There are a number of ways to bet on college football. In addition to betting on spreads, totals, and moneylines, you can bet on college football futures and even props. When it comes to college football futures betting, there are multiple options available. People can bet on teams to win a certain number of games (win total betting), cast their lots with a team to win it all (CFP National Championship betting), or bet on a team to win their conference (college football conference betting). The latter option is the focus of this article.
Betting on College Football Conference Winners
The gambling world has a lot of nuance and can be confusing, but betting on college football conference winners is pretty straightforward. Every conference in college football has a conference championship game, and the winner of that game is crowned champion.
All but two conferences, the Big 12 and the Sun Belt, are split into two divisions. In the case of the Big 12 and the Sun Belt, the teams with the best records at the end of the regular season meet to determine the conference champion. Every other conference sends the top team in each division to its conference championship game, with the winner claiming the conference crown. This is simple and easy, but it can lead to other dilemmas and second-guessing.
For example, in 2017, the Alabama Crimson Tide were able to make the College Football Playoff and eventually win the College Football Playoff National Championship without even making it to the SEC Championship Game. Alabama lost to Auburn in their final game of the regular season, but they received a lifeline from the committee and won the national title while the Georgia Bulldogs won the SEC.
In the past, conferences would declare co-champions, but that is no longer the case. Networks love conference championship games, and they are usually some of the highest rated games of the season. That makes it easier on bowls too, as college football slots teams into bowl games depending on where they finish in the conference.
College Football Conference Betting Strategies
One of the most important things to keep in mind when betting on college football, and college football conferences, is that not all conferences or divisions are created equal. There are teams that have much easier paths to the title game than others due to the relative strength of the division as well as the schedule. For instance, Georgia might not be as good as Alabama, but the Bulldogs have a much easier path to the SEC Championship Game than the Crimson Tide by virtue of playing in the SEC East instead of the SEC West.
AAC Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 2013 | UCF |
| 2014 | Memphis/Cincinnati/UCF |
| 2015 | Houston |
| 2016 | Temple |
| 2017 | UCF |
| 2018 |
ACC Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 1953 | Duke/Maryland |
| 1954 | Duke |
| 1955 | Duke/Maryland |
| 1956 | Clemson |
| 1957 | NC State |
| 1958 | Clemson |
| 1959 | Clemson |
| 1960 | Duke |
| 1961 | Duke |
| 1962 | Duke |
| 1963 | North Carolina/NC State |
| 1964 | NC State |
| 1965 | Clemson/NC State |
| 1966 | Clemson |
| 1967 | Clemson |
| 1968 | NC State |
| 1969 | South Carolina |
| 1970 | Wake Forest |
| 1971 | North Carolina |
| 1972 | North Carolina |
| 1973 | NC State |
| 1974 | Maryland |
| 1975 | Maryland |
| 1976 | Maryland |
| 1977 | North Carolina |
| 1978 | Clemson |
| 1979 | NC State |
| 1980 | North Carolina |
| 1981 | Clemson |
| 1982 | Clemson |
| 1983 | Maryland |
| 1984 | Maryland |
| 1985 | Maryland |
| 1986 | Clemson |
| 1987 | Clemson |
| 1988 | Clemson |
| 1989 | Duke/Virginia |
| 1990 | Georgia Tech |
| 1991 | Clemson |
| 1992 | Florida State |
| 1993 | Florida State |
| 1994 | Florida State |
| 1995 | Florida State/Virginia |
| 1996 | Florida State |
| 1997 | Florida State |
| 1998 | Florida State/Georgia Tech |
| 1999 | Florida State |
| 2000 | Florida State |
| 2001 | Maryland |
| 2002 | Florida State |
| 2003 | Florida State |
| 2004 | Virginia Tech |
| 2005 | Florida State |
| 2006 | Wake Forest |
| 2007 | Virginia Tech |
| 2008 | Virginia Tech |
| 2009 | Georgia Tech |
| 2010 | Virginia Tech |
| 2011 | Clemson |
| 2012 | Florida State |
| 2013 | Florida State |
| 2014 | Florida State |
| 2015 | Clemson |
| 2016 | Clemson |
| 2017 | Clemson |
| 2018 |
Big 12 Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 1996 | Texas |
| 1997 | Nebraska |
| 1998 | Texas A&M |
| 1999 | Nebraska |
| 2000 | Oklahoma |
| 2001 | Colorado |
| 2002 | Oklahoma |
| 2003 | Kansas State |
| 2004 | Oklahoma |
| 2005 | Texas |
| 2006 | Oklahoma |
| 2007 | Oklahoma |
| 2008 | Oklahoma |
| 2009 | Texas |
| 2010 | Oklahoma |
| 2011 | Oklahoma State |
| 2012 | Kansas State/Oklahoma |
| 2013 | Baylor |
| 2014 | Baylor/TCU |
| 2015 | Oklahoma |
| 2016 | Oklahoma |
| 2017 | Oklahoma |
| 2018 |
Big Ten Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 1896 | Wisconsin |
| 1897 | Wisconsin |
| 1898 | Michigan |
| 1899 | Chicago |
| 1900 | Iowa/Minnesota |
| 1901 | Michigan/Wisconsin |
| 1902 | Michigan |
| 1903 | Michigan/Minnesota/Northwestern |
| 1904 | Michigan/Minnesota |
| 1905 | Chicago |
| 1906 | Michigan/Minnesota/Wisconsin |
| 1907 | Chicago |
| 1908 | Chicago |
| 1909 | Minnesota |
| 1910 | Illinois/Minnesota |
| 1911 | Minnesota |
| 1912 | Wisconsin |
| 1913 | Chicago |
| 1914 | Illinois |
| 1915 | Illinois/Minnesota |
| 1916 | Ohio State |
| 1917 | Ohio State |
| 1918 | Illinois/Michigan/Purdue |
| 1919 | Illinois |
| 1920 | Ohio State |
| 1921 | Iowa |
| 1922 | Chicago/Iowa/Michigan |
| 1923 | Illinois/Michigan |
| 1924 | Chicago |
| 1925 | Michigan |
| 1926 | Michigan/Northwestern |
| 1927 | Illinois/Minnesota |
| 1928 | Illinois |
| 1929 | Purdue |
| 1930 | Michigan/Northwestern |
| 1931 | Michigan/Northwestern/Purdue |
| 1932 | Michigan/Purdue |
| 1933 | Michigan/Minnesota |
| 1934 | Minnesota |
| 1935 | Minnesota/Ohio State |
| 1936 | Northwestern |
| 1937 | Minnesota |
| 1938 | Minnesota |
| 1939 | Ohio State |
| 1940 | Minnesota |
| 1941 | Minnesota |
| 1942 | Ohio State |
| 1943 | Michigan/Purdue |
| 1944 | Ohio State |
| 1945 | Indiana |
| 1946 | Illinois |
| 1947 | Michigan |
| 1948 | Michigan |
| 1949 | Michigan/Ohio State |
| 1950 | Michigan |
| 1951 | Illinois |
| 1952 | Purdue/Wisconsin |
| 1953 | Illinois/Michigan State |
| 1954 | Ohio State |
| 1955 | Ohio State |
| 1956 | Iowa |
| 1957 | Ohio State |
| 1958 | Iowa |
| 1959 | Wisconsin |
| 1960 | Iowa/Minnesota |
| 1961 | Ohio State |
| 1962 | Wisconsin |
| 1963 | Illinois |
| 1964 | Michigan |
| 1965 | Michigan State |
| 1966 | Michigan State |
| 1967 | Indiana/Minnesota/Purdue |
| 1968 | Ohio State |
| 1969 | Michigan/Ohio State |
| 1970 | Ohio State |
| 1971 | Michigan |
| 1972 | Michigan/Ohio State |
| 1973 | Michigan/Ohio State |
| 1974 | Michigan/Ohio State |
| 1975 | Ohio State |
| 1976 | Michigan/Ohio State |
| 1977 | Michigan/Ohio State |
| 1978 | Michigan/Michigan State |
| 1979 | Ohio State |
| 1980 | Michigan |
| 1981 | Iowa/Ohio State |
| 1982 | Michigan |
| 1983 | Illinois |
| 1984 | Ohio State |
| 1985 | Iowa |
| 1986 | Michigan/Ohio State |
| 1987 | Michigan State |
| 1988 | Michigan |
| 1989 | Michigan |
| 1990 | Illinois/Iowa/Michigan/Michigan State |
| 1991 | Michigan |
| 1992 | Michigan |
| 1993 | Ohio State/Wisconsin |
| 1994 | Penn State |
| 1995 | Northwestern |
| 1996 | Northwestern/Ohio State |
| 1997 | Michigan |
| 1998 | Michigan/Ohio State/Wisconsin |
| 1999 | Wisconsin |
| 2000 | Michigan/Northwestern/Purdue |
| 2001 | Illinois |
| 2002 | Iowa/Ohio State |
| 2003 | Michigan |
| 2004 | Iowa/Michigan |
| 2005 | Ohio State/Penn State |
| 2006 | Ohio State |
| 2007 | Ohio State |
| 2008 | Ohio State/Penn State |
| 2009 | Ohio State |
| 2010 | Michigan State/Wisconsin |
| 2011 | Wisconsin |
| 2012 | Wisconsin |
| 2013 | Michigan State |
| 2014 | Ohio State |
| 2015 | Michigan State |
| 2016 | Penn State |
| 2017 | Ohio State |
| 2018 |
Conference USA Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 1996 | Houston/Southern Miss |
| 1997 | Southern Miss |
| 1998 | Tulane |
| 1999 | Southern Miss |
| 2000 | Louisville |
| 2001 | Louisville |
| 2002 | Cincinnati/TCU |
| 2003 | Southern Miss |
| 2004 | Louisville |
| 2005 | Tulsa |
| 2006 | Houston |
| 2007 | UCF |
| 2008 | East Carolina |
| 2009 | East Carolina |
| 2010 | UCF |
| 2011 | Southern Miss |
| 2012 | Tulsa |
| 2013 | Rice |
| 2014 | Marshall |
| 2015 | Western Kentucky |
| 2016 | Western Kentucky |
| 2017 | Florida Atlantic |
| 2018 |
MAC Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 1947 | Cincinnati |
| 1948 | Miami (OH) |
| 1949 | Cincinnati |
| 1950 | Miami (OH) |
| 1951 | Cincinnati |
| 1952 | Cincinnati |
| 1953 | Ohio |
| 1954 | Miami (OH) |
| 1955 | Miami (OH) |
| 1956 | Bowling Green |
| 1957 | Miami (OH) |
| 1958 | Miami (OH) |
| 1959 | Bowling Green |
| 1960 | Ohio |
| 1961 | Bowling Green |
| 1962 | Bowling Green |
| 1963 | Ohio |
| 1964 | Bowling Green |
| 1965 | Bowling Green/ Miami (OH) |
| 1966 | Miami (OH)/Western Michigan |
| 1967 | Ohio/Toledo |
| 1968 | Ohio |
| 1969 | Toledo |
| 1970 | Toledo |
| 1971 | Toledo |
| 1972 | Kent State |
| 1973 | Miami (OH) |
| 1974 | Miami (OH) |
| 1975 | Miami (OH) |
| 1976 | Ball State |
| 1977 | Miami (OH) |
| 1978 | Ball State |
| 1979 | Central Michigan |
| 1980 | Central Michigan |
| 1981 | Toledo |
| 1982 | Bowling Green |
| 1983 | Northern Illinois |
| 1984 | Toledo |
| 1985 | Bowling Green |
| 1986 | Miami (OH) |
| 1987 | Eastern Michigan |
| 1988 | Western Michigan |
| 1989 | Ball State |
| 1990 | Central Michigan/Toledo |
| 1991 | Bowling Green |
| 1992 | Bowling Green |
| 1993 | Ball State |
| 1994 | Central Michigan |
| 1995 | Toledo |
| 1996 | Ball State |
| 1997 | Marshall |
| 1998 | Marshall |
| 1999 | Marshall |
| 2000 | Marshall |
| 2001 | Toledo |
| 2002 | Marshall |
| 2003 | Miami (OH) |
| 2004 | Toledo |
| 2005 | Akron |
| 2006 | Central Michigan |
| 2007 | Central Michigan |
| 2008 | Buffalo |
| 2009 | Northern Illinois |
| 2010 | Miami (OH) |
| 2011 | Northern Illinois |
| 2012 | Northern Illinois |
| 2013 | Bowling Green |
| 2014 | Northern Illinois |
| 2015 | Bowling Green |
| 2016 | Western Michigan |
| 2017 | Toledo |
| 2018 |
Mountain West Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 1999 | BYU/Colorado State/Utah |
| 2000 | Colorado State |
| 2001 | BYU |
| 2002 | Colorado State |
| 2003 | Utah |
| 2004 | Utah |
| 2005 | TCU |
| 2006 | BYU |
| 2007 | BYU |
| 2008 | Utah |
| 2009 | TCU |
| 2010 | TCU |
| 2011 | TCU |
| 2012 | Boise State/Fresno State/San Diego State |
| 2013 | Fresno State |
| 2014 | Boise State |
| 2015 | San Diego State |
| 2016 | San Diego State |
| 2017 | Boise State |
| 2018 |
PAC-12 Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 1916 | Washington |
| 1917 | Washington State |
| 1918 | California |
| 1919 | Oregon/Washington |
| 1920 | California |
| 1921 | California |
| 1922 | California |
| 1923 | California |
| 1924 | Stanford |
| 1925 | Washington |
| 1926 | Stanford |
| 1927 | Stanford/USC |
| 1928 | USC |
| 1929 | USC |
| 1930 | Washington State |
| 1931 | USC |
| 1932 | USC |
| 1933 | Stanford/Oregon |
| 1934 | Stanford |
| 1935 | California/Stanford/UCLA |
| 1936 | Washington |
| 1937 | California |
| 1938 | California/USC |
| 1939 | USC |
| 1940 | Stanford |
| 1941 | Oregon State |
| 1942 | UCLA |
| 1943 | USC |
| 1944 | USC |
| 1945 | USC |
| 1946 | UCLA |
| 1947 | USC |
| 1948 | California/Oregon |
| 1949 | California |
| 1950 | California |
| 1951 | Stanford |
| 1952 | USC |
| 1953 | UCLA |
| 1954 | UCLA |
| 1955 | UCLA |
| 1956 | Oregon State |
| 1957 | Oregon/Oregon State |
| 1958 | California |
| 1959 | UCLA/USC/Washington |
| 1960 | Washington |
| 1961 | UCLA |
| 1962 | USC |
| 1963 | Washington |
| 1964 | Oregon State/USC |
| 1965 | UCLA |
| 1966 | USC |
| 1967 | USC |
| 1968 | USC |
| 1969 | USC |
| 1970 | Stanford |
| 1971 | Stanford |
| 1972 | USC |
| 1973 | USC |
| 1974 | USC |
| 1975 | California/UCLA |
| 1976 | USC |
| 1977 | Washington |
| 1978 | USC |
| 1979 | USC |
| 1980 | Washington |
| 1981 | Washington |
| 1982 | UCLA |
| 1983 | UCLA |
| 1984 | USC |
| 1985 | UCLA |
| 1986 | Arizona State |
| 1987 | UCLA/USC |
| 1988 | USC |
| 1989 | USC |
| 1990 | Washington |
| 1991 | Washington |
| 1992 | Stanford/Washington |
| 1993 | Arizona/UCLA/USC |
| 1994 | Oregon |
| 1995 | USC/Washington |
| 1996 | Arizona State |
| 1997 | Washington State/UCLA |
| 1998 | UCLA |
| 1999 | Stanford |
| 2000 | Oregon/Oregon State/Washington |
| 2001 | Oregon |
| 2002 | Washington State/USC |
| 2003 | USC |
| 2004 | USC |
| 2005 | USC |
| 2006 | California/USC |
| 2007 | Arizona State/USC |
| 2008 | USC |
| 2009 | Oregon |
| 2010 | Oregon |
| 2011 | Oregon |
| 2012 | Stanford |
| 2013 | Stanford |
| 2014 | Oregon |
| 2015 | Stanford |
| 2016 | Washington |
| 2017 | USC |
| 2018 |
SEC Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 1933 | Alabama |
| 1934 | Alabama/Tulane |
| 1935 | LSU |
| 1936 | LSU |
| 1937 | Alabama |
| 1938 | Tennessee |
| 1939 | Georgia Tech/Tennessee/Tulane |
| 1940 | Tennessee |
| 1941 | Mississippi State |
| 1942 | Georgia |
| 1943 | Georgia Tech |
| 1944 | Georgia Tech |
| 1945 | Alabama |
| 1946 | Georgia/Tennessee |
| 1947 | Ole Miss |
| 1948 | Georgia |
| 1949 | Tulane |
| 1950 | Kentucky |
| 1951 | Georgia Tech/Tennessee |
| 1952 | Georgia Tech |
| 1953 | Alabama |
| 1954 | Ole Miss |
| 1955 | Ole Miss |
| 1956 | Tennessee |
| 1957 | Auburn |
| 1958 | LSU |
| 1959 | Georgia |
| 1960 | Ole Miss |
| 1961 | Alabama/LSU |
| 1962 | Ole Miss |
| 1963 | Ole Miss |
| 1964 | Alabama |
| 1965 | Alabama |
| 1966 | Alabama/Georgia |
| 1967 | Tennessee |
| 1968 | Georgia |
| 1969 | Tennessee |
| 1970 | LSU |
| 1971 | Alabama |
| 1972 | Alabama |
| 1973 | Alabama |
| 1974 | Alabama |
| 1975 | Alabama |
| 1976 | Georgia/Kentucky |
| 1977 | Alabama |
| 1978 | Alabama |
| 1979 | Alabama |
| 1980 | Georgia |
| 1981 | Alabama/Georgia |
| 1982 | Georgia |
| 1983 | Auburn |
| 1984 | Florida |
| 1985 | Tennessee |
| 1986 | LSU |
| 1987 | Auburn |
| 1988 | Auburn/LSU |
| 1989 | Alabama/Auburn/Tennessee |
| 1990 | Tennessee |
| 1991 | Florida |
| 1992 | Alabama |
| 1993 | Florida |
| 1994 | Florida |
| 1995 | Florida |
| 1996 | Florida |
| 1997 | Tennessee |
| 1998 | Tennessee |
| 1999 | Alabama |
| 2000 | Florida |
| 2001 | LSU |
| 2002 | Georgia |
| 2003 | LSU |
| 2004 | Auburn |
| 2005 | Georgia |
| 2006 | Florida |
| 2007 | LSU |
| 2008 | Florida |
| 2009 | Alabama |
| 2010 | Auburn |
| 2011 | LSU |
| 2012 | Alabama |
| 2013 | Auburn |
| 2014 | Alabama |
| 2015 | Alabama |
| 2016 | Alabama |
| 2017 | Georgia |
| 2018 |
Sun Belt Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 2001 | Middle Tennessee State/North Texas |
| 2002 | North Texas |
| 2003 | North Texas |
| 2004 | North Texas |
| 2005 | Arkansas State/UL-Lafayette/UL-Monroe |
| 2006 | Middle Tennessee State/Troy |
| 2007 | Florida Atlantic/Troy |
| 2008 | Troy |
| 2009 | Troy |
| 2010 | Florida International/Troy |
| 2011 | Arkansas State |
| 2012 | Arkansas State |
| 2013 | Arkansas State/UL-Lafayette |
| 2014 | Georgia Southern |
| 2015 | Arkansas State |
| 2016 | Arkansas State/Appalachian State |
| 2017 | Troy/Appalachian State |
| 2018 |
2018 College Football Conference Odds
Following are the preseason college football conference championship odds according to Bovada.
Most sportsbooks have lines available up until the first game in each conference kicks off (some start Saturday, Aug. 25, others wait until the weekend starting Thursday, Aug. 30), but keep in mind that most books also will have updated odds periodically throughout the season.
So if a team you think that will end up on top gets off to a poor start, that might improve your odds and get you a bigger payday — if you think that team can still win a conference title. Conversely, if you like the way a team plays in the first couple of weeks, you might place a bet on them to win even at diminished odds.
AAC Odds
Central Florida -150
Houston +275
Temple +600
South Florida +800
Cincinnati +1,500
Southern Methodist +2,500
Tulane +7,500
Memphis +10,000
ACC
Clemson -450
Miami, FL +600
Virginia Tech +800
Virginia +1,200
Duke +2,500
Pittsburgh +5,000
Boston College +5,000
North Carolina State +10,000
Georgia Tech +30,000
Big 12
Oklahoma +110
Texas +125
West Virginia +400
Texas Tech +800
Iowa State +1,500
Texas Christian +50,000
Baylor +100,000
Oklahoma State +100,000
Big 10
Michigan +100
Ohio State +145
Iowa +800
Wisconsin +800
Purdue +1,500
Northwestern +2,000
Penn State +10,000
Michigan State +50,000
C-USA
Florida Atlantic -108
Marshall +435
Louisiana Tech +900
North Texas +1,000
Middle Tennessee +1,125
Alabama-Birmingham +2,150
Southern Miss +4,500
Old Dominion +5,500
Texas-San Antonio +5,500
Florida International +6,600
Western Kentucky +12,500
Charlotte +55,000
Rice +65,000
UTEP +85,000
MAC
Northern Illinois +325
Ohio +360
Toledo +380
Miami, OH +725
Western Michigan +825
Buffalo +950
Eastern Michigan +1,600
Akron +3,300
Bowling Green +4,400
Central Michigan +4,400
Ball State +12,500
Kent State +12,500
Mountain West
Fresno State+150
Utah State +200
Boise State +250
San Diego State +400
Hawaii +5,000
Nevada +20,000
PAC-12
Washington +175
USC +350
Utah +350
Washington State +500
Stanford +600
Oregon +1,500
Colorado +3,000
Arizona State +10,000
UCLA +10,000
Arizona +30,000
SEC
Alabama -350
Georgia +275
LSU +800
Florida +1,000
Kentucky +2,000
Texas A&M +10,000
Sun Belt
Arkansas State +153
Appalachian State +280
Troy +330
Louisiana-Monroe +1,475
Georgia Southern +1,650
Louisiana-Lafayette +5,500
Georgia State +6,000
South Alabama +6,600
Coastal Carolina +11,000
Texas State +11,000