How to bet on college football
College football has the same bets as the NFL, with bigger spreads, many more games and much less information on each one.
Key points
- A team at -30 has to win by 31 or more; spreads that big are normal when a top team plays a weak one.
- A heavy favorite's moneyline can be -1000 or longer: risk $1,000 to win $100.
- Overtime counts, and college overtime goes on until one team wins, so ties don't happen.
On this page
The main college football bets
The bets are the same as in the NFL: moneyline, spread and total. Here is one of this week's games with the best price on each at the four sportsbooks we compare.
| Bet | Texas State Bobcats | Boise State Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | +340 (Bovada) | -417 (MyBookie) |
| Spread | +11 -110 (MyBookie) | -10.5 -108 (Bovada) |
| Total | Over 63.5 -110 (MyBookie) | Under 63.5 -110 (MyBookie) |
Sat, Oct 31. Best price across MyBookie, Bovada, BetOnline and BetUS (spreads and totals: the best line first, then the price), updated Oct 31, 8:07 PM ET.
Our point spread guide and over/under guide explain how each bet is settled; the rules are the same in college.
What's different about college football
- Bigger gaps between teams. A top program against a much weaker one can be a 30 or 40-point favorite. Spread bets keep those games bettable; moneylines on them pay very little.
- Many more games. A Saturday has dozens of games, from noon to past midnight Eastern, so books can't follow every one as closely as an NFL game.
- Less information. Depth charts, injuries and lineups are reported less consistently than in the NFL.
- Weekday games. Some conferences play on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, with their own lines.
A heavy favorite, two ways
- Moneyline
- -1000
- $100 wins
- $10
- Spread
- -17.5 (-110)
- $110 wins
- $100
Example prices. The spread bet pays far more, but the favorite has to win by 18 or more.
Key numbers still matter
College scoring comes in field goals and touchdowns too, so margins of 3 and 7 come up often. They matter less than in the NFL, because scores run higher and blowouts are common. Half points on 3 and 7 are still the ones worth paying for.
Totals run higher than in the NFL, and the range between games is much wider. Our college football odds page shows every game's total at all four books.
When college lines are posted and move
- Next Saturday's lines usually open on Sunday, right after the weekend's games.
- Early-week prices on smaller games move the most, because less money and less information shaped them.
- Quarterback news moves college lines as much as NFL lines, and it often comes later.
- Weather matters for the same reasons as in the NFL: wind moves totals the most.
College football on BettingPicks
Every game with lines gets a pick on our college football picks page: the market favorite at the best price among MyBookie, Bovada, BetOnline and BetUS. The college football hub has the week's games, line moves and conference leaders, and college football odds has every line side by side.
Frequently asked questions
How is betting on college football different from the NFL?
The bets are the same, but spreads are bigger, there are many more games each week, and less information is available on each one.
Can a college football game end in a tie?
No. College overtime continues until one team wins, so there are no ties to settle.
When do college football lines come out?
Lines for next Saturday usually open on Sunday and move through the week as news and money come in.
Does overtime count in college football betting?
Yes. Spreads, moneylines and totals are settled on the final score, overtime included.
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