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Best NCAAF Bets - Today's Top NCAAF Picks

Get primed for the college football season with our weekly expert-picked bets. If you’re new here, learn all about NCAAF betting through our guide & find the most trusted sportsbooks.
Stephen Abiola
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Stephen Abiola
15 mins
October 26th, 2023
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College football bets are a fan-favorite among US bettors since they provide numerous betting options, bigger spreads than the NFL, and more uncertainty. You'll also be able to bet on 11 NCAAF conference divisions.

So, if you're looking to place the NCAAF bets this week, check out our comprehensive guide on college football betting and find out what types of bets offer the highest values. We'll also share our proven betting strategies as well as expert-curated college football predictions to help you make the safest decisions.

In addition to our college football free picks, we looked through the top sportsbooks and shortlisted three with the widest range of betting markets and competitive odds.

Recommended NCAAF Best Bets This Week

NCAAF Best Bet Sites - Our Recommendations

How to Pick NCAAF Best Bets?

Finding the best NCAAF bets can be a big challenge for many college football fans because you can try many types of bets. One thing to know is that NCAAF games cannot end in a tie, unlike NFL games. Also, the NCAAF league has more teams and a greater number of matches, making betting on this sport more exciting and uncertain.

All these combined, it's evermore important for college football bettors to skim through various NCAA football predictions they can find before they place their wagers.

You can further check the best NFL bets to further enhance your betting chance beyond college football season.

To find the NCAAF best bets, you must focus on specific areas, such as matchups and competing teams, player performance and form, and historical data and trends. Let's get into more detail.

Matchups and Competing Teams

The NCAAF league consists of 133 competing teams, i.e., schools, which play 12 regular season games yearly. The NCAAF league is divided into 11 conferences – American, ACC, Big 12, Big 10, Conference USA, FBS Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-12, SEC, and Sun Belt.

It goes without saying that to find platforms with college football best bets, you’ll first need to do detailed research on the teams. This will help you learn about their philosophy and approach to the game. For example, whether their game is based on defense or attack, what was their start of the season, etc.

Furthermore, a college football game has more variance compared to the NFL. In other words, underdogs often have better odds of winning the game since factors such as school rivalry are often involved, so paying attention to matchups is extremely important.

Knowing the game philosophy of each team will greatly help you choose the top NCAAF bets since each team shines in certain aspects.

Player Performance and Form

The next thing you have to pay attention to is the performance and form of the players. Since these are young players, their performance is more prone to variations. Apart from the uncertainty making college football so interesting to watch, betting on NCAAF can be a very frustrating experience. Therefore, stay updated with the news related to the NCAAF league. Knowing a player's current form and performance will help you reduce the risk of losing bets.

Historical Data and Trends

The last thing that will help you locate the best bets NCAAF games provide are historical trends. For example, if LA Tech proved to be the team with the best home advantage rankings, there is a high probability that they will win in their next home game as well.

Other factors to consider are weather conditions, game time, and rivalry between certain clubs. For example, every college football fan knows what stands behind the term "Kick Six." So, if you plan to bet on Auburn vs. Alabama, keep their previous head-to-head games in mind.

Some of the biggest college football rivals are:

  • Army and Navy

  • Michigan and Ohio State

  • Texas and Oklahoma

  • Alabama and Auburn

  • Florida and Georgia

  • Harvard and Yale

  • Notre Dame and USC

Pros and Cons of NCAAF Best Bets

  • You can bet on 133 competing teams and 11 different conferences
  • You can place a large number of NCAAF best bets, from moneyline to spread, props, futures, and totals
  • College football has a more extensive range of totals compared to the NFL
  • NCAAF future bets come with high odds

College Football Betting Sites Reviewed

If you're looking for sportsbooks that offer some of the most exciting NCAAF bets and lucrative promotions for new and existing players, look at our free college football picks for the ongoing NCAAF season.

DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings

DraftKings allows you to place game lines and future team bets on conference winners and regular season winners, as well as player futures, including the winner of the Heisman Trophy. What's more, you'll be able to place live bets that will be displayed with active college football odds.

On top of that, all new players will be awarded up to $200 in bonus bets divided into eight $25 bonus bets. You’ll only need to make a $5 deposit to activate the bonus. In fact, DraftKings sportsbook, renowned for its comprehensive coverage of various sports and betting options, is often the go-to platform for many enthusiasts looking for the best NCAAB bets, ensuring they get the most informed choices and exciting odds.

What Makes DraftKings Great for NCAAF Best Bets?

  • Live in-game betting option
  • You can bet on all 11 NCAAF conference leagues
  • Same-game parlays on college football
  • 8 bonus bets for new players
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel

FanDuel lets you bet on college football matches using spreads, moneylines, parlays, and futures. In fact, this site provides some of the most competitive future odds on NCAAF conference winners. You'll also find multi-sport parlay insurance that covers betting on 4+ sports.

Besides the generous sign-up bonus of up to $1,000 back in bonus bets, you can also use NCAAF promo codes to get exclusive odds.

What Makes FanDuel Great for NCAAF Best Bets?

  • You can place moneyline and spreads for the entire NCAAF season in advance
  • College football games come with boosted odds
  • Extensive same-game parlays
  • Live and props betting available on all college sports
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM

BetMGM is a popular sportsbook that rewards all new players with up to $1,000 in bonus bets for lost wagers. The site also offers competitive live-betting odds and a large college football betting market. You can use moneyline, spread, and totals to bet on all Division I teams.

Keep in mind the odds and bonus deals may vary from one state to another, given that the sportsbook is available in more than 20 states. Our recommendation is to use the desktop platform for better betting insights.

What Makes BetMGM Great for NCAAF Best Bets?

  • 20+ betting options for a single NCAAF match
  • One-game parlays with numerous betting options
  • Generous welcome bonus of up to $1,000 in bonus bets
  • Live streaming option

NCAAF Best Bet Strategies

If you want to place the NCAAF bets this week, check out the following strategies that will help you reduce the risk of losing the bet.

NCAAF Strategy 1: Bet on Overs if the Match Is Played in Warm Weather

As mentioned before, the weather is one of the elements that you must pay attention to before betting on your favorite team. Namely, the temperature can significantly impact the final outcome of the game.

For example, due to high temperatures, defensive players often slow down near the end of the game. This frequently results in matches that end with a high number of scores.

NCAAF Strategy 2: Don't be Afraid to Bet on the Underdogs

While this may sound counterintuitive, this is not unusual in the NCAAF league. Namely, in college football, underdogs often win against the favorites. Just think back to 2007 when Illinois beat Ohio State 28-21.

However, this doesn't mean you always have to bet on the underdogs. You should always check how the team has performed in the past and whether they're playing at home or away.

NCAAF Strategy 3: Bet on Home Teams That Have Taken a Week Off

Do you remember how we advised you that when creating NCAAF best bets strategies, you should pay attention to the form and performance of the players? We still advise you to keep that in mind. However, besides that, remember that players also need rest. Imagine the following scenario.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are playing against the Texas Longhorns at home. However, unlike the Texas Longhorns, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish had a week off, which helped them prepare for the game and develop a winning strategy.

On the other hand, the Texas Longhorns did not have a week off, and they also had to travel to Indiana for the game. In this case, there is a high probability that the home team will have a greater advantage, even though it may not be considered a favorite.

NCAAF Strategy 4: Be Careful When Placing Point-Spread Bets

Although point-spread bets are one of the most popular types, especially in football, this type of bet can be tricky regarding NCAAF matches. Namely, the point difference is not important for the college teams because one point will be enough for them to win.

For example, even if your team is leading by 5 points minutes before the end of the game, and you bet on a 6-point victory, this doesn't mean that the opposing team won't be able to intercept a pass inside the 20-yard line and score a touchdown.

NCAAF Strategy 5: Pay Attention to Totals

People used to betting on the NFL often make a mistake with total bets. Namely, in the NFL, the totals usually stand at 40 and 50, while in the NCAAF league, this range is much larger because each conference plays a different style of football. For example, the totals in the Big 10 conference will be much lower than those in the Big 12 conference league. If you are interested hockey betting you can check best NHL bets.

Different Types of NCAAF Best Bets

Now, let's take a look at the different kinds of NCAAF bets you can make on online sportsbooks.

Props Bets

There are two types of prop bets you can make – player and team prop bets. If you place player prop bets, you can bet on the performance of a certain player. For example, you can wager on the number of touchdown passes, the player you think will score the first touchdown, who will make the most receptions or interceptions, etc.

On the other hand, team prop bets allow you to bet on the performance of a certain team. These bets can include betting on the team to score first, wagering on the team to punt first, etc.

Parlays

Parlays may be the best bets NCAAF has to offer since they provide high rewards. However, they also come with high risks. Namely, parlay bets involve making multiple bets under one ticket, and this means that all bets within the ticket must be winning.

On that note, you can bet on same-game parlays and live betting parlays. Furthermore, you can parlay any type of bet, from moneylines to totals and point spreads. To increase your chances of winning, don't match more than 4 types of bets, and keep an eye on parlay odds. Moreover, you should only choose parlay bets when the single bet odds are not very good.

Point Spread

Point spread bets are the most common type of college football betting. This type of bet includes betting on the victory of the favored team by a certain score.

For example, if you decide to bet on the Wildcats because they are favored by 10.5 points against the Golden Bears, they will have to win by 11 points. On the other hand, if you bet on the Golden Bears, they will have to win or lose by 10 points.

Keep in mind that point spreads in NCAAF are very volatile. Expect them to state a different number each week.

Moneylines

Moneylines represent some of the best bets NCAAF games provide, as they are pretty straightforward. Namely, moneyline bets include betting on the victory of one team, regardless of the score difference.

You can bet on the favorite or the underdog to win. The former will be marked with a minus sign, while the latter will be labeled with a plus sign. For example, if the sportsbook labeled Rutgers as the favorite in the match between Nebraska and Rutgers, you may see something like this: Rutgers -140, Nebraska +120.

Totals

This type of bet is also called an over/under bet, and it involves predicting the total score. The bookmaker sets the number of total points, and it often involves different limits. You can bet that the set sum will be lower or higher.

For example, if you're betting on a game between Scarlet Knights and Spartans, and the total score stands at 41 points, you'll place an overbet if you think the final score will be over 41. In contrast, you'll place an underbet if you believe the score will be under 41. Keep in mind that in NCAAF, the total score also includes overtime.

Futures

This type of bet refers to long-term outcomes that pay off in the future. Instead of placing a bet every Saturday before the match, you can bet for the whole season in advance. For example, you can try to predict the national championship, conference, or playoff winner.

These NCAAF best bets also come with massive payouts. The most popular type of future bets are season win totals. However, you won't be limited to totals. You'll also be able to bet on player awards, such as the Heisman Trophy, player, or team future props. There are some very exciting college football parlay picks, but we don't recommend you place parlay NCAAF futures since they are hard to guess.

How We Choose NCAAF Best Bets

To help you place the NCAAF bets this week, we've searched many sportsbooks to find the ones offering the best options. Here are the main criteria that guided us.

Best Bet Opportunities

While looking for the best options for betting on college football, we gave the highest importance to sportsbooks offering users the best value. We choose sites that provide the best prop betting odds and other value-added features, such as bonuses, VIP programs, a variety of payment methods, etc.

Another thing we took into account was the availability of teams and conferences as well as major NCAAF sports events, such as the Rose Bowl and playoffs.

Getting the Most Out of Best Bets

You need to wager at the right time to get the most out of the NCAAF bets. This means that the sportsbooks you play at must offer live and future betting. The site must also include up-to-date odds, spreads, and lines for the current season. Some sportsbooks will also include guides on betting and reading the odds, so take advantage of that.

Best Bet Bonuses and Sign-Up Offers

One of the biggest benefits of betting on college football is welcome bonuses. Sportsbooks offer first-bet bonuses that work on the principle of returning a certain amount of money in the form of bonus bets for lost bets.

Although these bonuses are non-withdrawable, this doesn't mean they are not valuable. You can use bonus bets to wager on your favorite college football team, and if you win the bet, you'll be able to cash out your winnings.

Sportsbooks may also offer special NCAAF-related promotions to boost your bankroll by providing first and second-chance bets, bonus funds, risk-free bets, or parlay insurance.

NCAAF Best Bets Responsible Gambling

College football betting is very popular among US gamblers because, unlike the NFL, it offers more excitement, a larger number of teams and divisions, and numerous betting options.

Take Advantage of Responsible Gambling Tools

Responsible gambling is one of the most important aspects of online sports betting, enabling players to gamble safely without risking a gambling addiction.

To help their players gamble responsibly, all legit sportsbooks offer numerous gambling tools, including deposit limits, cool-off periods, time-out sessions, and self-exclusion. They also allow you to manage your bankroll by setting specific deposit and wagering limits.

Never Bet More Than You Can Afford to Lose

Your NCAAF bets this week should not exceed the amount you can afford to lose. So, how much should you bet on college football? Start by picking an amount that will be suitable for your bankroll. For example, you can decide that you'll spend $100 on college football betting and that each bet will be capped at $5 per individual bet.

Avoid placing point-spread bets to maximize your potential returns since they are highly volatile. You should also keep notes on your wagers to create the least risky betting patterns.

NCAAF Betting Involves Financial Risks

Like all other sports betting forms, college football carries certain risks. Namely, there are no guarantees of winning, even if the odds are on your side. In other words, you'll be betting at your own risk. Therefore, we encourage you to bet responsibly and within your financial means.

If You Become Addicted to Gambling, Seek Professional Help

There is nothing shameful about seeking professional help, especially if you feel you have become addicted to gambling. If setting limits doesn't help, you should contact organizations that offer free support, advice, and information on gambling addiction.

NCAAF Best Bets – Your Questions Answered

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Author

Stephen Abiola
Stephen has over 4 years' worth of experience writing sports betting content. When away from writing he enjoys watching US Major League sports, particularly when it comes to anything relating to the Steelers!