a bet pays along with the relative likelihood of that bet winning. We’ll discuss odds in more detail, but for now, just remember that you want to play on a site with better college football odds so you get larger payouts when you win. Each online NCAAF betting website creates their own wagers, so the variety of bets and odds can vary from site to site. We’ve got a list of college football betting sites that offer some of the best odds on the internet.

Cryptocurrency

In 2017, Bitcoin exploded in value and became a household name across the world. Since then, cryptocurrencies have found a foothold as a viable currency worldwide. With millions of users and thousands of different coins, it was just a matter of time before this new form of money found its way into online gambling. Players prefer to gamble using cryptocurrencies because they usually offer more anonymity, more flexibility, and are less expensive to use than conventional currencies. You’ll find that the NCAAF betting sites on our list support crypto, and many of them even have exclusive promos just for crypto players.

Customer Service

Last but not least, any good real money NCAAF betting website needs to offer best-in-class customer service. We looked for sites that provide players with around-the-clock support via multiple channels, including phone, email, and live chat. These sites have millions of satisfied customers, and each has a long track record of putting players first. Should you ever have an issue, you want the sports betting site to have your back. If you ever run into a problem while playing on a website we recommend, you can be sure you will get a resolution quickly and professionally.

Resources for College Football Betting

Free NCAA Football Betting Picks

You’ll find tons of great resources on The Sports Geek to help you get into online NCAA football betting. The first of those is our collection of expert college football picks. Our experts provide both picks and in-depth analysis on tons of matchups that can help you make your decisions. Their analysis will include everything from stats to players to college football betting tips that will be game-changing for your strategy. You will get valuable peeks into what the pros are thinking, which can help you refine your own strategy. Over time, you will see patterns you can apply to your picks. Think of it as having your own personal mentor for each and every bet you place.

• Ohio State at Alabama NCAAF AI Prediction – CFP National Championship

• Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Pick – National Championship January 11, 2021

• West Virginia at Army NCAAF AI Prediction – Liberty Bowl

• Ball State at San Jose State NCAAF AI Prediction – Arizona Bowl

• Tulsa at Mississippi State NCAAF AI Prediction – Armed Forces Bowl

• West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Army Black Knights Pick – Liberty Bowl December 31, 2020

• Ball State Cardinals vs. San Jose State Spartans Pick – Arizona Bowl December 31, 2020

• Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Pick – Armed Forces Bowl December 31, 2020

• Florida at Oklahoma NCAAF AI Prediction – Cotton Bowl Classic

NCAAF AI Computer Picks

In addition to expert picks, we also give you access to our AI picks. We use artificial intelligence models that use complex predictive algorithms to make the best possible picks. These models take thousands of factors into account in determining the most statistically probable outcome for each matchup. The great thing about using a computer model is that it learns over time, and the system is continually improving itself. Each incorrect pick adds another data point to make each subsequent pick better.

College Football Betting News

If you want to be successful in NCAAF betting, you need to stay on top of the news. Things happen too quickly to make informed decisions if you aren’t up to speed. We can help by providing up-to-date NCAAF news on everything happening within the college football world. While it’s great to know your numbers, football is more than just statistics. We can help you understand what’s happening while also helping you identify proper NCAAF betting opportunities and risks. Check out our college football news page to see all the breaking stories, so you can always be prepared to make informed bets.

• Ohio State QB Justin Fields Declares for 2021 NFL Draft

• Devonta Smith’s Record-Breaking First Half Lifts Alabama Over Ohio State in CFP Title Game

• Trevor Lawrence Officially Declares for the 2021 NFL Draft

• Alabama’s DeVonta Smith is First WR Since 1991 to Win Heisman Trophy

• Clemson Tigers Dominate Latest AP College Football Poll

• No.1 Clemson is Favorite To Win Sixth Straight ACC Title

• Big Ten Votes to Postpone College Football Season Until Spring of 2021

• UConn Is First FBS Team To Call Off 2020 Season

• ACC’s 11-Game Football Schedule For 2020 Includes Notre Dame

NCAA Football Betting Blog

On top of our comprehensive news coverage, we also address tons of other excellent topics in our NCAAF blog. Here, you will find a wealth of informative looks at different aspects of the sport beyond just current events. You’ll find NCAAF betting guides, tips, and analyses to help you further your knowledge about college football. Browsing through the archives is a great way to discover new perspectives and new insights that might not dominate headlines, but it might make the difference between winning and losing your next bet.

NCAA Football Betting Strategy

If you are looking to focus on a proper strategy, you’ll be glad to know we have an entire section dedicated to helping you build a winning NCAA college football betting strategy. To be successful, you need more than just a passing understanding of the matchup, and we help you dig deeper. These NCAAF betting tips and strategy resources are great for everyone from newbies to old vets. This college football betting guide will show you everything from where to start defining a strategy to teaching you how to squeeze max value out of any bet.

How to Understand NCAAF Betting Odds and Lines

The first step to getting started is learning how to read NCAAF odds and lines. While these might look intimidating when you see a massive wall of numbers at the sportsbook, they are much easier to understand than they look. We are going to talk you through understanding these critical pieces of information. They will drive every NCAAF bet you make. We are going to start with a high-level look, then hone in on some examples.

• Let’s start with understanding NCAAF odds. As we mentioned before, odds tell you what a bet pays if you win. These will generally be represented by a number higher than 100 or less than -100. A positive number means a team is an underdog, and a negative number denotes the favorite. These numbers will tell you what you win in relation to a $100 bet.
• Let’s say you take a bet that is paying +300, and you bet $1. In this case, you bet on the underdog, so you’ll win more if the underdog wins. +300 equates to winning $3. Add that to the $1 we bet, and you get a total payout of $4. Conversely, let’s say that the other team’s odds are at -300, and you bet on them. You’ve bet on the favorite, so your payout is expected to be much smaller. -300 correlates to winning $.33 in our example. Add that to your bet, and you get a total payout of $1.33. As you can see, that’s a massive difference.
  When it comes to real money NCAAF betting, with great risk, comes great reward.
• Next, let’s talk about reading the “line” or the “spread.” This is a single number that will be positive or negative based on which team is favored to win, just like the odds. But unlike the odds, this number represents the amount by which a team is expected to win. Perhaps you see a game showing +5.5 for one team and -5.5 for the other. This would mean the first team is expected to lose by 5.5 points while the second team is expected to win by 5.5 points. We’ll get deeper into how to apply this in the next section.

Most Popular NCAAF Bets

Long ago, sports betting was just a function of picking who would win a game. Nowadays, CFB betting has gotten much more complicated. The sheer range of bets you can place provides for opportunities that never existed in the olden days. We’re going to highlight a few of the main types of bets you can expect to see when you jump into real money college football betting. While we are going to present lots of choices, we recommend you pick one or two and stick with those. Most pros stay in the black by focusing on one or two rather than trying to be a jack of all trades. Follow their lead, and you’ll be on your way NCAAF betting for money.

NCAA Football Spread Bets

Up first is betting the spread. This is one of the easiest and most common bets you can make in NCAA college football betting. The idea behind setting a spread is to equalize two teams across a bet. Bookmakers “level the playing field” by handicapping the favorite and making them perform better than the underdog to win the bet. This is vital because no two teams are equal, so a straight 50/50 bet would never be fair.

The spread represents an expected variance between the two teams. This assigned number forces one side to not only win but outperform expectations. The spread shows how many points the favorite is supposed to win by, and conversely, the number the underdog should lose by. If there were no spread, everyone would always bet on the favorite, and the house would go out of business. Let’s take a look at an example of a typical NCAA football spread.

Here, we have the LSU Tigers playing the Florida Gators. In this matchup, we have the tigers offered at -8.5 points, paying -110, while the Gators are offered at +8.5 and also paying -110. You will notice that both bets pay the same because the probability of the Tigers winning by 8.5 is equal to the likelihood of the Gators losing by 8.5 in the bookmakers’ estimation. We would read this spread as, “LSU is expected to win the game by eight and a half points.” It is worth noting that the half points are used to prevent a tie since there are no half points in college football.

Another thing to remember is that the NCAA spread is not set in stone. Bookmakers move college football betting lines as needed to balance bets. The goal of any sportsbook is to have equal bets on each side of any bet. If one side gets too heavy, they need to adjust. They do this by moving the line. Say they had way too many bets on the Tigers. They could move the line from -8.5 to -9.5, meaning the Tigers need to do even better to win, and the Gators can do worse and still win. This incentivizes betting on the gators while discouraging betting on the Tigers.

NCAAF Moneyline Bets

The next type of bet we’ll discuss is moneyline bets. These are another straightforward type of bet that’s easy to pick if you are new to real money NCAAF betting. In this case, your goal is simply to pick a team to win the game. However, while that sounds simple, these aren’t just 50/50 bets. In spread betting, the teams are equalized using the spread. In moneyline betting, the teams are balanced using the odds. Rather than adjusting the expectations for each team, the bookmakers keep the expectations even (win the game) and adjusts the payouts.

In the middle row, you will see the odds on a moneyline bet from our earlier example. Like we’ve discussed, the numbers represent the payouts of each outcome. Here, we can see that the LSU Tigers are -305 favorites over the +220 Florida Gators. This gap signifies both a perceived disparity in the capabilities of the teams, as well as a massive difference in payout for a winning bet. Keep in mind that, unlike spread betting, your team needs to win the game for you to win your bet. Let’s see various bets would work out with our example.

Scenario A: You bet $10 on the Gators, and they win the game. They were offered at +220, meaning they were supposed to lose according to the bookmaker. Because they were supposed to get walloped, you would win $22 if they win the game. Add that to your bet, and they house owes you $32 on a $10 wager. Not too shabby!

Scenario B: You bet $10 on the Tigers, and they win the game. In this case, they were the favorite at -305, meaning they were expected to dominate. As expected, they won the game and as a result, you earn $3.33 on your $10 bet. Add that to your original wager, and you get paid a total of $13.33.

As you might expect in NCAAF betting, it pays to choose the underdog when you are confident. However, things aren’t that simple. Bookmakers scale the odds explicitly to account for the variances in the team, so if you see a +220 underdog, you are much more likely to lose than win. In fact, in our example, the bookmaker thinks you are nearly 7x more likely to lose your money if you bet on the Gators. The real key to moneyline betting is to find bets where your knowledge helps you spot value. In other words, you want to spot bets where you think the risk represented in the odds is greater than the real-life risk.

Over/Under Bets on College Football Games

Next, let’s look at over/under bets. These are great if you are betting on an NCAA football game where you aren’t a major fan of either team or if you’re looking for live college football betting options. Or maybe you want a unique way to take advantage of specific matchups. Over/under CFB bets allow you to bet on whether the points scored by both teams will total more or less than a given total. Let’s go back to our example.

Over to the right, you’ll see numbers designated with an “O” or a “U.” You’ll also notice that the numbers are the same. This represents the total point threshold to win the bet. Next to the point total, you will see the payout for that bet. Here, we see that the O/U is 38.5 points with the bet paying -115 regardless of where you bet. If the total points are 38 or under, an under bet will win. If both teams total 39 or more points, an over bet will win. These bets can be particularly useful if you think a game will be more offensive or defensive than usual.

College Football Prop Bets

Finally, there are prop bets. These are often some of the most fun bets to place as they make every single aspect of the game fun. Prop, or proposition betting, adds a whole new level of excitement by allowing you to bet on a ton of smaller outcomes in the game. Rather than just betting on the overall result, you can bet on NCAA football with wagers like who will win the coin toss or who will score the first touchdown. These bets can add massive upside when made as part of larger parlay bets.

You’ll find lots of prop bets available on NCAAF betting sites that aren’t available in live sportsbooks. In some states, NCAA football betting online is restricted and in others, the sportsbook simply doesn’t have the resources to offer such bets.

However, it’s helpful to remember that prop bets are all just about luck. While some will be, such as what color shoes a particular player might wear, others are much more calculated. If you are looking to try all the crazy bets and just have fun, go nuts. But if you are serious about making money, focus on the skilled prop bets. Look for college football bets that can be more predictable and use the right data to back up your wagers. These skill-based bets can be quite profitable with the right prep.

NCAA Football Betting Conclusion

Betting real money on NCAA college football can take the excitement of watching the game to a whole new level. With tons of different bets, plenty of weekly action, and edge-of-your-seat playoffs, real money NCAAF betting can be a great way to get your feet wet with sports betting. Even if you’re new to gambling on college football, putting a few bucks on your favorite team might be the start of a profitable sports betting career.

Hopefully, you’ve learned more about how to bet on college football. We’ve discussed the critical aspects of a good NCAAF betting site, shared valuable learning resources, learned how to read lines and odds, and we outlined the popular types of bets you’ll run into. Check out The Sports Geek for more info on how to build your strategy into something special. Always bet responsibly, and never bet more than you can afford to lose. Have fun and good luck!

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