The journey to the professional world of sports typically starts from little beginnings. Several hidden gems try to make their mark playing at local teams, on the streets, and particularly at the college level. Many people now seem pretty fascinated by college football which has generated more popularity.
This sport not only thrills spectators and adversaries but also produces future stars. Bettors can experience additional excitement as the action is happening on the field. However, you must first comprehend how the college football lines and odds operate before making the plunge.
Because of this, we’ll provide insights into college football odds in this post and provide you with helpful information to increase your chances of winning. So, grab your lucky jersey, and let’s unravel the mysteries of betting on college football!
Understanding the Different Types of Odds
Betting on college football is relatively similar to the picks on professional sports. In that sense, you have the opportunity to pick markets using many different bet types. But before you go for any of these options, you must understand what it means.
Here are some of the different bet types you can explore in college football:
Points total (Over/Under)
Over/under bets, also known as total bets, revolve around predicting both teams’ combined scores. This works because the sportsbook sets a total, and you wager on whether the actual score will be over or under that figure.
Moneyline betting
Moneyline bets are pretty straightforward and easy to pick. Here you simply have to choose which team will win the game outright. The odds associated with each team indicate the payout you can expect. Negative odds (-) denote the favorite, while positive odds (+) signify the lesser team.
Reading the moneyline odds is one way to discover the relative strengths of the teams before selecting your option.
Point spreads
Point spread bets are a popular choice in college football, introducing an element of balance between teams of different strengths. The sportsbook assigns a margin of points that the favorite must win by to “cover the spread.”
The underdog can lose by that margin or even win the game and still cover the spread.
How To Win in College Football Betting?
As young teams clash and go head-to-head on the field, there’s a world of opportunities waiting for savvy bettors like you. But how can you tilt the odds in your favor and come out on top? Let’s find out.
Know the favorites and underdogs
Like professional sports, college football is filled with favorites and weaker teams. The favorite is the team naturally expected to win the game, while the underdog is the team more likely to lose.
You’ll realize that the odds for favorites are usually higher since they are the more likely to win. On the other hand, the odds placed on weaker teams are usually represented by plus (+) to indicate higher odds. Once you understand how this works, you can choose the best market option for you.
Analyze point spreads
As we mentioned earlier, point spreads are one of the most common options in college football. This bet type aims to level the playing field for both teams. This involves giving the underdog a certain number of points advantage or the favorite a handicap. A point spread is indicated with a plus or minus sign followed by a number.
The minus sign denotes the favorite, and the plus sign indicates the underdog. For instance, if you see a line like “-7.5,” it means the favorite must win by more than 7.5 points to cover the spread, while the underdog can lose by up to 7.5 points and still cover the spread.
So, with this option, even if your team loses, you could still land a win on your slip. You just have to hope the margin does not exceed or exceed the number selected.
Consider home-field advantage
Home-field advantage plays a significant role in college football. The home team often enjoys the support of its fans, familiar surroundings, and travel convenience. As a result, they tend to perform better in their home stadium.
So, when you’re analyzing the odds, take a look at the potential impact of the home team advantage. More often than not, a team playing at home may naturally have a good chance of covering the spread or winning the game outright.
Follow Line Movement
As soon as players lock in their bets, you will notice a change in odds. This shift in odds usually suggests that most people favor a particular team. However, you shouldn’t allow the line movement to be the sole basis for your bets.
You can’t always expect the majority to be right all the time. So irrespective of the team favored, you need to consider other factors before making your pick.
