How Does NFL Betting Work?

How Does NFL Betting Work?

Learn how to bet on college football odds with our comprehensive guide. Decode point spreads, moneyline bets, and over/under totals to make well-informed betting decisions. Navigate the thrilling landscape of college football betting with confidence.

How to Bet on College Football Odds

Understanding College Football Odds

As a college football fan, placing bets based on your knowledge of NCAAF odds can provide an additional layer of excitement to your weekend games. However, reading and comprehending college football odds can appear overwhelming at first due to the sheer volume of games. Rest assured, this guide will walk you through the process of understanding college football odds, ensuring you are well-prepared for your journey into college football betting.

The Basics of College Football Odds

When betting on college football, it’s essential to understand the various odd types and how they work. These odds typically include point spreads, moneylines, and over/under totals. Familiarizing yourself with these elements will aid you in making well-informed bets.

Decoding Point Spreads

Point spreads represent the predicted margin of victory for a given game. The favored team will have a negative point spread, while the underdog team will have a positive one. To win a wager on the point spread, the favored team must win by more points than the spread, whereas the underdog must lose by less than the spread or win outright.

Moneyline Betting

The moneyline signifies the odds for a team to win the game outright, eliminating the point spread factor. In moneyline bets, the favored team will have a negative number, while the underdog will have a positive one. The more significant the difference in presumed skill between the teams, the larger the gap between the moneyline odds.

Over/Under Totals

Over/under totals, also known as the “total” or “totals,” represent the combined score of both teams at the end of the contest. Oddsmakers will set a number, and bettors can place wagers on whether the total score will be over or under that number. The total is an opportunity for bettors to focus on the potential game dynamic rather than the outcome.

Navigating College Football Betting

With a strong foundation in understanding college football odds, you can now confidently navigate the betting landscape. As a bettor at Punters, you’ll receive the support and guidance needed to ensure a successful experience in college football betting. Best of luck and enjoy the thrills of college football betting!

Understanding College Football Moneyline Betting

Introduction to Moneyline Betting

Moneyline (ML) betting, also known as outright or straight-up (SU) betting, is one of the easiest types of bets to understand. It requires you merely to pick the winner of a game, making it the perfect starting point for new bettors.

Example of Moneyline Odds

Let’s consider the following moneyline odds for a college football match:

• Alabama Crimson Tide: +125
• Auburn Tigers: -150

In this scenario, the Auburn Tigers, with a -150 next to their name, are favored to win against the Crimson Tide. The negative sign in front of their odds indicates that they are the favorites in this matchup.

Identifying the Home Team

The team listed second is usually the home team. In our example, the Auburn Tigers are playing at home against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Interpreting the Betting Amount

Understanding how much you need to bet to win a certain amount is essential. Here, betting $150 on the favored Auburn Tigers would result in a $100 win. However, a $100 bet on the underdog, the Alabama Crimson Tide, would yield a $125 win.

Risk and Reward in Moneyline Betting

Moneyline betting introduces bettors to the concept of risk versus reward. Betting on a favorite is seen as less risky but typically has a lower payout. On the other hand, betting on the underdog can be riskier but offers a higher potential return.

Concluding Thoughts

Moneyline betting is a user-friendly betting type that both novice and experienced bettors can take advantage of. It’s all about understanding the odds, assessing the teams, and deciding who you think will come out on top at the end of the game.

Understanding College Football Point Spread Betting

Introduction to Point Spread Betting

While Moneyline betting is straightforward, the most popular style of betting on college football is ‘Betting Against The Spread’ (ATS). ATS adds a level of competitiveness to the betting process by accounting for disparities between teams in terms of skill and performance. This type of betting handicaps the favorite and gives the underdogs a fighting chance for winning bets.

Reason for Point Spreads

Point spreads are critical in college football as sometimes Moneyline favorites can soar to -3000 or higher, meaning a $3,000 bet returns only a $100 win. Therefore, point spreads make it worthwhile to bet on even the most significant underdogs.

How Point Spread Works

Point spread betting assigns a specific number of points (the spread) to each game. This spread can be viewed as a head start for the underdog. An example of point spread odds presented by BetUS might look like this:

• Clemson Tigers: +3.5 (-105)
• Wisconsin Badgers: -3.5 (-115)

The point spread here is 3.5, applied to both teams equally. Half-points are often used to avoid a tie or “push” and ensure a definite winner.

Interpreting the Spread

In the above example, the Badgers are 3.5-point underdogs with odds of (-105). For a bet on Clemson to win, the Tigers can either win the game outright or lose by no more than three points to cover the spread. A successful $100 bet on Clemson at odds of -105 would yield a $95 payout.

Conversely, for a bet on Wisconsin to be successful, the Badgers need to win the game by four or more points. If the Badgers win by three points or fewer, they fail to cover the spread and the bet is lost. A winning bet at -115 odds on Wisconsin results in a $86.95 win, plus the return of the original bet.

Wrapping Up Point Spread

Point spread betting makes college football betting more exciting and competitive by accounting for the teams’ performance differences. All you need is to understand the spread, gauge the teams, and you’re all set for a thrilling betting experience.

Understanding College Football Totals Betting

Introduction to Totals Betting

Betting on totals in college football is a unique type of bet that depends on the total points scored in a game, irrespective of the winner. This form of betting is also referred to as Over/Under (O/U) and adds variety to your betting strategy.

Example of Totals Betting

Consider the Over/Under odds for a college football game:

LSU Tigers vs. Ole Miss Rebels: O/U 47.5 (o-105/-115u)

Here, the game total is set at 47.5. To win a bet on the Over, the total points scored in the game by both teams combined must exceed 48. A total score of less than 48 points would be a win for the Under. In this example, the Over has odds of -105, while the Under is favored at -115.

Team Totals Betting

Another variant of totals betting is team totals betting, where instead of betting on the combined score of both teams, you bet on the total points that a single team will score. This form of betting is usually offered for most major college football games and introduces a different angle to your betting repertoire.

Wrapping Up Totals Betting

Totals betting is a refreshing change from traditional Moneyline and ATS bets. Its focus on the combined or individual team scores offers a different perspective, allowing bettors to consider the scoring potential of the teams involved rather than simply who will win or lose. Understanding this betting type can add an extra layer of excitement to your college football betting experience.

Understanding College Football Prop Betting

Introduction to Prop Betting

BetUS Sportsbook allows bettors to delve into the world of propositional (prop) bets for most significant matchups. The magnitude of the event determines the number of props available for betting. With prop bets, you’re not just betting on the game, but also on various outcomes, sometimes irrelevant to the gameplay itself.

Examples of Prop Bets: Exotics

An interesting subclass of prop bets is ‘exotic’ bets. For instance, a common exotic prop bet for Bowl Games questions the color of the Gatorade that will be poured on the winning coach.

Player Props

A more typical type of prop bet during regular season games involves player props, which allow you to wager on one specific player’s performance. An example of this is betting on the total number of yards a starting quarterback will throw for in a game.

Team Props

Also on offer are team props, which let you bet on the cumulative statistics of the entire team during a game. Let’s consider this example:

Rutgers Scarlet Knights O/U 99.5 Rushing Yards (o-110/u-110)

Here, the bet is placed on the total rushing yards that Rutgers will achieve in the game. If the team surpasses 100 yards, the Over wins. If Rutgers doesn’t reach 100 yards, the Under wins.

Yes/No Props

Other props are formatted as Yes/No bets. For instance,

Will Caleb Williams Throw for (3) or more passing touchdowns? Yes -150 No +125

In this Yes/No player prop bet example, we’re wagering on whether Caleb Williams will throw for three or more touchdowns. ‘Yes’ is favored at -150, while ‘No’ at +125 and is considered the “underdog”.

Wrapping Up Prop Betting

Prop betting offers a fun and engaging twist to college football betting, enabling bettors to wager on various outcomes, either related or unrelated to the game itself. Through player, team, and exotic bets, or simple Yes/No props, bettors can keep their experience fresh and exciting.

Carving Your Path to Success: College Football Futures Betting

Futures are a type of prop bet specific to an entire season rather than a single game. Despite the difficulty of predicting outcomes months in advance, the allure of futures lies in the high payouts. Examples of futures betting in college football include predicting the Heisman Trophy winner, the Rose Bowl champion, or even the Coach of the Year.

Excitement of Bowl Season Betting

Regular season betting in college football typically brims with thrill, but Bowl Season is when the action truly escalates. This period witnesses teams being awarded extra games as they compete against each other. With 43 bowl games forthcoming in the 2023-24 season, including famous ones such as the Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl, the excitement is palpable.

The Championship Games

Modeled after the NFL’s AFC and NFC title games, college football features the CFP semifinal games. These are significant bowl games where the top four college football teams compete for a place in the college football title game— a discussion that continues through the season and offers ample betting opportunities.

Conference Championships

Preceding the CFP action are the conference championships. Depending on the conference, these championships could either be a platform for bragging rights or a deciding factor for national rankings and college football playoff implications.

College Football Rivalries

Rivalries in college football add a unique, captivating dynamic to sports betting. Sizzling past histories, geographical proximity, or deep-seated vendettas spice up the competition during the rivalry week. Famous rivalries include the ‘Iron Bowl,’ ‘Bedlam Bowl,’ ‘Civil War,’ ‘Clean, Old Fashioned Hate’ Game, and the ‘Red River Shootout,’ to name a few.

The Postseason

After the conference championships conclude and the season reaches its denouement, the ever-exciting college football playoffs or postseason kicks off. With only four teams remaining, each play becomes a high-stakes gamble. At Punter sportsbook, we’ve already started providing some of the best lines for potential postseason squads—take your pick and gear up to win.

CFP Odds

We understand the importance of providing the best information, tips, and odds, especially when the college football playoffs roll around. However, why wait? BetUS allows betting fans an early crack at wagering on teams predicted to make it to the CFPs. Whether you’re betting on your favorite school to win the CFP title or any other team, we’re prepared for all the action you want to play.