For the fledgling sports bettor, looking at college football odds for the first time can be an intimidating experience. All those numbers, both positive and negative, alongside cryptic abbreviations like ‘PK’ and ‘ou’ can seem like an entirely different language. However, the betting lines used in college football wagering are quite easy to decipher with just a little background knowledge. This guide will provide the reader with the basics for understanding how to read college football betting lines.
Moneylines
The most straightforward wagers in college football betting are moneylines. These require the bettor to simply pick which team they think will win the game outright, no point spreads involved. Each team is assigned a monetary value, either positive or negative. For example:
Alabama 1.25 Auburn 2.50
The decimals indicate which side is favored to win and which is the underdog. Alabama’s 1.25 means a €100 bet would return €125 in profit. Auburn’s 2.50 represents the payout on a €100 bet, which would return €250 in profit. Higher decimals indicate bigger underdogs.
Point Spreads
Point spreads involve handicapping the favored team and leveling the playing field versus underdogs. Using a fictional spread:
Alabama -7 (1.91) Auburn +7 (1.91)
This means that Alabama must win by over 7 points to cover the spread. Bettors taking Bama must bet €110 to win €100. Auburn is getting 7 points, so they can lose by up to 6 and still cover. Those betting Auburn risk €110 to profit €100. If Alabama wins by exactly 7, it’s a push and all bets are refunded.
| Team | Spread | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | -7 | 1.91 |
| Auburn | +7 | 1.91 |
Totals/Over-Unders
Also called over/unders, these bets focus on the combined points scored by both teams in a game. Linesmakers set a benchmark number and bettors wager whether the final total will go over or under. For example:
Over/Under: 63.5 points (1.91)
Bettors can choose to bet €110 to win €100 that the total points goes over 63.5 or bet €110 to profit €100 on the under. If the final score is something like 45-17 (62 total points), the under would cash.
Understanding College Football Odds
While initially intimidating, the key to reading college football lines is comprehending what each number represents in terms of moneyline payout, point spread handicap, or over/under total. Most betting sites make this process fairly straightforward. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and tell the ticket writer exactly what bet you want to place. Learning how to read the odds is the first step towards betting on college football, but there are many additional factors to study before actually placing wagers. Patience and practice will go a long way for beginners.
How Point Spreads Work
As mentioned above, point spreads are used to even out contests between talented powerhouse teams and major underdogs. The spreads also inject excitement into otherwise lopsided matchups. Linesmakers have to strike the right balance to attract equal betting on both sides of a spread. Too high or low, and they risk losing money.
Let’s use a hypothetical spread for a 2022 game to demonstrate further:
Georgia -14
Vanderbilt +14
This means Georgia must win by more than 14 points to cover. If the Bulldogs win 35-17, they win by 18 points, so Georgia backers would win their bets. Commonly bet spreads range from 7 to 10 points for closely contested games and anywhere from 14 to 35 points for major mismatches.
Buying and Selling Points
Most point spreads do not use whole numbers, but rather have .5 points attached to eliminate the possibility of a tie. In rare cases, bettors can buy or sell half points off the spread if they agree to accept worse payout odds.
Using the Georgia/Vandy scenario above, a bettor might buy Georgia down to -13.5 if they believe the Bulldogs will win by exactly 14. The payout odds decrease, but it gives the bettor a larger chance of winning their wager.
Conversely, a bettor might sell Vanderbilt up to +14.5 if they think Vandy might lose by exactly 14. Again, this adjusts the risk/reward ratio but provides more of a chance at a favorable outcome. Buying and selling points gives savvy bettors more control over their bets.
Moneyline Wagering Strategies
While moneyline bets require simply picking the game winner, there are still strategies bettors use to maximize profits and mitigate risk. When large favorites have moneylines of 1.40 or lower, betting them straight up offers little value versus risking a lot more money than can be won.
In these cases, teasers and parlays are useful. Teasers involve buying points off several spreads or totals to reduce risk and increase the chance of winning, albeit at reduced payouts. Parlays mean combining multiple bets on one ticket, multiplying payouts but also the risk.
For major underdogs, betting just a little can result in a big score. Throwing €20 on a 4.00 moneyline will return €80 in profit if it hits. While upsets don’t happen often, heavy dogs do win outright occasionally. These bets provide excitement without huge financial outlay.
Understanding Totals
Predicting whether a game will be relatively high or low scoring seems simple. However, many factors affect whether over/under bets cash or not. The abilities of the offenses and defenses involved have an obvious impact. Game flow and pace determine how many possessions each team gets. Weather conditions like wind and rain can lead to more running and shorter pass attempts. Injuries to key players influence outcomes. Even the stadium playing surface comes into play.
Sharp bettors take all these variables and more into account when handicapping totals. It involves much more than just looking at points per game averages. The linemakers have already done that and set the lines accordingly. Finer details determine results.
All in all, learning how to read college football betting lines opens up an exciting new hobby for novice bettors. While the numbers and terms seem foreign at first, the basic concepts are fairly simple. Every bet involves risk and possible reward. Spread and totals bets add layers of complexity for added enjoyment. Moneylines offer straightforward options. Knowing the fundamentals is the first step. Responsible bankroll management and smart handicapping principles will carry bettors a long way as they continue enhancing their knowledge.