The Best NCAAF Betting Sites

Spread Betting

Point-spread wagering works the same way as it does in the NFL, although bettors will see much larger point spreads in college. Double-digit point spreads happen in the NFL, but they are rare. In college football, large double-digit spreads happen every week.

The reason for this is the vast talent disparity. The early part of the college schedule is filled with “cupcake” games for the top-ranked teams. Essentially, this is preseason for the big conference powerhouses.

There will be plenty of close matchups on the schedule as well, but large point spreads are extremely common, week in and week out.

Totals Betting

Totals will also be considerably larger. Talent disparity also plays a part in this, but there are two crucial rule changes that contribute to more points being scored.

The game clock in college stops whenever a team gets a first down, which means more overall plays on offense. Second, players only need to get one foot in bounds when catching the football, compared to both feet in the pros.

NFL totals can be as low as 35 points, but are usually in the mid-40s. The biggest totals in the NFL usually top out at around 55 points. With NCAAF betting, totals go much higher. There are regularly games in the 70s.

Other NCAAF Betting Markets

For other NCAAF betting markets, there is no difference in how they work compared to the NFL. 

Parlays, teasers, pleasers and other bets have the same odds. Player and team props will be less readily available compared to NFL markets, but are provided for most games. The more popular the game, the more markets available. The same goes for live betting.

Beware of Road Favorites

College football stadiums are terrible environments for opposing teams. They’re usually larger than professional football stadiums and have more passionate fans. The massive student sections are full of college kids who have been drinking for hours before kickoff. There are few more intimidating environments in all of sports.

Home-field advantage is very real, particularly when it comes to college sports. You’re not “getting one over” on the oddsmakers when you take road favorites. This is even more true when rivals face off or in critical conference games. If anything, bettors should be looking to bet underdogs.

Statistics Aren’t As They Seem

One of the major pitfalls for NCAAF betting is taking college statistics and weighing them like those of professional football. The statistics are the same, but they carry a lot more weight in the NFL.

For instance, win and loss records can be extremely deceiving. A team that is playing poorly could easily roll through their non-conference schedule with no issues, and with a 4-0 record. However, a team from a lesser conference might go 1-3, but play well in comparison to their competition.

It’s vital that bettors consider the strength of the opponents that a team plays, and not just their overall record when evaluating future matchups. The same can be said for rushing and passing yards, overall ranking, and offensive and defensive rankings.

College football analysts will often point out that a team has the “10^th best offense in the nation” or the “50^th ranked defense.” These statistics are meaningless without context. A top-ranked team that averages just 5.0 yards per rush against a weak non-conference team has performed poorly. A team with a top-ranked offense doesn’t have much meaning if the caliber of its opponents aren’t any good.

Be Selective

Unlike the NFL, which offers the fewest betting opportunities of any major sport, the NCAAF betting slate is jam-packed with action. There are at least 30 games on Saturdays and many more throughout the week.

For those who take the time to handicap the slate, there are plenty of opportunities to be found. It’s fine to bet a dozen or more games if there is value in the lines, but wagering on every number under the sun will get bettors killed. Use your knowledge of the teams and movement of betting markets on finding the most profitable selections.