College Football Betting
Football is the most popular sport to gamble on in the United States, with NFL and college football ranked one, two, in the most popular leagues to bet on. In fact, the margin between these two leagues and the next most popular NCAA basketball betting league is so huge it is staggering. College football Saturdays are exciting times for bookmakers and bettors alike as everyone waits to see the outcome of the game.
Because football can have a wide differential in terms of score, college football betting is based on the point spread. In this system, a weaker team (designated the underdog) and a stronger team (the favorite) are acknowledged. A person betting on the weaker team has a chance to win the bet even if the team he bets on loses, because the point difference is what decides the bet. With a predicted points difference of 13.5, for example, that amount of points will be added to the score of the losing team. If it is over the total amount of points scored by the winning team, the person who bet on the losers wins the bet.
Here is an example: Florida are the favorites in a game against Arkansas. This is expressed by adding the point spread next to the team name: Gators 13.5. The Gators MUST win by at least 13.5 points in order to cover the spread. If the Gators win 24-17, those who bet on them will lose, since they did not cover the spread. People who bet on the underdog Arkansas Razorbacks win their bets.
The point spread is always being adjusted in college football, in order to make sure that the bookmakers balance the action. If there is heavy betting on one side or the other, then the bookmakers will increase the point spread (or decrease it) in order to make the other side more attractive.
For example, on Monday the lines open with Florida favored by 17. There is heavy betting on the Gators early in the week, so bookmakers adjust the line to 20. Miami must now beat Arkansas by 21 in order for new bettors to win their bets. This may encourage some to bet on the underdogs, although often fan reaction is not what the bookmakers are hoping for.
Because there are many more college than NFL games in a season, bookmakers often have trouble getting even action on both sides. Because of this, the betting limits are lower than on the NFL, sometimes as little as half. Still, most college betting fans agree that the increased number of chances at winning are worth the lower amounts won.
Bookmark AceFootballPicks.com college football betting page for future advice when you are considering betting on NCAA football games.
