With the college football season upon us, betting action is ramping up. If you haven’t bet before, now is the time to get involved on the action. The thing to keep in mind is that college football betting is unique in itself.
There are a few tips that will go a long way toward creating a more optimal betting experience. Here are the things to remember when it comes to college football betting.
Know the Differences Between College and the NFL
The first thing to remember is that college football betting and NFL betting are different animals. Yes, they are both football, but that’s where the similarities end. Being able to access your bets through any smart device can make the process a little too quick, keeping bettors from really thinking about the differences.
The college game and NFL game are not the same. There are some differences that can impact the play of the game, including how points are scored. When you get started with college football betting, you need to know these things or you could find yourself in a touchy situation that could have been otherwise avoided.
Bigger Spreads
With NFL games, a spread that is over 10 points is massive. You won’t see them very often, either. When betting on college football, you may find yourself in a bit of shock at some of the lines. Spreads in college football can be in the 40s and even 50s depending on the severity of the mismatch. A high-end team like Georgia playing an also-ran like Arkansas State will result in a line that is easily in the 40s.
Picking a favorite with a massive line makes those bets far less certain. A dominant team like Georgia can win big without even coming close to covering. Bettors tend to stay away from massive lines because of the difficulty in covering, adding another layer of complication to college football betting. Bigger spreads do, however, leave a lot more room for error than one of the smaller lines. Plus, it’s fun to watch a great team absolutely beat down an inferior opponent, chasing the huge spread all the while.
The Professional Difference
In the NFL, everyone was the best in college. Everyone is a professional who has the ability and intelligence to make it to the next level and even potentially succeed there. In college football, that isn’t the case. In some instances, you’re dealing with 18-year-old kids who are fresh out of high school.
High-profile games in the NFL aren’t likely to impact players as much as a high-profile game in college. In big-time situations, it can be tough to trust younger players like underclassmen, especially if you’re going to be putting a few bucks down on the game. Keep that in mind when you consider your bets for the day.
Stats are Misleading
History is an important thing when betting on the NFL. But when you look at stats in college football, it’s tougher to reference that history because the sample size can be quite a bit smaller. For some teams, it isn’t out of the question to have a freshman starting at important positions.
That smaller sample size makes it much tougher to know what you’re getting. For college football, look at things like pressure rate, explosive play rate, team over/under percentage, against the spread percentage, etc. Some stat sites don’t even really make it clear that what you’re seeing is against inferior competition or a smaller sample size. Do a deeper dive and don’t trust the first stat you see.
