A Beginner's Guide to Smart Wagering: From spreads to over/under, get the primer on how to bet on college football.
College Football Spreads & Betting Odds: What You Need to Know
Something about betting on college football adds a whole new level of excitement to every matchup. In trying to figure out the spreads and odds or options for bets related to college football, it can really feel like a whole different playbook. Whether one is new to such terms or looking to elevate their betting game, this guide breaks it all down from how to understand spread to learning some of the best strategies in betting on college football.
Breaking Down College Football Odds
The idea of betting on college football is derived from the odds themselves, the numbers that define both the payout and, at the same time, the likelihood of a particular outcome. Odds regularly come in three styles: American, decimal, and fractional. For American odds, a positive number such as +150 indicates how much money you win on a $100 bet, while a negative number such as -120 indicates how much you have to bet to win $100. You can see it's a quick way to see risk vs. reward.
Spread betting explained
Spread betting is all about the margin of victory, a guess of the number of points one team will beat another. To make a bet more exciting, oddsmakers assign a point spread, a positive number of points for one team, which puts them in a virtual hole, and a negative number for the other, which gives them a virtual head start. For example, in the scenario where one favorite has a spread of -6.5, this would require the team to win by 7 or more points to "cover the spread." An underdog, on the other hand, with a spread of +6.5 could still "cover" by winning outright or by losing by 6 or fewer points.
Why College Football Spreads Are Popular
Undoubtedly, college football spreads add a strategic element to betting, where you're not simply wagering on which team will win or lose. Oftentimes, with spreads, you get to predict the margin of victory that keeps the game close more often than not. When powerhouse programs go against smaller programs, it's the spreads that keep the odds appealing and challenge the better team to win by a wide margin. This makes for interesting bets in tight matchups and those that, on paper, appear very one-sided.
The Simplest Option
Moneyline bets are about as straightforward as it gets for those who love simplicity: you're picking the outright winner with no spreads involved. If a team is a heavy favorite, their odds may look something like -300, where the payout for a $300 bet is $100. If you're eyeing an upset, a +200 underdog pays out $200 on a $100 bet if they win. That's a clean way to wager and ideal when one team outshines another.
Over/Under Betting Explained
Over-under, or "totals," betting requires a bettor to predict how many total points both teams will score. For example, the oddsmaker may set the number at 55.5, and a bettor would decide to bet over or under that total. This is perfect for a fan looking not necessarily to bet for a team but to expect a high- or low-scoring game based on the teams' styles and track records.
Parlay Bets
With parlays, you can link a variety of bets together as one single wager for a larger payout. Each of the bets involved in a parlay, a "leg, must be hit for the parlay to pay out. Think of it more like setting your dream lineup for the weekend: a couple of spreads, maybe an over/under, and one moneyline bet on a close game. One would think parlays are highly occurring since, other than being intriguing, the outcome is a pretty big payout. They are also riskier: one lost leg and that whole parlay loses.
Where to Begin
Getting into a college football bet means selecting a sportsbook to place your bets, monitoring the odds and spreads, and reading updates regarding college football. It's best to keep things simple, most likely a money line or spread bet, and build up knowledge regarding teams, players, and trends over time. There is nothing like a magic formula that will guarantee you win all the time, but at least you know how odds and spreads work and know a thing or two about each team.
Key Factors Driving College Football Spreads
Setting college football spreads involves a great deal. Everything from team performance, player injuries, and weather to even the home-field advantage can affect how the spread sets up and will change up to kick off. A great example would be if there was a last-minute injury to the star quarterback; the spread likely would go higher because it would severely lessen the chances of that team. Line movement is one way to get a sense of changes that may be occurring, which helps in timing bets correctly.
College Football Point Spread Betting Strategies
Smart gamblers understand any set spread, total, or moneyline presents an opportunity to find value. Some bettors enjoy playing the contrarian and will take underdogs if the majority of the public is on favorites. This can sometimes catch value in overlooked games, especially when betting against the spread. Other methods include tracking team consistency with spreads and making any bets on teams with known strengths in key areas.
How to Find the Best College Football Bets Every Week
Most weeks, finding the best bets involves a lot more than just a glance at rankings. It's all about recent team performances, individual stats, and injuries combined with schedules to come. With so many betting resources and websites, one can find many assets in finding those teams that are underrated or due for an upsurge in their performances. But even smaller games should be included; often, the best bets are in less-hyped matchups where odds remain favorable.
Whether it's going for the spread, taking a chance on an over/under, or building out a parlay, a little action on a college football game makes the game day all that more exciting. Mix some research and timing with a smidgeon of gut instinct, and finding value in college football odds can prove to be an exciting and perhaps rewarding addition to the package for this season.
