Every legal sportsbook in the U.S. allows you to bet on college football. They would be leaving a large amount of money on the table if they didn’t.
But each brings something unique for NCAAF bettors, whether competitive odds, exciting promotions, or features designed to enhance your college football betting experience.
This guide goes over our top picks for the best sportsbooks for betting on college football based on odds competitiveness, college football-specific features and promotions, user experience, and more.
Best College Football Betting Sites
Here are our picks for the best NCAAF betting sites and apps. Click one in the list below to jump down to the review.
Best college football betting sites and apps:
- FanDuel: Best Overall Sportsbook for Betting on College Football
- Caesars: Best NCAAF Sportsbook for Odds Boosts
- bet365: Best Market Variety for College Football Betting
- BetMGM: Best College Football Betting Site for Bonuses
- DraftKings: Best Sportsbook for Betting on CFB Futures
- BetRivers: Best Sportsbook for Live Betting on College Football
- Fanatics: Fastest Sportsbook App for CFB Betting
- ESPN BET: Best Odds for College Football
1) FanDuel: Best Overall Sportsbook for Betting on College Football
FanDuel is our top pick for NCAA football betting, and there are a few reasons why.
For starters, FanDuel regularly beats out the competition with the best NCAAF odds. Whether it’s straight bets, props, or futures, FanDuel typically comes out on top when I compare lines across the books I use. In our analysis of thousands of recent games, we found FanDuel to charge the second-lowest vig for college football overall.
But it’s not just about the odds—FanDuel also brings a lot of variety to college football betting. Whether you’re looking at futures like who will make the playoffs, who will win the National Championship, or conference winners, FanDuel gives you a wide variety to choose from. And when game day hits, they’re ready with a lineup of props like race to X points, team totals, and plenty more to keep things interesting.
If you’re fishing for college football promos, FanDuel’s a must-check. They drop dedicated NCAAF promos regularly. For example, they might spotlight a marquee matchup like Texas vs. Michigan by offering a profit boost that could crank up your winnings by 50% if your bet hits.
FanDuel sets the standard when it comes to user experience. Thanks to advanced biometric tech, players can log in super fast, making it easy to get your bets in quickly. Everything’s laid out neatly, with props sorted into user-friendly tabs that make it simple to find what you need.
Before you lock in your NCAAF bets, swing by their Research Hub. It’s a goldmine of insights, stats, and analysis that can take your betting game to the next level. They might, for example, show why Georgia is a good bet to cover the spread against Alabama, backing it up with a breakdown of the Bulldogs’ recent play and ground game dominance.
FanDuel Sportsbook Quick Facts:
- OA BetReview Rating: 94/100
- Sign-Up Bonus: Bet $5, Get $150 Bonus If Your Bet Wins
- Best Features: Odds competitiveness, market variety
- Biggest Drawbacks: No sportsbook rewards program, not many daily odds boosts
- Number of Sports: 21+
- Payout Speed: Up to 5 business days (typically faster)
- Rewards Program: DFS & Casino only
Check out my FanDuel Sportsbook review for a full breakdown of the site.
2) Caesars: Best NCAAF Sportsbook for Odds Boosts
Caesars is always part of my rotation for college football betting, mainly because they offer a ton of daily odds boosts, with many focused on NCAAF.
They drop several college football boosts weekly, usually featuring 3-to-5-leg parlays or long shots. For example, you might find a boost like Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon all to cover at +620, while most other books offer around +590 for the same parlay.
Caesars also offers competitive odds for NCAAAF straight bets. Whether you’re betting on moneylines, totals, or spreads, they’ll often have the best prices for those wagers.
Another big reason to roll with Caesars for your NCAAF bets is the Caesars Rewards program. Every college football bet (or any other market) earns points that help you climb through the tiers. You can later redeem those points for free bets, hotel stays, entertainment perks, deposit bonuses, and more.
Caesars doesn’t have the deepest prop selection for NCAAF, but I like their winning margins program, where you can pick a points range for a team to win by. For example, Notre Dame to beat USC by 7-12 points at +400 is a solid bet for this realistic margin.
If you hit a hot streak and start winning big on college football, you won’t need to worry about Caesars capping your bets like some other books—they’re pretty lenient regarding limiting sharps and successful bettors.
Conversely, Caesars might not be the best fit if you’re into prop bets, as their odds for these wagers are generally worse than those at other major books.
Caesars Quick Facts:
- OA BetReview Rating: 93/100
- Sign-Up Bonus: Bet $1, Get 2x Winnings on Next 20 Bets
- Best Features: Loyalty program, user-friendly UX
- Biggest Drawbacks: Slower payout speeds, sluggish customer service
- Number of Sports: 23+
- Payout Speed: Up to 72 hours
- Rewards Program: Caesars Rewards
Read our full Caesars Sportsbook review to learn more
3) bet365: Best Market Variety for College Football Betting
bet365 is a shoo-in for anyone big on college football props. They’ve got one of the deepest prop selections for NCAAF out there. Every matchup has a ton of game and team props you won’t see at most other books, like “Either Team to Score 3 Unanswered Times” or “Which Team Will Call the First Timeout.”
Their player prop options are just as stacked, with over 20 different stat categories for key players. For example, if you’re looking at Jaydon Blue in a Texas game, you’ll find bets on whether he’ll score in the first half, the last TD, or even score multiple times. My personal favorites are props for player kicking points and rushing attempts.
bet365 is also the only major book that offers odds boosts for college football futures. For instance, they currently have a boosted line for Notre Dame to win the title, offering about +200 better than other books for the Fighting Irish to take it all.
Another big reason to include bet365 in your NCAAF betting lineup is their signature early payout offers, which work for all games. If the team you back on the moneyline gets a 17-point lead, they’ll pay out your bet as a win, no matter how the rest of the game goes.
bet365 is packed with features, many of which come in handy for college football betting. My favorite is Auto Cash Out, a variation of the regular cash-out feature. You set a value, and if your bet hits that payout, it automatically cashes out and locks in your winnings.
On the downside, bet365 will probably cut down your betting limits if you start winning a lot.
bet365 Quick Facts:
- OA BetReview Rating: 89/100
- Sign-Up Bonus: $1,000 First bet safety net or bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets
- Best Features: Auto Cash Out, insane number of odds boosts, early payout promos
- Biggest Drawbacks: Subpar prop odds, no sportsbook rewards program
- Number of Sports: 26+
- Payout Speed: Up to 24 hours
- Rewards Program: None
Read our full bet365 review to learn more.
4) BetMGM: Best College Football Betting Site for Bonuses
BetMGM goes all out with football promos, making it a must-have in your betting lineup.
To start, they offer one of the biggest welcome bonuses in the industry, giving you a strong boost for CFB betting right off the bat. When football season hits, they bring out a variety of promos for returning bettors.
For example, they have a safety net promo where you get your stake refunded if one leg of a parlay misses. So if you have Alabama, Georgia, and Michigan to win and only Alabama loses, you’ll get your stake back.
One feature I like is BetMGM’s Edit My Bet, which lets you tweak ongoing bets. If you’ve got Ohio State and Ole Miss to win but then hear a key OSU player is out, you can lower your stake, swap it out, or even drop it altogether.
BetMGM offers competitive odds for college football, with some of the lowest vigs on spreads and totals. They offer 20-cent lines (meaning -110 on both sides), which is about as good as it gets.
They also have various props, including some exciting period bets. For example, you can bet on both teams to score a certain number of points in the first half, like 10 or more, which is a great option when two offensive powerhouses go head-to-head.
One drawback of BetMGM for college football betting is that their prop bet odds can sometimes be less competitive than other books.
BetMGM Quick Facts:
- OA BetReview Rating: 84/100
- Sign-Up Bonus: Up to $1,500 in bonus bets
- Best Features: Edit My Bet, NFL rewards
- Biggest Drawbacks: Quickly limits sharps, UX can be a bit buggy
- Number of Sports: 19+
- Payout Speed: Up to 24 hours
- Rewards Program: MGM Rewards
Read our full BetMGM review to learn more.
5) DraftKings: Best Sportsbook for Betting on CFB Futures
DraftKings leads the pack regarding futures betting in CFB, offering more options than most other books. So, if you want to make long-term calls on how the college season plays out, DK’s the way to go.
Besides the usual title and conference winner bets, they’ve got more specific options like “To Make the Title Game” for each conference. You can put action on Georgia making the SEC Championship or Ohio State reaching the Big Ten Championship, for example.
DraftKings is also among the few sportsbooks offering odds on the Bear Bryant Award winner. If you’ve got a tip on which coach will dominate the season, you can make that call here.
I always hit DK’s stats hub as part of my pre-game prep. They drop some great insights, like in an Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State matchup, they might point out that Oklahoma State has won 14 of their last 15 games against non-conference opponents at Boone Pickens Stadium. Or they’ll show trends like Arkansas hitting the over in their previous five games. Finding info like this on your own would take a lot of digging.
DraftKings is also a treasure trove of props for college football. One of my favorites is team total TDs, where you bet the over or under on how many touchdowns a team scores. They’ve also got first-drive props, where you predict if the first drive will end in a TD, punt, FG attempt, or turnover.
That said, DraftKings’ odds for CFB can be weaker than other books, which might put some bettors off.
DraftKings Sportsbook Quick Facts:
- OA BetReview Rating: 84/100
- Sign-Up Bonus: Bet $5, get $300 in bonus bets + $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket
- Best Features: Market depth, profit boost tokens
- Biggest Drawbacks: Odds not always competitive, quickly limit winners
- Number of Sports: 25+
- Payout Speed: Up to 5 business days
- Rewards Program: Dynasty Rewards
Read our full DraftKings review to learn more.
6) BetRivers: Best Sportsbook for Live Betting on College Football
BetRivers should be at the top of your list if you're into live betting on college football. Their in-play platform is fast and responsive, and the odds are highly competitive.
BetRivers stands out for live CFB betting because of the extra features like live streaming and micro-betting. You can stream live games directly on the platform after placing your bet, making it easy to stay on top of the action and adjust your wagers as the game unfolds.
BetRivers also supports micro-betting for college football games, which lets you make short-term bets in real time. You can place play-by-play wagers, like predicting the outcome of the next drive in an Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State game.
Check out their “Specials” section, where they occasionally offer odds boosts, often backed by pro handicappers like Jimmy Ott.
One feature I appreciate is BetRivers' teaser toggle, which makes adjusting point spreads easy right from the betting menu. For example, in a Bowling Green vs. Penn State game, you can move Bowling Green’s spread from +43.5 to +26.5 with just a click. They also have game combos where you can pair spread and total outcomes in one bet.
The one downside? The platform can get a little clunky. I often run into annoying pop-ups after logging in, which slows things down when trying to place bets quickly.
BetRivers Quick Facts:
- OA BetReview Rating: 82/100
- Sign-Up Bonus: Second chance bet up to $500 depending on state
- Best Features: Fast payouts, competitive teaser and soccer odds
- Biggest Drawbacks: Functionality issues, limits successful bettors quickly
- Number of Sports: 29+
- Payout Speed: Up to 5 business days (usually within a day)
- Rewards Program: iRush Rewards
Read our full BetRivers review to learn more.
7) Fanatics: Fastest Sportsbook App for CFB Betting
Fanatics’ user experience might not be everyone’s favorite, but there’s one thing everyone can agree on—it’s fast. Navigating between different betting categories is almost instant, and the app runs smoothly from start to finish.
Fanatics also deserve a spot in your betting rotation because of their sharp odds, especially on prop bets.
Fanatics also offers a perk for CFB bettors with their FanCash Rewards program, a cashback-based loyalty system. Every CFB bet you place earns you FanCash, which you can redeem for bonus bets or even sports gear.
If you're into fun, seasonal props, Fanatics has some good ones under Heisman Hopefuls. It’s a great place to take a swing at some high-risk, high-reward bets, like predicting Tetairoa McMillan to put up 304 receiving yards four TDs, and set a new Arizona Wildcats record.
Fanatics is also one of the few books that offers win totals for college football, letting you bet on how many wins a team will rack up in a season—whether you think they’ll go over or under Fanatics’ projection.
The only downside is the lack of a desktop platform, so all your college football bets must be placed on mobile apps. This won’t be a big deal for most, but for some, it could be a dealbreaker.
Fanatics Sportsbook Quick Facts:
- OA BetReview Rating: 81/100
- Sign-Up Bonus: Bet & Get Up to $2k in FanCash
- Best Features: Valuable sign-up bonus, competitive prop odds
- Biggest Drawbacks: Confusing interface, no desktop site, quick to limit winners
- Number of Sports: 15
- Payout Speed: Up to 3 business days
- Rewards Program: FanCash Rewards
Read our full Fanatics Sportsbook review to learn more.
8) ESPN BET: Best Odds for College Football
After analyzing over 7,000 games across all major sportsbooks, ESPN BET stood out for having the lowest vig on CFB bets, meaning they take a smaller cut from your winnings. That alone makes it a solid choice to keep in your betting lineup.
I’m also a fan of their weekly specials, featuring unique combos with slightly boosted odds. You can find safer bets like Utah/Kansas/Tennessee to win at +125, or take a shot with longshots like Colorado/NC State/Texas Tech at +2200. There’s usually something worth checking out.
Like Fanatics, ESPN BET offers regular season win totals, but the odds sometimes feel lopsided. For example, you might find Georgia at +120 to win fewer than 10.5 games and -150 to win 11 or more—reflecting their status as one of the top contenders for the title.
While ESPN BET isn’t loaded with player props, they offer a solid selection of game and team props. Some of my favorites include betting on the number of successful field goals or the highest-scoring quarter.
For regular users, ESPN BET frequently runs great promos for college football. I’ve often seen bet & get offers, where you earn a bonus bet after placing a qualifying NCAAF wager.
One thing to watch out for is their tendency to limit successful bettors quickly. So, don’t be shocked if your max bets get trimmed down after a run of big wins.
ESPN BET Quick Facts:
- OA BetReview Rating: 73/100
- Sign-Up Bonus: Bet $10, get $100 in bonus bets
- Best Features: Sports variety, competitive pre-game odds
- Biggest Drawbacks: Subpar user experience, not many features
- Number of Sports: 20+
- Payout Speed: 1 to 5 banking days
- Rewards Program: PENN Play Program
Read our full ESPN BET review to learn more.
Best Sign-Up Bonuses from College Football Betting Sites (+ Promo Codes)
Below you can see the intro bonuses for new customers from all of the sportsbooks that we've reviewed that offer NCAA football betting. As sportsbooks update their intro promos, we will update this guide so you can always find the best offers available.
Must be 21+ in most states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. See full responsible gambling disclaimer here.
Sportsbook | States | Sign Up Bonus* | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MA MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY | Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins | Not needed | |
AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY | Bet $1, Get 2x Winnings on Next 20 Bets | OA20X | |
AZ, CO, FL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY | Second Chance Bet Up to $1,500** | ODDS100 | |
CO, IA, KY, LA, NJ, NC, OH, VA, TN, IL | Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets | Not needed | |
AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, LA, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV | Second Chance Bet Up to $500 | ODDS1 | |
AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, WY. | Bet & Get Up to $2k in FanCash | Not needed | |
NJ, PA | 100% Deposit Match Up to $1,000 | Not Needed | |
PA | Second Chance Bet Up to $500 | ODDS1 | |
AZ, CO, IA, NJ, VA | Up to $100 Cash Back | ASSIST | |
AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY | Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets + $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket | Not needed | |
AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NC, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV | Bet $10, Get $100 in Bonus Bets | Not needed | |
AZ, FL, IL, IN, NJ, TN, OH, VA | Bet $5, Get $150 Bonus If Your Bet Wins | Not needed | |
NV | First Bet Match Up to $250 | Not needed |
*May vary by state.
**Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.
*May vary by state
How We Rate College Football Betting Sites
Here at Odds Assist, we are committed to creating objective, transparent ratings to help you make the best decisions regarding which sportsbooks to use. We will continually update our Editorial Ratings as sportsbooks introduce new features, change promotions, etc.
Each sportsbook we review goes through our extensive rating process that evaluates thousands of data points in 11 categories, including the following:
| Category | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Odds |
20 |
Evaluates the odds' competitiveness across all major bet types like spreads, moneylines, props, totals, and futures. |
|
Sign-Up Bonus |
15 |
Rates the value of the sign-up bonus for new customers, focusing on bonus size, terms, and conditions. |
|
User Experience |
15 |
Assesses the overall user experience, including layout, speed, search functionality, prop categorization, and ease of navigation. |
|
Promos & Odds Boosts |
10 |
Assesses the range and generosity of ongoing promotions, including odds boosts, parlay boosts, insurance offers, and VIP programs. |
|
Features |
7.5 |
Looks at additional sportsbook features such as same-game parlays, cash-out options, live streaming, unique tools, and bet modifiers. |
|
Market Depth |
7.5 |
Measures various bet types, including player and game props, futures, and unique betting options. |
|
Customer Reviews |
5 |
Collects user feedback across platforms (iOS, Android, etc.) to assess overall satisfaction with the sportsbook experience. |
|
Live Betting |
5 |
Evaluates the live betting options, including available odds, micro betting, live streaming, and the depth of in-play markets. |
|
Support |
5 |
Reviews customer support availability and quality, including live chat, email, phone, and social media responsiveness. |
|
Limits |
5 |
Analyzes how flexible the sportsbook is with betting limits, particularly for high-volume or successful bettors. |
|
Banking |
5 |
Focuses on payout speed and the variety of deposit and withdrawal methods available for easy transactions. |
We rate each sportsbook relative to other sportsbooks in each category. Each is scored from 1 to 5 with each representing the following:
- 5 Stars: Best in category
- 4 Stars: Above-average
- 3 Stars: Average
- 2 Stars: Below-average
- 1 Star: Worst in category
Data for all sportsbooks were collected simultaneously to ensure fairness. For example, we only compared odds for the same games at the same times across all sportsbooks reviewed.
To learn more, check out our full Ratings Methodology page.
What to Look for in a College Football Betting Site
All of the best U.S sportsbooks offer a variety of betting markets for most college football teams. However, not all of them have competitive odds, generous promotions, fast and secure payment options, and many other things that we like to see in NCAA FB sportsbooks.
Here are some things to consider when choosing which sportsbook is best for you:
Legal and Licensed in Your State
Legality is extremely important. Only by playing in a regulated online sportsbook that has a stamp of approval from your state’s licensing jurisdiction can you be sure the odds are fair and that your payouts will actually be paid.
On top of that, only these sites are legal and sanctioned by the government, so if you opt for offshore bookmakers like Bovada or others, not only will your money and wins be guaranteed and kept safe, but you may also be breaking the law.
You can check out our state betting guides linked in the menu of our site to see the top legal online sportsbooks in each state.
Competitiveness of Odds
The standard odds for spreads and totals in college football is -110 at most sportsbooks (with the sum of each side being -220). If you notice your sportsbook offers worse odds (such as -115 on each side giving a sum of -230), you may want to look elsewhere.
While these small variations may not seem like a lot, over the long-run, shopping around for the best odds available can be the difference between being profitable and losing money.
You can compare this week's college football odds and lines here with our free tool.
Sign-Up Bonus
Welcome bonuses for new customers are how sportsbooks attract players, and NCAA football bettors are often the primary target of these promos. You’ll often see betting offers including free bets, risk-free bets, and deposit bonuses that range from $100 to $5,000 in value.
In addition, the stated value of the intro bonus, it’s important to consider the type. No-deposit free bets are typically the best since they require you to put no money in, though these are rare and typically have much smaller values.
After that, deposit bonuses are preferable to risk-free bets since with the latter, you only get the free bet if your first bet loses and you still have a chance to lose the “risk-free” bet which could leave you out $1,000 or more.
Ongoing Promotions and Odds Boosts
It is a no-brainer that welcome deals attract players, but what keeps them playing at a site? That’s where ongoing promos and odds boosts come into play.
College football betting sites often will offer improved odds on particular events, as well as free bets and other incentives to keep you depositing and playing. Your job is to dissect these offers to see which are truly worth betting on. Just because there is an odds boost or promo means you should definitely take it.
User Experience on the App or Website
Another important thing to consider when choosing a sportsbook is how user-friendly the app and website are. Is it easy for you to find the game and bet types you are interested in? Does the app crash regularly?
While you can almost always download the app to check it out before signing up, you can also read our in-depth sportsbook reviews linked in the menu of our site to learn more about our experience with each.
>> Read More: Best Sportsbook Apps
Types of Wagers Offered
In addition to good betting odds, the number of betting markets is also crucial for CFB betting sites. You want to play on a site that offers spreads, moneyline, totals, and futures, at a minimum. After that, look for extensive game and player props for most games.
In addition, if you are interested in same game parlays—which allow you to combine sides, totals, and props from the same game in a single parlay—be sure to look for sportsbooks such as FanDuel, and DraftKings that offer them.
>> Read More: Sportsbooks that offer same game parlays
Live Betting Options
Live or in-play betting is the choice of many players these days and for a good reason. Being able to bet as the action takes place is exciting and the odds vary by the second. Browse for sites that allow you to bet live on all college football games for the ultimate betting experience.
Deposit/Withdrawal Options and Speed
You need a site that lets you move money into and from your account quickly and safely. The more payment methods the site offers, the better, especially if e-wallets, online banking, and other systems are included.
How to Bet on College Football Games
- First, choose a legal sportsbook in your state (or a state that you're regularly in) and download the app or visit the website.
- Register for an account. You'll have to provide your name, phone number, SSN, and other personal information. You may also be asked to upload a picture of your license or other ID to verify your identity.
- Visit the banking section of the site/app and deposit money via one of the (often numerous) banking options.
- Check out the promotions section of the site to see what the welcome bonus for new customers is. Be sure to read the fine print of the intro promo to make sure you follow the requirements.
- Start betting on NCAA football, but remember to gamble responsibly!
States Where You Can Bet on NCAA FB
Here are all of the states that currently offer legal college football betting online, in-person, or both:
State | Online | In-Person |
|---|---|---|
Yes | Yes | |
Arkansas | No | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
Connecticut | Yes | Yes |
Delaware | No | Yes |
District of Columbia | Yes | Yes |
Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
Yes | Yes | |
Kansas | Yes | Yes |
Yes | Yes | |
Maryland | Yes | Yes |
Massachusetts | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
Mississippi | No | Yes |
Montana | No | Yes |
Nebraska | No | Coming soon |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
New Mexico | No | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
North Carolina | Yes | Yes |
Ohio | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
South Dakota | No | Yes |
| Yes | No | |
| Yes | Yes | |
Washington | No | Yes |
Yes | Yes | |
Yes | No |
Types of Bets You Can Make on College Football Games
Betting on college football is so popular because of the sheer number of games each week and the wide variety of markets available. Here are the types of bets you can make on most NCAA football games:
- NCAA Football Spread Bets – The spread bet is a basic bet where you pick the winner of the game while factoring in a point spread that the oddsmakers have set. For example, Alabama -18.5 against Miami would mean that Alabama has to win by 19 points in order for your bet to win. Miami, on the other hand, would have to lose by less than 19 or win in order for Miami +18.5 to win. (Note: Read more about how to read betting odds here.)
- NCAA Football Total Bets (Over/Under) – Total bets include wagering whether the total score of the game will be over or under a certain number. The sportsbooks give a margin, say 58.5 points, so you need to choose between betting the Over (59 or more combined points between the two teams) or the Under (58 or less combined points).
- NCAA Football Moneyline Bets – Probably the simplest college football bet, moneyline betting includes choosing the outright winner of the game. Odds on moneyline bets usually aren't around -110 (like spreads and totals) because one team is usually favored.
- NCAA Football Parlays – Parlays include joining two or more events into a single bet that you win only if each individual event wins. In exchange for the increased difficulty, you receive a higher payout.
- NCAA Football Same Game Parlays – Made popular by FanDuel, same game parlays involve combining sides, totals, player props, and/or game props from the same game in a single parlay.
- NCAA Football Teasers – Similar to parlays, NCAA football teasers include combining several straight bets into a single parlay but with the point spread or total adjusted in your favor. In college football, the most common teasers are 6, 7, and 10 points. So for example, if Alabama is -18.5 on the standard spread, you would get them at -12.5 on a 6-point teaser. In exchange for the decreased difficulty, you are given a lower payout on teasers.
- NCAA Football Game Props – College football game props do not focus on the final score of the game but rather on things such as who will win the coin toss, who will have more turnovers, or the total number of offensive yards.
- NCAA Football Player Props – These focus on an individual player’s performance or who will win between a matchup of two players. For example, you can bet on how many touchdowns a QB will throw or how many passing yards he will have, who will have more rushing yards between two running backs, or whether or not a player will score a TD.
- NCAA Football Round-Robins – A round-robin bet is similar to a parlay except all of your individual selections will be combined into smaller parlays as well as the total parlay. For example, if you choose Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State to win straight up in a round-robin bet, you would typically have four total parlays: (1) All three teams together, (2) Alabama + Clemson, (3) Alabama + Ohio State, (4) Clemson + Ohio State. Each individual parlay in the round robin is considered its own bet so you don't have to win each in order to win some money.
- NCAA Football Futures – College football futures bets let you place a wager on the outcome of a future event, such as the winner of the NCAA Championship or the Heisman Trophy Winner.
How to Make Money Betting on College Football
Betting on college football, like the NFL and other popular leagues and sports, comes with its risks. Winning is not guaranteed by any means and most people actually lose money.
Since college football is so popular and each team only plays a single game each, oddsmakers put a lot of time into pouring over data to find the fair lines for each. They have an entire week to get the pricing right; a big difference from a sport like baseball which has so many more games each season.
With that being said, it’s not impossible to turn the tides in your favor—especially on smaller market teams. You, too, can analyze stats and data, such as historical performance, line movements, and other trends that can help you figure out what to bet on.
Despite this, it's important to consider sports betting as a form of entertainment and only risk what you are comfortable with losing. You can learn more about betting responsibly in our Responsible Gambling Guide.
Here is what you need to know about making money betting on college football:
Percent of CFB Bets You Have to Win to Make Money
All sportsbooks charge a vig (sometimes called “juice”) on markets they offer. This is what they charge in order to take your bets and how they make money.
For example, when you bet $100 on a game with -110 odds (which is considered even money), you will only bring a $91 profit, or 91% return. The remaining 9% is that vig or their service fee for taking your bet in the first place.
You can use the odds to calculate the implied probability—or how probable a particular event is according to the odds. If you think the chance of a bet winning is higher than the implied probability according to the odds, then it may make sense to bet it.
Using the standard CFB spread and total line of -110, you can calculate the percentage of bets you have to win to break even. It comes out to 52.38%, and it is that 2.38% that makes it so hard to earn money betting.
While this might not seem like much, beating “Vegas” (aka oddsmakers) by this 2.38% or so is very difficult because of how much data and other resources they have for setting lines.
Tips for Betting on College Football
Here are several tips to help you improve your college football betting game:
- Take advantage of the intro promo for new customers – Welcome sign-up deals in the form of deposit match bonuses, free bets, risk-free bets, and others are an excellent way to start betting on NCAA FB with a positive account balance.
- Take advantage of odds boosts and other promotions – Odds boost and other ongoing promotions are great for both new and experienced bettors. These almost always increase the odds enough to take out the “juice” the sportsbooks charge, making the chances of you winning money over 50%.
- Learn to manage your bankroll – Always control how much you spend on betting and never bet with money you can’t afford to lose. Most pros recommend betting around 1% to 5% of the total amount you have to bet on each wager. This can help make sure you don’t run out of money too fast or start spending more than you want to.
- Shop around for the best lines and odds – More and more sportsbooks enter the U.S. market every month. Once you have made up your mind about the bet you want to place, compare the line and odds at the sportsbooks you are registered for to find where you can get the best price. We always recommend using at least three sportsbooks for this reason.
- Use statistics to make your decisions – As we mentioned earlier, you can use detailed stats, injury reports, news, and other analytics to make your selections and improve the odds of winning. Don’t bet blindly! Use what’s available to you to make the best choices.
- Select your games carefully – Don’t bet on every game just because you can. Look at stats and analyze games to find the ones that are actually worth risking your money on.
- Don’t just bet on your favorite team – Most bettors have a team they root for, but betting on it all the time is not what smart players do. Leave emotions out of it and only bet them if it truly makes sense. If you tend to think your team will do better than they end up doing, it may make sense to just avoid betting on them altogether.
- Don’t chase your losses – Chasing losses is when you try to make up for lost bets by betting more than originally planned. Chasing losses is a huge no-no. It often leads to incurring more losses, putting you in an even deeper hole. If you have a bad day, that’s ok. Take a break and come back when you’re ready again.
