Legal and licensed college football betting sites are available in more than 30 US states and territories.
The NCAAF season kicks off in late August and culminates with the prestigious CFP National Championship in mid-January. While it might not generate the same hype as the NFL, college football presents far more betting opportunities, thanks to the sheer number of games.
However, college football is more scrutinized than its professional counterpart, resulting in tougher state regulations. Before venturing onward, it’s important to understand the NCAA betting rules in your state.
The BettingUSA team has been reviewing legal online sportsbooks since the industry’s launch in 2018. In the sections below, see our picks for the best NCAAF betting apps and detailed information on why they stand out.
This page also explains the sign-up process, how to claim lucrative new customer bonuses, and how to get the most mileage out of the most common promotions.
Best NCAA Football Betting Apps
The first criterion that BettingUSA considers when examining online sportsbooks is whether they are legal and licensed.
If an online sportsbook isn’t licensed by a state gaming authority, it’s a non-starter. All of BettingUSA’s recommended college football betting apps are legally bound by regulations regarding integrity, responsible gambling, and consumer protection.
Next, BettingUSA thoroughly vets the remaining NCAAF betting apps for quality and frequently reevaluates their performance relative to other online sportsbooks.
Some of the factors BettingUSA considers when ranking college betting sites include:
- The number of betting options
- Betting odds and the house edge
- New customer bonuses and recurrent promotions
- Customer loyalty programs
- In-play betting lines and the overall live betting experience
- Willingness to post early lines and take heavy action
- User interface and navigation tools
- Innovative features
Some of these criteria will be covered in more detail later on. For now, here are our updated recommendations:
FanDuel Sportsbook NCAA Football Betting

FanDuel Sportsbook offers more NCAAF betting lines and is available in more states than nearly every other online sportsbook.
Standout Features:
- Extremely early betting lines
- Dozens of NCAAF betting markets, including numerous futures
- Consistent and solid moneyline pricing
- Available in over 20 states
FanDuel doesn’t shy away from posting early lines, and that’s putting it mildly. By the time winter turns to spring, FanDuel has already begun posting spreads, totals, and moneylines for the upcoming season.
The odds on these lines are steady and fair. Spreads and totals are listed at industry standard prices (-110/-110), while moneylines carry about a 4 – 4.25% house edge.
As the season nears, FanDuel adds dozens of props, alternative lines, and same game parlays to its NCAAF menus. Notably, FanDuel Sportsbook tends to charge lower vigorish on Yes/No prop wagers relative to the competition. Pregame lines priced at -113/-113 are the norm, as opposed to -115/-115 or even -118/-118 elsewhere.
FanDuel also outdoes itself when it comes to college football futures betting. It covers basics like who will win the National Championship and the Heisman to more granular wagers like team win totals, whether a team will make the College Football Playoffs, and who will win the Big 12. Yes/No futures bets have a house edge of approximately 4.5%, which is surprisingly low given the uncertainty of the market.
FanDuel also supports a crisp, feature-rich, and user-friendly online sports betting interface. The in-game betting experience could use a new coat of paint, and the lack of a loyalty program is disappointing, but that’s not enough to dethrone FanDuel Sportsbook as the best NCAAF betting app.
Caesars Sportsbook NCAA Football Betting
Caesars Entertainment may be known primarily for its world-famous retail sportsbooks, but it’s a rising star in the online wagering space.
Standout Features:
- Early betting lines with some spreads listed months in advance
- Regularly updated desktop and mobile platform
- Frequent odds boosts with high wagering caps
- Available in 20 states
Like FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook posts NCAA Football lines well ahead of gametime. Spreads are posted first, followed by moneylines, totals, and finally, more exotic wagers. The Caesars Sportsbook app is known for its fair pregame pricing and exceptional in-game odds.
Caesars also supports NCAAF FireBets, which are wagers on outcomes that will resolve in minutes. An example might be “Will the next drive result in a touchdown?” Like most other online sportsbooks, it offers same game parlays and parlay builders, although only pregame.
The user interface is fresh, modern, and receives regular updates. Bets register quickly, in-game odds update without much downtime, and the cool aesthetic is easy on the eyes. Furthermore, the desktop and mobile experiences virtually mimic one another, making it easy for bettors to flip back and forth.
Bets boosts are the main promotional vehicle, and they’re often capped at $100, as opposed to just $20 or $25 on most competing NCAAF betting sites. This allows bettors to generate solid value, even if some boosts are busts.
Additionally, customers earn Caesars Rewards Tier and Rewards Credits on their wagering activity. These points are combined with those earned at retail outlets and can be redeemed for free play, dining, WSOP tournament entries, spa treatment, hotel bookings, and more.
Caesars might not have the most extensive NCAAF betting menu, but it’s still fairly vast. So, unless you’re looking for sites that dabble in all sorts of wacky props, Caesars Sportsbook is a good starting point.
DraftKings Sportsbook NCAA Football Betting
DraftKings Sportsbook offers a well-rounded NCAAF betting platform, ripe with wagers and bolstered by a few niche features.
Standout features:
- Enormous selection of NCAAF Division I games
- Stellar moneyline pricing
- Extensive NCAAF betting menu, including props, futures, alternative lines, same game parlays, and instant bets
- Smart user interface, featuring multiple filters and numerous betting categories
- Available in nearly every market with legal online sports betting
It’s pretty safe to say that if a state has legalized online sports betting, then DraftKings Sportsbook has launched in that market. This alone gives DK a leg up on the competition. When it comes to NCAAF betting, it excels in several other ways.
DraftKings’ NCAAF betting menus are vast, featuring dozens of betting categories. The “Game Lines” category alone supports up to 50 alternative lines, listed in half-point increments.
Furthermore, DraftKings college football props are spread across three categories (player, team, and game), and sometimes further divided into niche subcategories like passing, running, QBs, and running backs. The 1st half and quarter menus are nearly as packed as their full-game counterparts.
The NCAAF in-play betting lobby is also impressive and comes with some unique flavor. For instance, DraftKings is one of the few sportsbooks to support both in-game same game parlays and Flash Props. The latter are instant bets on super-focused results, like what will be the result of the next snap. Just be aware that the vigorish can run high on Flash Props.
With all these bets, the user interface could easily become overwhelming, but smart filters and sorting options make it relatively easy to find wagers. Server speed usually isn’t an issue either. In-game lockouts do occur, but they don’t hamper the live betting experience too much.
DraftKings’ NCAAF lines are solid but unremarkable. Common pregame wagers are priced at market, and the house edge on Yes/No props, in-game lines, and futures is good, but not exceptional. However, bettors can generate added value via the app’s impressive Dynasty Rewards loyalty program and recurrent NCAAF promotions.
Finally, it’s worth noting the DK supports NCAAF betting pools, where bettors who make more winning predictions than their peers win a chunk of a dedicated prize pool. No other major online sportsbook currently offers this feature.
BetMGM NCAA Football Betting

Bettors can find great NCAAF prices on BetMGM, so long as they don’t stray too far down the parlay rabbit hole.
Standout features:
- Low house edge on common wagers like moneylines
- Odds posted for nearly every NCAAF Division I contest
- Intuitive parlay builder
- Free-to-play promotional events
- MGM Rewards integration
Although BetMGM positions itself as a beginner-friendly sportsbook, serious value hunters will benefit the most from choosing BetMGM. There are two reasons for this.
First, BetMGM posts some of the industry’s best lines. The house edge on pregame and in-game college football moneylines is remarkably low relative to the market, and prop pricing is more than fair. Future prices, especially on bets with many possible outcomes like the Winner of the CFP National Championship, are exceptional.
Second, BetMGM is one of the few college football betting sites that dares to deviate from the market. It takes minor positions on many popular bets and even more deviant positions on alternative lines and props.
BetMGM also offers a parlay builder to help new bettors quickly assemble multi-leg bets. Although it’s a neat concept, the parlay builder hides pertinent information like the betting odds. This is likely done to obscure poor odds and could lead unknowing bettors to make bad plays.
The app’s NCAAF betting menus are sparse compared to the industry’s other heavy hitters but support a few niche props and other wagers. The interface is a visual treat, but all these bells and whistles come at a price, as lag and in-game lockouts can be slightly problematic.
BetMGM is integrated with MGM’s brick-and-mortar loyalty program, MGM Rewards. This program has seen its share of cutbacks over the years but is still a top-tier program, and it’s a nice touch that online bettors can earn retail rewards.
Rounding out the value finds are recurring free-to-play NCAAF betting promotions and frequent odds boosts.
Bet365 NCAA Football Betting

Bet365 may not be the most beginner-friendly sportsbook, but bettors willing to scour the NCAAF odds will unearth plenty of value.
Standout features:
- An impressive array of NCAAF wagers, including props, futures, and Flash Bets
- Extremely generous in-game pricing
- Several different bet-boosting formats
- Early payouts
There’s no denying that Bet365 is unwieldy and looks somewhat dated. The fonts are small, the visuals are drab, and some menus contain too much information. It’s a lot to process, but BettingUSA suggests you stick with it because some NCAAF lines are taxed conservatively.
In particular, Bet365 boasts the lowest in-game moneyline vigorish of all NCAA football betting sites. The house edge sinks as low as 4.8%, a tad higher than the industry average vig on pregame wagers. Furthermore, Bet365 offers an insane number of Yes/No props and futures, and many of these are taxed at just 5-6%, which is exceptional.
Admittedly, most of its other lines are pretty average. Bettors should certainly open a Bet365 account, but it shouldn’t be their only option.
Bet365 also offers regular NCAAF betting promos, most of which are bet boosts. Before each game, Bet365 will post predetermined bet boosts for each major NCAAF game, and some of these boosts are fairly substantial. For instance, lines might move from +350 to +450 or +125 to +160.
Parlay boosts are a recurring theme and drive up the payout on parlays from 5% to 70% depending on the number of legs. This helps curb the extraordinarily high house edge on parlay wagers.
Finally, Bet365 offers early payouts. For NCAAF games, straight bets will get paid if your team gets ahead by 14 points at any point. This holds even if they lose the game.
College Football Betting Bonuses
Nearly all legal NCAAF betting apps offer new customers welcome bonuses. College football betting promos have evolved over the years, but they remain the best way to build a starting bankroll.
When selecting welcome bonuses, it’s important to know how they work, if they require an upfront deposit, and the size of that deposit. Luckily, most college football betting bonuses fall elegantly into a few categories:
- NCAAF Second Chance Bet: Bettors who place their first NCAAF wager will receive a full refund, up to a certain amount, if that wager is graded a loss. Sportsbooks usually award second chance bets as non-withdrawable bonus bets that customers must use to place additional wagers. Winning wagers made using bonus bets only return the net profits, not the initial stake. However, any winnings are immediately withdrawable. Also sometimes referred to as a “No Sweat Bet.”
- NCAAF Bonus Bets: These are like second chance bets but better. Bettors receive a bonus bet match on their first wager, regardless of whether the wager wins or loses. For instance, if an online sportsbook advertises a $500 bonus bet, any first wager up to $500 will be matched with an equally sized bonus bet.
- College Football Bet & Get: As the name suggests, bettors who place their first bet immediately receive one or more bonus bets. This promotional format is becoming increasingly popular and is well-suited for new bettors because it only requires a small upfront deposit. For example, a sportsbook with a “Bet $5, Get $150”promo would give $150 in bonus bets to customers who wager just $5 on any NCAAF game, a 30x multiplier.
- NCAA Football Deposit Bonuses: Bettors are likelier to see deposit match bonuses at online casino sites, but they occasionally pop up at sportsbooks. In short, the sportsbook matches the new customer’s first deposit, often dollar-for-dollar, up to a certain amount. The match is paid as bonus cash, and bettors must wager the bonus X number of times before it converts to withdrawable cash. The lower this wagering requirement, the better.
NCAA Football Betting Promotions
In addition to one-time welcome bonuses, most NCAAF betting sites roll out a continuous array of returning customer promotions. Individually, these promos don’t offer the same value as new customer bonuses, but stack them together, and the savings start to add up.
Generally, bettors don’t have to bet big to maximize promotions fully, and some college football betting apps even run special promotional events that fans can enter for free.
Here’s a look at some of the promotional formats fans are likely to encounter when they bet on college football online:
- NCAAF No Sweat Bets: This promotion is a smaller version of No Sweat welcome bonuses. Instead of the maximum refund being capped at $500 or $1,000, the ceiling will usually be anywhere from $10 – $50. Bettors who place an NCAAF bet at the specified minimum odds and lose will receive a bonus bet. The bonus will be the same amount as the losing wager.
- College Football Parlay Insurance: Bettors who place a multi-leg parlay bet, and win every leg sans one will get insurance, paid as a bonus bet, and equal to the amount of their wager. Sportsbooks may limit this promotion to same game parlays, so please read the fine print.
- NCAA Football Profit Boosts: This promo usually only applies to NCAAF parlays, but occasionally straights. Bettors will receive a healthy boost to their winnings, usually between 20 – 50%. For example, say a bettor wins a $20 wager at +300 odds. Normally, the profit is $60, but a 30% boost would lift that figure to $78. Profit boosts effectively lengthen the betting odds, generating solid value for bettors.
- NCAAF Odds Boosts: An odds boost is similar to a profit boost, except instead of receiving amped-up profits, bettors “buy” wagers at better than regular odds. For instance, a bet on the Michigan Wolverines to win might be boosted from -250 to -175. Boosted bets are usually hand-selected by the online sportsbook and range in value. Bettors looking for the best odds boosts will want to visit NCAAF betting apps during Happy Hours.
- Free-To-Play Contents & Pools: Some of the best online sportsbooks for college football dabble in free-to-play promotions. These promos often pit bettors against one another, and whoever emerges on top of the leaderboard wins cash, bonuses, vacations, or other prizes. DraftKings Sportsbook is novel in that it’s the only book with free-to-play betting pools. Bettors will be tasked with selecting the most college football winners during a given week, and the best performers will divvy up a handsome prize pool.
- College Football Early Payouts: One of the worst feelings in college sports is seeing your team blow a big lead. Early payout promos protect bettors from this pain, by automatically paying out moneyline bets if a team is up by 14 points at any point during the game.
States With Legal NCAA Football Betting
The following map shows which states have legal college football betting.
Map Key
- Blue: It is legal to bet on college games online
- Green: State is home to retail sportsbooks that accept wagers on NCAA games
- Red: Sports betting is legal but college betting is prohibited

States with Legal College Betting
College Football Betting Restrictions by State
College football betting is subject to even more regulatory scrutiny than professional sports due to unique concerns and increased risks of corruption, such as:
- College football athletes are more accessible to fellow students and the general public than NFL players, making them more vulnerable to harassment and easier to approach for match-fixing.
- College football is integral to the finances of some of the nation’s most prominent universities. For context, consider that more than 50 universities earn at least $100 million per year from college sports, and the bulk of that derives from their football programs. Needless to say, the NCAA has a strong incentive to maintain the public’s faith in the integrity of college sports, especially football.
As a result, sports betting regulations in many states apply special rules or limitatons to college sports.
One of the most common restrictions is no wagers on in-state teams. For example, Virginia sportsbooks may not accept wagers on the Virginia Tech Hokies. Similarly, some states prohibit prop bets on individual college football players, such as how many passing touchdowns a quarterback will have in his next game.
College football betting limitations vary by state as indicated by this table:
State | In-State Teams | College Team/Game Props | Player Props | Special Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona | Yes | No | No | |
Arkansas | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Colorado | Yes | Yes | No | |
Connecticut | No | Yes (No CT Teams) | Yes (No CT Teams) | Bets on tournament outcomes still permitted even if CT teams participate |
Delaware | No | Yes (No DE Teams) | Yes (No DE Teams) | |
Florida | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Illinois | Yes | Yes (No IL Teams) | Yes (No IL Teams) | Bets on IL teams may be placed in-person only |
Indiana | Yes | Yes | Yes (No In-Play Props) | |
Iowa | Yes | Yes | Yes (No IA Teams) | Only certain categories of player props permitted |
Kansas | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Kentucky | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Louisiana | Yes | Yes | No | |
Maine | No | Yes (No ME Teams) | Yes (No ME Teams) | Bets on tournament outcomes still permitted even if ME teams participate |
Maryland | Yes | Yes | No | |
Massachusetts | No | Yes (No MA Teams) | No | Bets on MA teams allowed during tournaments |
Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Mississippi | Yes | Yes | No | |
Missouri | Yes | Yes | Yes (No MO Teams) | |
Montana | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Nebraska | No | Yes (No NE Teams) | Yes (No NE Teams) | |
Nevada | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
New Hampshire | No | Yes (No NH Teams) | Yes (No NH Teams) | Bets on tournament outcomes still permitted even if NH teams participate |
New Jersey | No | Yes (No NJ Teams) | Yes (No NJ Teams) | Bets permitted on other tournament games even if NJ teams participate |
New Mexico | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
New York | No | Yes (No NY Teams) | No | |
North Carolina | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
North Dakota | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Ohio | Yes | Yes | No | |
Oregon | No | No | No | All College Betting Prohibited in Oregon |
Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | No | |
Puerto Rico | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Rhode Island | No | Yes (No RI Teams) | Yes (No RI Teams) | |
South Dakota | No | Yes (No SD Teams) | Yes (No SD Teams) | |
Tennessee | Yes | Yes (Pregame Only) | No | |
Virginia | No | Yes (No VA Teams) | No | Bets on tournament outcomes still permitted even if VA teams participate |
Vermont | No | Yes (No VT Teams) | No | Bets on VT teams allowed during tournaments |
Washington | No | Yes (No WA Teams) | Yes (No WA Teams) | |
Washington DC | No | Yes (No DC Teams) | Yes (No DC Teams) | Bets permitted on other tournament games even if DC teams participate |
West Virginia | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Wisconsin | No | Yes (No WI Teams) | Yes (No WI Teams) | |
Wyoming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What To Look For In College Football Betting Sites
Dozens of NCAA football betting apps have launched since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018. Multiple retail casino operators, sports brands, startups, and others have dived head-first into the industry, eager to offer their take on sports betting.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean every online sportsbook is available in every state. Sports betting is regulated on a state basis, and while numerous states have seen the launch of over a dozen sportsbooks, some only host a few, with over 20 states yet to pass online sports betting legislation.
Regardless, if NCAAF betting apps are legal in your state, there is no reason not to use them over shady unregulated sportsbooks. The benefits of legality are too numerous to ignore.
Just a few of the reasons to bet on college football online with legal sportsbooks include:
- Safeguards designed to protect customer identities and funds
- Regulatory oversight that ensures game fairness and swift conflict resolution
- Responsible gambling tools
- Viable payout options
BettingUSA only recommends legal and licensed CFB betting apps. To find out which apps are legal in your state, see our state betting pages. To learn more information about a specific sportsbook, see our comprehensive set of sportsbook reviews.
While legal status should always be a bettor’s first consideration when selecting an NCAAF betting app, there are myriad other factors to consider:
- Betting Odds: Casual bettors and pros can agree that if an app only posts substandard NCAAF lines, it’s worth taking their business elsewhere. Seek sites that offer no higher than -110/-110 spreads and totals, less than a 5% house edge on moneylines and alternative lines, and don’t juice up the vigorish too much on college football props and in-game bets.
- Betting Markets: These days, it isn’t sufficient for NCAAF betting apps to only offer a few select lines or only cover televised games. Props, futures, alternative lines, and derivates must be abundantly offered, and bettors shouldn’t settle for anything less than a comprehensive in-game product. Sportsbooks that offer parlay builders, pre- and in-game same game parlays, and instant bets are ideal for action seekers.
- Promotions: Due to the increasing efficiency of college football markets, one of the best ways to generate added value is through promotions. Prioritize apps that offer numerous recurrent promos that temporarily flip the house edge in the bettor’s favor.
- Loyalty Programs: The best sportsbook loyalty programs kick back about 40-50% of an average bettor’s expected loss by way of cashback, bonus bets, gifts, special deposit offers, and VIP amenities. Some of the biggest sports betting brands have roots in retail casinos and tie their online and land-based loyalty programs together.
- Early Lines: The difference between an NCAAF betting app that posts lines midweek versus one that posts them on Sunday or even further in advance can be monumental. That’s because early lines haven’t been bet into as heavily and are therefore less efficient. Savvy bettors in particular benefit from using sportsbooks that post lines early.
- Cashiering Options: One of the main benefits of regulated sports betting is that bettors have numerous ways to get their funds on and off the sportsbook app. Almost all NCAAF betting sites offer at least 3-4 viable payment methods, but some go further by offering instant withdrawals and more niche deposit methods.
- Desktop and Mobile Software: With the sheer number of available betting markets, NCAAF betting apps that lack strong platforms are much less appealing. At a bare minimum, sportsbook apps should include a strong filtering system, at least some visual flair, and run fast enough to handle the pace of in-game wagering.
Signing Up with College Football Betting Apps
One benefit of legalization is that all online sportsbooks must adhere to the same base regulations. This results in a sign-up and user verification process that is largely uniform across betting apps.
Here are the steps you’d take to get started on BetMGM:
- Download the app from Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iOS).
- Open the app and tap “Register”
- Users will be prompted to enter a valid email address. BetMGM also allows users to register with PayPal or Yahoo! Sports accounts.
- Create a password
- On the following pages, enter your full name, the last four digits of your SSN, date of birth, mobile number, and your current address. All of this information is required for verification purposes only and will be held securely and privately.
- Add an optional bonus code. See BettingUSA’s sportsbook promo codes page for the latest codes.
- Agree to the terms and service.
- Tap “Create My Account.” BetMGM will then take a few moments to verify your identity, after which you’re free to browse the lines, get familiar with the promotions, or make an initial deposit.
Note: You must be physically located in a state where BetMGM operates to place real-money wagers, but it doesn’t matter whether you’re a resident or just visiting.
Although the signup process is largely uniform across online sportsbooks, there are a few scenarios where you might encounter some deviations:
- A sportsbook may require you to download a separate app for each state market. In this case, select the app that corresponds to your physical location. This situation is becoming less common.
- Some college football betting sites allow you to skip parts of the sign-up process if you’re already registered with their partners.
- Some online sportsbooks automatically apply welcome bonuses, while some require a promo or bonus codes.
- Sportsbooks may require more vigorous authentication checks, like email/SMS verification or a selfie holding your government-issued ID.
How to Bet on College Football: Pregame
Pregame betting is far more relaxed than in-game wagering, and the odds are better. For NCAAF bettors new to wagering, sticking to pregame wagers, particularly straight bets, will give them the best chance at preserving their bankroll.
Here are the types of college football bets that bettors should expect to see:
- College Football Moneylines: A straightforward wager on who will win the game, without handicapping. College football betting features a lot of mismatches, so expect to see moneyline favorites often listed at -1000 or higher.
- NCAAF Point Spreads: Like moneylines, point spreads are wagers on the outcome of a game, except this time the teams are handicapped. The favorite gives points, denoted by a “-” sign, and the underdog gets (+) points. For instance, if the Crimson Tide are listed at -7.5, spread bets pay out if they win by 8+ points. Points spreads are great equalizers, explaining why the odds are usually the same on both sides.
- College Football Point Totals (Over/Under): Sports betting totals are wagers on the total points scored by both teams, including any overtime period. Bettors cake take the over or the under. Totals bettors aren’t concerned with who wins the game.
- NCAAF Parlays: A parlay is a string of 2+ wagers tied together and offers bettors the chance to earn enhanced payouts. The downside is that bettors pay vigorish on each parlay leg, and for the bet to win, all legs must be graded winners.
- Same Game Parlays (SGPs): College football SGPs are a variation of parlays, except they consist of at least two bets from one game.
- Teasers: Teasers are a variation of parlays, where bettors select 2+ point spreads and totals and are given points on each leg. For NCAAF, the standard teaser amount is 6 points, although some apps offer 7- and 10-point options. Unlike traditional parlays, teasers usually pay out at fixed odds. For instance, most books offer -120 odds on 2-leg 6-point teasers.
- Round Robins: This format is a less risky form of parlay betting. Bettors build a 3+ leg parlay as they normally would, but by selecting round robin, the larger parlay is separated into several smaller parlays. Round robins can quickly produce dozens of bets. For example, a 5-leg parlay can be converted into 26 total bets, and a 6-leg into 57 wagers.
- Futures: These are speculative bets on an outcome that won’t be decided for some time. The most common futures in college football are who will win the CFP and the Heisman trophy award winner. Futures are among the most inefficient betting markets and are taxed fairly heavily.
- Props: A prop bet is any wager not directly tied to a game outcome, like which team will reach 10 points first, or will there be a missed field goal. Typically, props are divided into player, team, and game categories. However, not all of these subcategories (if any) will be available in every state market, due to local laws pertaining to college sports wagering.
- Derivatives: These are bets on a portion of the game, like the 1st quarter or 2nd half. Most books have moneyline, point spread, and totals derivatives and some have expanded into props.
In-Play NCAA Football Betting
It used to be that once the ball was in the air, betting was closed. Thanks to advances in sports betting tech, that’s no longer the case. As a result, college football has become one of the most popular sports for in-play betting.
In-play college football betting is simultaneously similar to and widely different than pregame wagering. The betting menus are roughly the same, albeit somewhat condensed. However, any missing bet types are more than replaced by new wagers, such as instant bets that allow bettors to wager on micro-outcomes, like the result of the next snap, or whether the current drive will result in a touchdown.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the unique facets of in-game college football betting:
- Frequently updated odds: In-game odds update constantly, with most lines shifting after every snap. Sometimes, sportsbooks can’t reconcile odds fast enough, resulting in short lockout periods. These lockouts are especially frequent in the fourth quarter when each play can significantly alter the game’s trajectory. Even when lines are available, bettors must scramble to get them at the current price. BettingUSA recommends that bettors make in-game bets during timeouts or between quarters when lines are more stable.
- More vigorish: Unlike pregame lines, which stabilize over a week, in-game lines are calculated on the fly, and are far less efficient. To compensate for uncertainty, NCAAF betting apps charge more vigorish. For example, it’s typical for point spreads and totals to move from -110/-110 to -115/-115 during game time.
- In-game stats: The best college football sites incorporate live game stats, including play-by-play results, into the betting lobby. They’re also able to update these stats in real time.
- Same Game Parlays: Some sportsbooks offer SGPs in-game, while others don’t. Just be wary, as SGPs are already taxed heavily, and will be subject to even greater vigorish after kickoff.
- Flash betting: Flash, or instant, bets aren’t for the faint of heart. Bettors will have mere moments to place these micro-bets at current prices. Instant bets also tend to be juiced more heavily than standard in-game bets.
Betting On College Bowl Games
Bowl season is one of the best times to place NCAAF wagers because sportsbooks tend to run their best promotions during this time.
Odds boosts will be plentiful, as will bet & gets, parlay insurance offers, and free-to-play offers.
In recent years, most major bowls have been integrated into the College Football Playoff, which consists of 12 teams and four rounds of play. The CFP kicks off in late-December and runs for an entire month. The following bowl games are played during the CFP:
- Cotton Bowl
- Orange Bowl
- Rose Bowl
- Sugar Bowl
- Fiesta Bowl
- Peach Bowl
Minor bowl also run throughout December, presenting even more valuable betting opportunities. The only downside of bowl season is that the games receive heavy betting volume, meaning that the lines are going to be sharper than usual.
NCAA Football Betting FAQ
Robert Dellafave is an expert sports bettor, professional gambler, and advocate for the fair treatment of sports bettors.