How to Bet on College Football

There are three different answers you may want when trying to figure out how to bet on college football:

• “I see Clemson -180 and Syracuse +160. What on earth does that mean? Is that a point spread?
• “I know how to bet and what all those college football odds mean, but I don’t know where to bet.”
• “I know how to bet, but I want to sharpen my handicapping skills and become a more gainful college football bettor.”

Let’s start with the basics.

How Do Moneyline Odds Work?

A popular bet in college football is the moneyline, which requires you to pick the winner of the game. But it’s not a 50-50 proposition in most cases – you won’t get paid the same for taking Alabama to beat Vanderbilt at home as you would for taking the Alabama to beat Georgia on the road, given the ability of each team.

So each team is assigned moneyline odds by the sportsbook based on their ability, and bettors have to pay a corresponding price. Here’s how they work:

• Michigan -300
• Michigan State +250

American odds like these are centered around $100. So if you bet $300 on Michigan at -300, you’d win $100 if they win. If you bet $100 on Michigan State at +250 and they win, you’d win $250.

You don’t have to bet $100, of course. If you bet $3 on Michigan, you’d win $1. Bet $1 on Michigan State, win $2.50.

Are There Point Spreads in College Football?

In football and basketball (both in the pros and college), the most popular betting option is the point spread – it’s a bet on the margin of victory in that game.

Let’s use that same example from above.

• Michigan -10.5 (-110)
• Michigan State +10.5 (-110)

Because Michigan is so much better than Michigan State, sportsbooks are saying it’s about a 50-50 chance that they will win by 11 points or more.

What About Over/Unders?

Another popular betting option in NCAA football betting is wagering on the total (aka the over/under).

You’re betting on the total points scored by both teams going over or under the number set by sportsbooks.

With college football scoring on the rise over the last two decades, most totals are set at about 55 points, with each team expected to score, on average, at least 27.5 points per game.

Continuing with our example, if Michigan is playing Michigan State, most sportsbooks would predict a fairly low-scoring game due to the teams' running ability and superior defenses. 

But depending on the teams and situation, you may have to risk a different amount on the over or under.

Michigan vs. Michigan State

• Total: 50.5
• Over odds: -115
• Under odds: -105

Like the moneyline example above, you have to pay more for betting the over than the under. Sportsbooks and bettors have determined the game going over 50.5 is more likely than it going under. 

For every $1.15 risked, you’d win $1. For every $1.05 risked on the under, you’d win $1. Here is another example:

Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State

• Total: 55
• Over odds: -105
• Under odds: -115

Sportsbooks believe the game is more likely to go under than over, so you have to pay a bit more to take the under.

Totals are not just limited to the full game. You can bet the first quarter over/under, alternate totals, and more. 

For additional explanation, check out the articles below.

Different sportsbooks provide different NCAA odds for game lines, player props, futures, and more. Take a look at our college football betting options and picks for where to go to find different NCAAF bets and make the most of your experience.

Futures betting lets you select champions, awards and more across different parts of NCAAF ahead of time, meaning you'll get huge odds and the potential to earn rewards. Futures can be bet on at nearly any point in a season, but you'll find the best odds during the preseason -- which also makes predicting things like who will win the College Football Playoff or be named the Heisman Trophy winner even more fun when you make the call before the season's even started.