College Football Standings & ATS Rankings

NCAA Football ATS Standings & Trends

Welcome to one of the most innovative tools you will find on any sports betting forum, OddsTrader’s NCAA Football ATS Standings & Trends.

Upon landing, you will find four main tabs to use during the college football season. You will be able to see any team, from any of the conferences where the oddsmakers are offering betting lines. Now it is up to you to determine whether you will click on the Odds, ATS Standings, Futures or Power Rankings tab.

Your best bet is to explore all of them but below we will focus exclusively on the tab labeled ATS Standings and go step-by-step to break down the NCAAF ATS Standings & Trends for those who want to take advantage of every available tool when betting college football this season.

What does ATS mean?

ATS stands for “Against the Spread” in college football. It refers to a team’s performance in relation to the point spread set by oddsmakers. If a team covers the spread, it means they’ve outperformed expectations.

In this section, we will focus on the point spread for those who might be unfamiliar or new to betting on college football.

If either is the case, then you must understand what a point spread is and how it works. Let us present an example.

Example: Let’s say that the Ohio State Buckeyes travel to meet their Big 10 East Division rivals, the Michigan State Spartans. The oddsmakers understood this was a mismatch, therefore, in order to give anyone a reason to bet on the Spartans they would have to give Michigan State a huge head start.

In this case, the point spread showed the Buckeyes as 22-point favorites which simply means if you bet Ohio State they would have to win by more than 22 points to collect your investment plus your winnings. Conversely, if you were inclined to take the points and bet on Michigan State, they needed to either win the game outright (unlikely) or lose by less than 22 points.

If Ohio State were to win by exactly 22 points then it would be a tie, also known as a “push” in the sports betting vernacular, which means all bets are off and everyone receives their initial wager back as though it never happened.

For this example, the Buckeyes claim a 52-12 victory which means they won by 30 points. And because 30 is greater than 22, all those who bet Ohio State won their wagers while those who backed the Spartans lost. It is that simple so don’t be intimated by point spreads.

ATS Standings Tab (Spread)

The second of four tabs is the ATS Standings tab, found to the right of the Odds tab. Once you click here, you will find the top 100 D-1 teams ranked in terms of their record against the spread, also known as ATS. The records you find here are not those of their straight-up win/loss records but rather their record in covering the spread.

The team with the best ATS record is ranked 1st all the way down to the 100th team with the worst ATS record. This allows the user to review each team and whether it has been a money-maker or a money-burner for the betting public.

We should caution that every ATS streak comes to an end. Therefore, if a team has gone unbeaten against the spread or has yet to cover the spread, it doesn’t mean that their current streak will continue and the outcome in their next match will be the same. With that, let’s dissect this valuable tool below.

As we look at the ATS Standings we see the logo of the team on the left, then the team’s rank and name of the team. Underneath the name of the team, we will see how they fared in their last five lined games as illustrated with a green W or a red L signifying ATS wins and losses. If we see four green W’s it means they covered their last four games.

Under those icons, you will see the word “Next.” This lets you know the date of the game, the team that they will be facing in their next game and where the game will take place. You will likely see a number associated with their next opponent. This number signifies where the opponent is in the ATS standings.

Therefore, if the first-ranked ATS Standings team is playing the team that is ranked 24th in the ATS Standings team then we know 23 spots are separating the two teams (24-1=23) which is why the opponent would be -23. This can be another valuable tool in assessing the matchup and how the teams have fared against the spread.

If one side has substantially outperformed its opponent vis-à-vis the ATS Standings then that could be yet another important aspect to consider when wagering.

At the top of the tool, we can see four columns listed: ATS, Diff, Away and Home.

The first column, ATS, is of course the team’s record against the spread. As we know the point spread can be the difference between winning and losing your wager because not all teams that win on the scoreboard win at the betting windows.

The second column is Diff, which means the average number of points by which the team covers the spread (negative numbers are no-cover). This gives the bettor an idea of how dominating — or not — a team has been vis-à-vis covering the point spread.

Our third and fourth columns are Away and Home which delineates the team’s records on the road and at home as it pertains to the point spread, not winning outright.

However, if you look them up on our ATS Standings page you will see that Alabama was ranked 14th on this list with a 9-4 ATS record and recorded a pedestrian 3-3 ATS record away while a superb 6-1 ATS mark at home

ATS Standings Tab (Money)

The ATS Standings tab defaults to “spread”, therefore, you might not have noticed it but above the words “Team Rank” at the top left of the page, you will see the word “spread” in a dropdown menu.

If you click on “spread’ you will see two other options, Money and Total. This section deals with Money, as opposed to the point spread. You will also note that the four columns are SU (Straight Up), Units, Away and Home.

Before we go on, you should understand that moneyline betting is simply betting on a team to win a single game without having to worry about them covering the point spread. But while you won’t have to give up points to bet the favorite, you will have to risk more money than the standard 10 percent when betting on either side of a point spread. Let’s illustrate this concept with an example.

Example: Rutgers visited Michigan State for a conference championship game. The oddsmakers set the Spartans as the 9.5-point favorite team at home, indicating that you could place a bet on the Spartans with a 9.5-point spread at $110 to win $100. Alternatively, betting on Rutgers with a +9.5 point spread also required a $110 bet to win $100.

However, if you wanted to bet Michigan State just to win the game outright without having to cover the spread then the bookies offer what is called a moneyline bet. The higher the point spread, the higher the amount you will be asked to risk on the favorite. Conversely, if you decide to bet the underdog without getting the points then you will get a higher payout if they win the game outright.

For this example, the Scarlet Knights went into Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan and rolled out with a 38-27 upset on the road. In this example matchup, Michigan State was -380/+300 which means if you wanted to bet MSU straight up you would have to risk $380 to win $100 but if you smelled an upset in the making then you would have wagered $100 to win $300 on Rutgers.

ATS Standings Tab (Total)

The same dropdown menu above Team Rank has Spread, Moneyline and Total. The total is also known as the over/under which is the combined score for both teams playing.

If the total (or over/under) is 46 and the two teams playing combine for more than 46 points then we can say that the game went over the posted total. However, if those same two teams combine for under 46 points then the game is said to have gone under the posted total.

The four columns for the Total dropdown menu show O/U, AP O/U, Away and Home. The first column, O/U, merely shows the first number as the number of games that the team was involved in that went over the posted total while the second number shows how many went under.

The second column, AP O/U, is simply the Action Points. Action Points are the average number of points that games went over and the average number of points the games went under in which that particular team was involved.

Click the Team

If you click on any team, you will see another block of information slide from the right of your screen. This gives the user detailed information about the upcoming matchup. The default is “odds” where the best online sportsbooks reveal their point spreads and totals for that particular game. You will see a dropdown menu that says “Game” which will allow you to see the odds on the entire game, halves or quarters.

But there is much more information about the game than just that. You will notice six tabs on the new screen which are, from left to right, the following: matchup, prediction, odds (the default tab), line history, injuries and weather.

The Matchup tab reveals each team’s ATS records, straight-up records, straight-up units and over/under.

As we scroll down we can see all the statistical offensive and defensive information such as average points scored, total yards per game, yards per play, passing yards per game, Completion Attempts, Yards Per Passing Play and Sacks-Yards Lost. We then see the stats for rushing yards, penalties, kickoffs and punts. It is all there and more.

Conversely, if we click the defensive tab we see average points allowed, total yards allowed, yards per play, passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, 1st downs, red zone efficiency, penalties and so much more data that will provide you all the information for the homework you must do when you’re betting to win on a routine basis.

The Prediction tab, to the immediate right of the Matchup tab on the special window, discusses predictions on the game in question and is fairly straightforward.

The Odds tab is the default tab that comes up first and is third to the right. We have already discussed that tab at the beginning of this “Click the Team” section.

The Line History tab allows you to see where the line has gone. Now you will see three dropdown menus here which say, “spread”, “game” and “MGM”. Click the spread and you will find options for where the line has moved. Click the “game” and you will see where the line has gone on the game, the first and second halves, as well as the individual quarters if you so choose.

The last tab, “MGM”, shows you the line movement from the MGM but you can also see below it once you click the tab there are several other online books that show their line movements. Pick the online sportsbook that you prefer to use.

The fifth to the right is the Injuries tab which lists the injured players for each team and their status for the upcoming game.

The Weather tab is the last one and it tells the user what the temperature will be on game day as well as wind direction and strength and the chance of rain.

How To Use ATS Standings for College Football Betting

Using ATS (Against The Spread) standings is a critical strategy for college football betting, offering insights into team performance beyond just win-loss records. Here are practical tips and strategies for leveraging ATS standings effectively in your betting decisions:

• Analyze Home vs. Away Performance: Teams often perform differently at home compared to on the road. Examine ATS records in both contexts to identify patterns or tendencies that could influence betting decisions.
• Consider the Underdog: Teams with strong ATS records as underdogs may offer valuable betting opportunities. These squads frequently outperform expectations, providing profitable scenarios for informed bettors.
• Track Line Movements: Pay attention to how betting lines move in the lead-up to a game. Significant shifts could indicate changing perceptions of a team’s ATS potential, influenced by factors like injuries or betting trends.
• Evaluate Historical Performance: Some teams consistently perform well or poorly against the spread, year over year. While past performance is not always indicative of future results, recognizing long-term trends can guide betting strategies. This includes evaluating the past performances for the head football coach and the rest of the coaching staff.
• Incorporate Over/Under Totals: While focusing on ATS standings, don’t overlook over/under totals as they can provide additional context. Teams that consistently play in high-scoring or low-scoring games might affect how you assess their ATS potential.
• Use Multiple Sources: Diversify your research by consulting various sports betting operators and betting analysis platforms. Different sources for college football news coverage or other NCAAF sites may offer unique college football betting insights or angles on a team’s ATS performance.
• Stay Informed on Player Injuries & Suspensions: Player availability can drastically affect a team’s ability to cover the spread. Stay updated on the latest injury reports and consider the impact of missing personnel on ATS outcomes.
• Monitor Weather Conditions: For outdoor college football games, weather can play a significant role in how a game unfolds, affecting both point totals and ATS results. Be mindful of conditions that could influence scoring, such as wind or rain.
• Practice Bankroll Management: No betting strategy is foolproof. Allocate your betting funds wisely and avoid placing disproportionate wagers based on ATS trends alone. Consistent, disciplined betting is key to long-term success.

Incorporating these strategies into your college football betting approach can enhance your ability to make informed decisions based on ATS standings. While no single metric guarantees success, a thorough understanding and application of ATS data can significantly improve your betting outcomes.

College Football Standings: Frequently Asked Questions

How many college football teams are there?

There are currently 132 Division 1 FCS football teams and 130 FBS football teams playing in the United States.

How many teams will be in the Big Ten in 2024?

In 2024, the Big Ten conference will feature 18 teams, including USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington. The Big Ten will also no longer have two divisions. Each member institution will continue to play nine intra-conference games per season, however.

What is the biggest rivalry in college football?

The biggest rivalry in college football is between the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State University Buckeyes, known as “The Game.” This rivalry dates back to 1897 and is considered one of the most significant in American sports.

What two teams have played each other the most in college football?

The two teams that have played each other the most in college football are Lehigh and Lafayette, with their rivalry known as “The Rivalry,” having played a total of 154 games.

How many bowl games are there?

The number of bowl games in a regular season can fluctuate yearly due to changes in sponsorships, NCAA certifications and other factors, but there are more than 40 bowl games, including the College Football Playoff (CFP) games.