College Football Odds for Today

NCAAF Betting Odds

Reading college football odds for the first time can be an intimidating process. However, it is very easy once you get the hang of it. We will teach you how to read NCAAF betting odds and break down the key wagering options. After reading this guide, you’ll be ready to place your first bet at an online sportsbook. You can also check out our NCAAF computer picks for inspiration.  

How to Read NCAAF Odds

College football odds can be presented in three different formats:

• American Odds
• Decimal Odds
• Fractional Odds

They will invariably be shown in the American format, but we will break down each of them for you.

How to Read American NCAAF Odds

American odds begin with either a plus (+) or a minus (-):

• If the odds begin with a plus, they tell you the profit you would earn from a $100 bet.
• If they start with a minus, they highlight the bet amount required to earn a $100 profit.

This is an example of a college football moneyline:

• Illinois to beat Indiana at odds of +175
• Indiana to beat Illinois at odds of -230

In this example: 

• You would earn a $175 profit if you wagered $100 on Indiana.
• You would need to wager $230 to generate a $100 profit on Illinois.

You can bet any amount you like, as the numbers are just a guide. For example, a $20 bet on Indiana at +175 would earn you a $25 profit. A $20 bet on Illinois at -230 would earn you an $8.70 profit. The larger potential profit on Indiana tells you that it is the underdog and Illinois is the favorite.

How to Read Decimal NCAAF Odds

When you place a winning wager, you get your bet amount back. This is known as your stake. For example, if you place a successful $100 wager at odds of +125, you would be returned $225. That includes your $125 profit and the return of your $100 stake.

Decimal odds highlight the total return you will receive from a successful bet. Unlike American odds, it includes the profit and the return of your stake.

You simply multiply your stake by the decimal figure to calculate your total return. For example:

• If you bet $100 at odds of 2.25, you will be paid out $225 if it wins.
• That includes your $125 profit and the return of your $100 stake.
• Decimal odds of 2.25 equate to American odds of +125.

Decimal odds are mainly used in Canada, Europe and Australia.

How to Read Fractional NCAAF Odds

Fractional odds are mainly used in the UK and in horse racing. They tell you the profit you will earn by placing a successful bet.

You multiply your stake by the fraction to calculate your profit. For example:

• If you bet $100 at 5/4, you will receive a $125 profit.
• As always, you get your stake back, so your return would be $225.
• Fractional odds of 5/4 equate to American odds of +125 and decimal odds of 2.25.

What are the Different Types of NCAAF Bets?

Sportsbooks like BetMGM, Caesars and FanDuel often provide more than 100 betting options on a single NCAAF game. They fall into a few categories:

Moneyline

This is a basic wager on which team will win a game. The sportsbooks assess the relative abilities of each team and release moneyline odds on them winning.

This is an example of a moneyline:

• Temple to beat Duke (+250)
• Duke to beat Temple (-335)

In this example, you would earn a $250 profit by betting $100 on Temple. A $100 bet on Duke would earn you just $29.85 in profit. It shows you that Duke is the heavy favorite.

Point Spread

This is the most popular NCAAF bet. The sportsbooks give the stronger team a points handicap, which allows them to offer similar NCAAF odds on either team covering the resulting spread.

Sticking with the example used above, you might find this point spread:

• Temple +7.5 (-110)
• Duke -7.5 (-110)

In this case, a $110 bet on either team would earn you a $100 profit. If you bet on Duke, they must win the game by 8 or more points. If you bet on Temple, they can win the game or lose by up to 7 points.

Totals (Over/Under)

This is a prediction on the total points scored by both college football teams in a game. The sportsbooks set a total points line. For example:

• Over 48.5 points (-110)
• Under 48.5 points (-110)

A $10 bet on either option would earn you a $9.09 profit. If you bet on over, the teams would need to combine for at least 49 points. If you bet on under, you want the combined score to reach no more than 48 points.

How to Bet on College Football Prop Bets

Prop bets can broadly be divided into three key categories:

• Game Props
• Team Props
• Player Props

A game prop focuses on a narrow aspect of a matchup. It is short for proposition bet, as you are presented with a proposition, such as:

• Will there be a 2-point conversion attempt?
• Will the game go to overtime?
• Will there be a safety?

You essentially answer “yes” or “no” on these questions.

There are also team props, such as:

• Which team will score first?
• Which team will reach 15 points first?
• Which team will kick the longest field goal?

Finally, there are player props, which focus on an individual performance metric, such as:

• Passing Yards
• Passing Touchdowns
• Sacks
• Rushing Yards
• Rushing Touchdown
• Receiving Yards
• Receiving Touchdowns
• Interceptions
• Fumbles

The sportsbooks set a line on those options, allowing you to bet over or under. For example, you can bet on over 227.5 passing yards for a QB at -110 or under 227.5 passing yards at -110.

NCAAF Futures

NCAAF futures betting odds are released before the season starts. The odds are then updated as the season progresses. They are long-term bets, which are not tied to the result of an individual game. View betting analysis on the 2023 College Football Championship.

Futures bets include:

• The NCAAF Championship Winner
• The Winner of Each Conference
• The Conference That Will Yield the NCAA Champion
• Regular Season Wins for a Team (Over/Under)
• Heisman Trophy Winner

How to Bet on Quarters and Halves

Betting options such as moneylines, totals and spreads will be available for the entire game, or for specific halves or quarters.

You can bet on the first-half or the first-quarter before the game begins. You will then be able to place live bets on subsequent quarters and the second-half.

What Other Types of College Football Bets are Available?

Parlay Betting

A parlay involves combining multiple picks into a single bet, such as:

• Vanderbilt -6.5 vs. Hawaii (-110)
• North Carolina -3 vs. Appalachian State (-110)
• Arizona +5.5 vs. San Diego State (-110)

If you placed that parlay, Vanderbilt, North Carolina and Arizona would all need to cover the spread in their respective games. Your bet would fail if just one team did not cover the spread.

However, if they all covered, you would be paid out at odds of +596. That would result in a strong profit. The winnings from each correct selection roll over to the next selection, so your overall profit compounds.

Alternative options include:

• Teasers
• Round Robins

NCAAF Live Bets

You can place bets on a college football game after it has started. This is known as live betting. The sportsbooks will update the odds as the game progresses to reflect the score and the general performance of each team.

Spreads, moneylines, totals and props will be updated throughout the game, moving dramatically as it ebbs and flows.

NCAAF Betting FAQs

What are the odds for college football this weekend?

Leading online sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars are quick to publish odds for the following weekend’s college football games. You will find odds published at the start of each week. You can use the odds comparison chart at OddsTrader to find the best lines on any game you are interested in.

How do College Football point spreads work?

College football point spreads give the stronger NCAAF team a handicap. For example, you may find Illinois as the 10.5-point favorite for a game against Wyoming. In that case, you can bet on Illinois -10.5, meaning it needs to win by 11 points, or bet on Wyoming +10.5, meaning it can win or lose by up to 10 points.

What is the over/under in college football?

This is a total points line set by the sportsbooks. You simply bet on whether the two teams will combine for more points than the line or fewer. For example, you might find odds of -110 on over 55.5 points at FanDuel and -110 on under 55.5 points.

What is the moneyline in college football?

This is a simple prediction on the team that will win a college football game. The sportsbooks release moneyline odds on each team based on their comparative abilities. There is normally a favorite and an underdog, but occasionally the teams will be evenly matched and the game will be declared a pick’em, with no point spread.

What are the odds for this season’s College Football bowl and championship games?

You will be able to uncover the odds for popular College Football bowl and championship games on these pages when the postseason is underway:

• Rose Bowl
• Orange Bowl
• Sugar Bowl
• Cotton Bowl
• Peach Bowl
• Fiesta Bowl

Who is the current college champion?

Georgia was crowned champion last year after securing a 33-18 win against Alabama. That saw Georgia secure its first NCAA title since the 1980 season. QB Stetson Bennett threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to overturn a 5-point deficit and power his team to victory.

When does the regular season start and how many games are played per team?

The FBS college football season is scheduled to get underway on August 27, and it will run until December 10. Most NCAAF teams will play between 10 and 13 regular season games, depending upon the number of teams in their conferences.

When does the college playoffs start and what is the format?

The postseason is scheduled to begin on December 16 for college football teams. Generally speaking, a team must have at least six wins to be bowl eligible, with at least five of those wins coming against FBS opponents, and the selection committee makes the decisions. The top four teams in the postseason will eventually progress to the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl, with the winners of those games meeting in the Playoff National Championship game.

When do NCAA football rankings come out?

The college football rankings will be released throughout November and early December. The list of the final 25 teams, which will eventually be whittled down to the four teams contesting the College Football Playoff semifinals, is normally published in the first week of December.

According to the odds, who are the top teams in college football?

Alabama is the early favorite in the NCAAF Championship Winner futures betting. The Crimson Tide lost to Georgia in last year’s National Championship game, but they are expected to bounce back this time around. Georgia is the second favorite, followed by Ohio State in the betting.

How do I bet on college football online?

You should sign up with a trusted, legit online sportsbook that provides competitive odds, a slick interface and generous bonuses. We recommend BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, DraftKings and PointsBet. You can then check out your betting options, click on a selection to add it to the betslip, type in a bet amount and click to confirm your wager.

What are the best sportsbooks for college football odds?

SBK is an excellent sportsbook for college football odds. It offers reduced juice lines on either side of a point spread and a total points line, and it is very quick to release its lines each week. However, it is only available on a limited basis, so most American bettors will use sites like DraftKings and BetMGM when seeking college football odds.

What are the Best Sportsbooks for NCAAF Odds?

BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel and DraftKings are among the best sportsbooks for NCAAF odds. Each site has different areas of expertise, and they offer different lines on the same game, so you can use our comparison tool to find the best odds.

What does it mean when a college football team is favored to win?

It means that the sportsbooks believe that team is stronger than its opponent. You can place a moneyline wager on the team to win, or you can bet on it to cover a point spread. If you back the team to cover the 2.5-point spread, for instance, it will need to win by 3 or more points.

What Is the Most Popular Type of Bet for College Football?

The most popular type of bet for college football is the point spread. The sportsbooks will set the stronger team a points handicap, which results in the spread, and you can bet on either team to cover it. For example, you might find Virginia Tech -8.5 at odds of -110 against Old Dominion, and Old Dominion +8.5 at odds of -110.

Is betting on college football legal?

It is perfectly legal to place bets on college football, provided you are of the minimum online gambling age in your state. You can then sign up for an online sports betting account and place bets on point spreads, moneylines, total points lines and other markets.

Where can I bet on college football?

You can bet on college football at licensed online sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars and PointsBet. It is important to find the best odds on each college football game, so you can use our table at OddsTrader.com to find the best lines.

Can I Bet on College Football Using My Phone?

You can download a mobile app or use a mobile optimized version of a sportsbook’s website to place bets via your mobile phone. FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM provide world-class mobile apps, allowing you to place bets quickly and conveniently.