Types of NCAA Football Bets – A Beginner’s Guide (April 2024)

Though it may not be as popular worldwide as the NFL, college football is spectacular to watch and bet on. Unlike other professional sports, the NFL has no minor league from which youth players can get into the major league. Instead, these youth players ply their trade in the NCAA football leagues. The NCAA Division I FBS, or national championship, is the highest level of college football. Founded in 1869, the national championship predates the NFL and even professionalism in football. Spanning the whole continent, there are 11 Conferences, each of which has several Bowls. Games are played throughout the year, and at the end of the regular season, the top four teams in the rankings are seeded into the College Football Playoffs. The winners of the first round proceed to the National Championship Game, where a winner will be crowned.

NCAA Football Betting Possibilities

NCAA football games have broad television coverage, and there are plenty of exciting Bowls and big games to look forward to all season long. The competition is on par with the NFL, with deep rivalries between top colleges and an abundance of youthful talent. The rivalries between Michigan vs Ohio State, Harvard vs Yale, UCLA vs USC, and Army vs Navy are a must for lovers of college football. The betting coverage is also just as vast and extensive as NFL games and the Super Bowl.

Types of NCAA Football Bets

There is no shortage of betting markets on college football, ranging from exhilarating player props to thought-provoking futures bets. As college football and the National Championship are so hugely popular, you can expect to find masses of betting markets offered at most sportsbooks. The niche bookmakers, who specialise in football, may provide even more fantastic bets. 

1. Futures
2. Moneyline
3. Point Spreads
4. Alternative Point Spreads
5. Over/Under Totals
6. Halves and Quarters
7. Game Props
8. Player Props
9. Live Betting

Futures

Futures are bets on what will happen at the end of the season. They are called futures because bookmakers offer futures bets before the season begins, and so you can make all your predictions well in advance. The markets are also available during the course of the regular season and playoffs, but the odds on all the selections will change.

Some of the top futures bets include: which team will win the National Championship Game, Conference Winner, Bowl Winner, MVP and many more. In terms of Bowls, you can take your pick from the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, or any of the other Bowls played at college level.

Moneyline

The Moneyline is a betting market in which you need to select which team wins. It does not matter how the team wins, or by how many points, you will need your selected team to beat the opposition. It is a two-way bet, and you can instantly spot the favourites in the game as they will have shorter odds.

Point Spreads

On the subject of odds, a point spread is also a bet on which team will win the game, but both teams will have even odds. This is because a line is implemented, which will balance the two teams out by means of a points boost and deficit. The favourite will receive a points deficit, which will be just enough to put it on par with its opposition. The underdogs receive a points boost, which does the same thing. All you need to do here is pick which team will win. As the bet levels out the playing field, you now do not have to worry about betting on the underdogs as much, as the risk has been greatly reduced. Betting on the favourite has its advantages too, as their odds will be longer than if you simply bet on them using a moneyline.

Alternative Point Spreads

The basic point spread is used to balance out the two teams and give equal odds on either. However, you can find many alternative betting lines on either team, and this opens up the possibility to set even larger spreads for a team, ramping up the odds. That, or you can select a larger points boost, which will decrease the odds but give you a much better chance of winning. There are lots of strategies that can be implemented with alternative point spreads, and if you have a wealth of options, you can pick the bet that has the right ratio of risk and reward.

Over/Under Totals

Over/Under bets also use a line, but do not directly relate to which team will win the game. Instead, these bets are on game statistics, the most popular of which is total points. The bookmaker will offer a line and you need to bet on whether the game will end with over or under that number of points. Just like with alternative point spreads, most sportsbooks will also offer alternative over/under bets. You can then browse through the different lines and pick the one you want. Remember, you are picking the range of points in which you think the total number of points will fall. A bigger range will come with shorter odds, but if you apply a small range, you can expect tremendous odds.

Another thing to consider is that this bet does not contradict moneylines or point spreads in any way. Therefore, a lot of bettors like to form a parlay or combined bet that has both a prediction of the game-winner (moneyline or point spread) and a total points bet.

Halves and Quarters

You are not limited to betting on the final result of a game either. With halves and quarters betting markets, you can make your predictions on each period of the game. Instead of betting on a team to win the game, you can place a bet on them to win the first quarter, first half, third quarter, and so on. The book will consider each of these periods as independent events, and you are only betting on the action inside those events. For example, if you are betting on the second quarter, then the results from the first quarter are not carried into that quarter. Betting on the first half is betting on which team will be ahead after the first two quarters are done.

Within these markets, you may find moneylines, point spreads, over/under bets and many more. There is a lot of research you can do to help you make predictions on the different periods during a game.

Game Props

If you want to make some other types of wagers, then you must look for game props. These are bets that relate to virtually anything that can happen during a game. Which quarter will be the highest scoring, will the first turnover be a fumble or interception, will a team score three times in a row? The selections are intriguing and call on you to use all your football knowledge. There are also props on the winning margin, three-way lines and other types of bets that are similar to spreads.

Player Props

Do you have a favourite player in college football? You can bet on their performances through the player bet markets. These include some really tasty options that allow you to predict precise game stats. For example, you can bet on a quarterback’s passing yards, the first touchdown scorer, total interceptions, and many more. These player props can spice up your selections and can bring lengthy odds.

Live Bets

College football is extremely engaging to watch, and even more so when you have the pull of the live betting markets. There is no shortage of wagers that you can form during the course of the game. Keep an eye on the odds, as they will change constantly, and when you decide to place a bet, do it quickly. You may have a couple of seconds in which you can get the current odds, but if you wait for too long, they will change, especially when there is a turnover, points scored, or any other influential event in the game.

Almost all the pregame betting markets are available as live bets, and there are some special live bets. These are wagers on what will happen next in the game. You may be able to bet on which team will score next, the result of the drive, will either team score another touchdown in the current quarter, and so on. The best part is that if you win, you can literally pick up your winnings in minutes if not seconds.

Conclusion

If you love the game and are excited by new prospects, then you should definitely watch college football. It has all the youthful exuberance to keep you on the edge of your seat for each game. It is really anybody’s game, as an influx of talented players can change a bottom-ranking team into a title contender. With a healthy amount of competition and plenty of upsets, it is a highly attractive prospect for bettors. Do your research and scout for talent, and you may win lots of bets on college football. 

By checking through our top selection of NCAA football betting sites and apps, you can find all the best betting markets at market-competitive prices. Then, you can enjoy the great thrill and heart-pumping experience of NCAA football betting. Remember though, that games can go either way, and so only play within your financial means. Keep your betting fun, and bet responsibly.