Effective College Football Odds And Betting Strategies
2018 will be remembered as the year that sports betting in the United States changed forever. With the legalization of sports betting throughout the country, people are looking for as many resources as possible to help them improve their bottom line. That includes college football fans that know the sport inside and out, but want to become more effective when it comes to using that knowledge to make some serious cash. This guide should help those fans to understand football odds and how to establish sound college football betting strategies.
Finding The Right Sportsbook
The first step to getting in on the college football betting action is to find a sportsbook that works best for you. People living in states that have legalized sports betting can make their way to their local casino or sportsbook destination to place their bets. The other option is to sign up for an online sportsbook that allows its members to bet from anywhere they are as long as they have a mobile device, tablet or laptop.
In response to the online sports betting demand, there are countless quality sportsbooks to choose from when you decide to get started. The key is finding the site that works best for you. It’s important to find a sportsbook that allows bets from the area that you are betting in. Also, you will need to make sure that the sportsbook has deposit and withdrawal options that work for you. If you are looking to do the majority of your betting from a smart phone, it might be a good idea to use a sportsbook that offers an app or a mobile site so that you can access it on the run. Some sites offer specific bonuses for members that bet on college football. One of those sites could be the perfect fit for you. Once you find a sportsbook, you can jump right in to the action.
Getting Started
There are plenty of different ways that you can bet on college football. Take the time to learn the different options so that you can figure out which option works best for you. Before you place a bet, take some time to review how college football betting odds work and the different options that are out there.
Understanding College Football Odds
The first thing you need to know is how college football odds work. If you see a team listed at -180, what does that mean? This number represents the betting odds you will get if you place a wager on that specific team. If you bet on a team at -180, you will need to risk $180 to potentially win $100. If the number is a negative, such as in the example here, then that team is the favorite to win and you need to risk more money than you could potentially win. If a team is listed with a positive number, such as +150, then you could win more money than you risk. In this example, you could win $150 on a bet in which you risk $100.
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Betting The Moneyline
The Moneyline wager is the easiest and most common type of college football betting option. All you need to do is pick a side and place a wager. If you pick the team that wins the game straight up, then you win your bet. When picking winners, you will see the college football odds listed next to the teams you consider betting on.
For example, if the Alabama Crimson Tide host the Ohio State Buckeyes, the odds could look something like this: The Crimson Tide would likely be the favorite with odds around -200. Ohio State could be listed at +140 to win outright. In this example, you would need to risk $200 to potentially win $100 if you are betting on Alabama. If you think Ohio State could win, you can risk $100 to potentially win $140.
Betting The Point Spread
The next most popular option for college football betting is the point spread. Rather than betting on what the outcome will be straight up, you will need to bet on the teams to cover a spread. One team will be assigned a positive point total as the underdog while the other team will be assigned a negative point total as the favorite.
Let’s use the same example that we listed above with Alabama hosting Ohio State. In this case, Alabama could be listed at -3.5 (-110) while Ohio State would be listed at +3.5 (-105). According to this point spread, the Crimson Tide would need to win by four points or more in order to cover the spread. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes could win straight up or lose the game outright by three points or fewer and still cover the 3.5-point spread as the underdog.
Betting The Totals
Another option to consider is betting college football totals. The sportsbooks will come up with a total number of points that will be scored by both teams in every single game. When betting on the totals, you need to decide how many points you think the teams playing will combine for in that contest. If the teams combine to score more goals than the listed total, then the OVER hits. If the teams combine to score fewer goals than the total, then the UNDER hits.
For example, if the sportsbook has the Total for the game between Alabama and Ohio State listed at 51.5 points, there are two potential outcomes. Either the two teams combine for 52 points or more and push the final score OVER the total. Or, the teams combine for 51 points or fewer and the UNDER hits.
Betting The Futures
Even before the college football season begins, sports bettors can make a number of wagers on key futures bets that interest them. The sportsbooks will list odds for team win totals, conference winners, which four teams will make the College Football Playoff, which team will win the national championship and more. They will also list player props for everything from who will win the Heisman trophy to how many touchdowns a quarterback will throw in a season.
The odds for certain futures can change over time but there are some important rules to keep in mind. First, injuries don’t negate any wagers made. So if you bet on a star quarterback to win the Heisman and he gets hurt midway through the year, you still lose the bet if he doesn’t win the award. Also, a lot can change from early in the offseason to the end of the college football season so it’s important to take all potential outcomes in to account when looking ahead.
College Football Betting Strategies
In addition to the different types of college football bets, there are a number of key strategies that you will want to keep in mind as you get started. Ev the most experienced bettors tend to hit and miss on their profit margins from year to year, so you need to keep that in mind if you think you are going to consistently break the bank every single season. Here are some key strategies to consider as you jump in to the action.
Establish A Bankroll
It’s extremely important to set aside money that you can afford to lose if you end up losing. You don’t want to ever risk more money than you could afford to lose. It’s important to make sure you are only betting a percentage of the amount that you can afford to give up. Be careful not to get too carried away or you could end up severely in the red if you do come across a series of bad bets.
Find An Edge Every Week
Even the best handicappers in the world are constantly searching for ways to gain an edge. Sometimes you will see three games that offer incredible value that you can’t pass on. Other times, there will be only one or two games that you think you can win. Be patient and don’t force the issue. There will be plenty of opportunities to win throughout the course of the year so make sure you constantly narrow your focus to maintain a winning edge.
Make Sure To Shop Around
Another strategy that professional handicappers always keep in mind is the need to shop around for the best available lines. Different sportsbooks offer different lines, so it’s important to make sure that you find the best possible price tags. Sportsbooks are very competitive so you could see multiple different lines depending on where you are shopping. Take the time to find the best lines week in and week out to maximize your value.
It takes time for college football handicappers to build up their bankrolls, so make sure you remember that and understand that patience is more important than anything else. These strategies will help you as you get started. Hopefully they represent the first steps towards making some serious money betting on college football over time.