Our college football odds comparison tool helps you find the best lines on the biggest NCAAF games each week. You can then tap or click on the odds to visit the site and place your bet.
It is vital to learn how college football odds work before making picks on NCAAF games at online sportsbooks.
College football odds tell you the implied probability of a bet succeeding. They also highlight the profit you will earn, so the odds allow you to make informed wagering decisions.
This guide explains how to read college basketball odds. We will break down the main college football betting options, including the spread, total, and moneyline, and explain how to shop for the best NCAAF betting odds.
Types of College Football Odds
The leading sportsbooks offer odds on dozens of college football games each week. You will often find more than 100 betting options on a single game. These are the main bet types for college football fans to consider.
The moneyline simply requires you to predict which team will win a college football game. You will be presented with odds on either outcome. Here is an example:
- Georgia to beat Alabama (-125)
- Alabama to beat Georgia (+105)
In this example, odds of -125 give Georgia a 55.6% implied chance of winning. That means Alabama is the favorite. The college football odds tell you that a $125 bet on Georgia would return a $100 profit.
The point spread is the most popular college football betting option. The sportsbooks will give one team a handicap, which creates the point spread. They will then offer similar odds on either team covering it. Here is an example:
- North Carolina +2.5 (-110)
- Duke -2.5 (-110)
If you think Duke will win the game by a margin of at least 3 points, you can bet on the Blue Devils to cover the point spread. Alternatively, if you expect North Carolina to either win or lose by no more than 2 points, back the Tar Heels to cover the spread.
This is a simple Over/Under bet on the number of points scored in a college football game. The oddsmakers will weigh both teams’ relative offensive and defensive strengths and set a total points line, with similar odds on each potential outcome.
Here is an example of a college football total points line:
- Over 59.5 points (-112)
- Under 59.5 points (-108)
If you expect both teams to combine for at least 60 points, bet on Over. Alternatively, bet on Under if you expect the game to see no more than 59 points.
College football futures are long-term wagers that run throughout a season. The most popular bet requires you to predict which team will win the national championship game.
You can also bet on the winner of each conference at the top online sportsbooks. They offer odds on a team to make the title game, too. Additional markets include player awards (such as the Heisman Trophy winner) or regular season wins. Here is an example:
- Oregon to win Over 10.5 games (-130)
- Oregon to win Under 10.5 games (+105)
The odds change on these futures betting markets throughout the season, reflecting how well each team or player performs.
A college football parlay combines picks on at least two games to create a single wager. For instance, you might decide to place a parlay bet on Maryland, Michigan, and NC State all to cover the spread on the same day.
All three teams would then need to cover for the bet to succeed. If one team lets you down, your parlay busts, so it is a risky bet. However, the profit earned from each correct pick will roll over to the next pick, so parlays can deliver large payouts.
Additional betting options include same-game parlays, teasers, and round robins.
College football props are legal in many states with online sports betting. However, some states, including Louisiana, Maryland, and Ohio, do not permit online sportsbooks to take prop bets on college games.
The term is an abbreviation of proposition bet. You will be presented with a proposition, and you can then make a Yes/No, Over/Under, or odd/even wager.
For example, you can bet Over/Under on the number of touchdown passes a QB will throw, Yes/No on whether overtime will be required, or odd/even on the number of points that will be scored.
Live college football betting odds are available as soon as a game begins. Sportsbooks will continuously update the odds on betting options like the spread, total, alternative lines, and the moneyline as the game develops, reflecting the current score.
That means you can watch the game, determine how strong each team looks, make informed decisions about how the game will end, and then place in-play bets on the app or website.
How To Read College Football Odds
College football odds are either positive (+) or negative (-). Here is an example:
- Appalachian State to beat Liberty (+145)
- Liberty to beat Appalachian State (-175)
When the odds are positive, the number highlights the profit you will earn from a successful $100 bet. In this example, a $100 bet on Appalachian State would result in a $145 profit.
If the college football odds are negative, they highlight the amount you must risk in order to win $100. For example, a $175 bet on Liberty would earn you a $100 profit if they were to win the game.
College Football Line Shopping
Shopping around the best lines and odds will ensure you earn the maximum profit each time you make a correct pick. Over the course of a college football season, that can make the difference between ending up in a profit or at a loss.
We make shopping for odds and lines easy, as you can consult the college football odds comparison chart on this page. Registering with multiple sportsbooks in your state is helpful, as you can quickly pounce on the best odds before they change.
Restrictions on Online College Football Betting
While college football and college football bowl games are extremely popular, some states have had concerns over the integrity of the game and athletes when it comes to sports betting. As a result, some states have imposed restrictions on betting on college sports:
- Arizona: Game bets involving Arizona teams are fine. However, no player or team prop bets are allowed.
- Colorado: Betting on games involving teams from Colorado is legal, but bets on player performance (player prop bets) are not.
- Connecticut: Betting is prohibited on games involving in-state colleges and universities. One exception: You can bet on UConn to win the College Football Playoff (or, more likely, March Madness), but game-by-game bets are not allowed.
- Florida: Game bets are allowed, but the state does not allow player props or team props.
- Illinois: Betting is prohibited on games involving teams from in-state colleges and universities unless the bet is placed in person at an Illinois casino. Prop betting and in-play prop betting are also banned.
- Iowa: No player props on players from in-state teams.
- Maine: No bets on the Maine Black Bears, but bets on out-of-state college teams are allowed.
- New Hampshire: Betting on games involving teams from in-state colleges and universities is prohibited.
- New Jersey: Betting is prohibited on college teams from New Jersey or college sports events held in New Jersey.
- New York: Betting is prohibited on collegiate sports events held in-state and games/events involving teams from New York.
- Oregon: Betting on college sports via the state-run app is prohibited, but you can bet on them at a tribal casino that offers sports betting.
- Rhode Island: Betting is prohibited on college teams from Rhode Island and events held in-state.
- Tennessee: Betting on games involving teams from Tennessee is legal, but bets on player performance (player prop bets) and live prop betting are not.
- Virginia: Betting is prohibited on games involving teams from in-state colleges and universities; no prop bets or in-play betting.
- Washington, DC: Bets are not allowed on Howard or Georgetown in FCS football.
For additional help betting on College Football, read our How To Bet On College Football guide.
College Football Odds News
Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code ‘TODAY1000’: Get $1,000 Offer for Georgia vs. Alabama
College Football Forecast From Fanatics Sportsbook: Best Games of 2024
College Football Outlook at Fanatics Sportsbook: What to Expect in 2024
Integrity Boon? SEC May Add Injury Reports for 2024 Football Season
College Bowl Handicapping and Betting in the Opt-Out Era
College Football Odds FAQ
College football odds are numbers that highlight the profit you will earn if you place a successful wager. They also show you the implied probability of a particular bet winning. For example, odds of -120 imply a 54.5% probability of success.
Yes, DraftKings offers college football odds on the biggest games each week. The app provides odds on the moneyline, spread, total, and alternative lines. In many states, you will also find college football odds on prop bets, although they are prohibited in certain parts of the country.
Yes, FanDuel offers live odds during college football games. You will see the NCAAF odds on markets like the moneyline, spread, and totals being updated in real time as the game develops, reflecting the current score and how well either team is playing.
College football odds of +110 mean you will receive a $110 profit if you place a $100 bet and it wins. They also tell you that there is a 47.6% implied chance of the bet paying off.
In college football odds, -110 means that you must risk $110 in order to generate a $100 profit. You can choose your preferred bet amount, as the odds are just there to guide you. For example, a successful $50 bet at -110 would deliver a $45.45 profit.
Over/Under college football odds highlight the payout you would earn by betting on the total points line. For instance, you might find NCAAF odds of -110 on Over 51.5 points and -110 on Under 51.5 points. They tell you a $110 wager would produce a $100 profit on either side of the bet.
You can use our college football odds comparison table to find the sportsbook offering the best odds on your picks. That is much quicker and easier than visiting each site and conducting a manual college football odds comparison.
The most popular bet using college football odds is a wager on the point spread. Total points betting is also popular on NCAAF games. The spread and the total have a lower house edge than alternative markets at most online sportsbooks, so they tend to be the best betting options.
Caesars Sportsbook is the best app for college football betting. The app is fast, reliable, and user-friendly, offering competitive odds on college football, including regular odds boosts. You can choose from a wide variety of college basketball betting options, and some large bonuses are available, too.
About the Author
