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There are many similarities between college football betting and NFL betting. It is after all the same sport. At first glance, despite football starting on college campuses and the National Football League being founded on August 20, 1920, the two levels of football appear to be the same: Both players wear and use similar equipment, have similar rules with some minor exceptions, and play in stadiums with thousands of fans.
Despite that, there are some significant differences between the NFL and college football that need to be understood before placing a bet. Both college and professional football have odds, lines, and payouts that differ, so it's important information that could determine whether your wager wins or loses. Despite the betting differences, where you place your bets is the same since many online casino sites began incorporating sports betting. At https://usonlinecasino.com/ you can find a guide on US casinos where you can bet on both college football and the NFL. However, before placing your bet let us take a look at the betting differences between the two.
College football betting and NFL betting differ most in terms of inflated numbers. In the college ranks, point spreads of 21 or more are not uncommon. Often, blowouts are caused by large talent gaps between haves and have-nots. There are times when the gap between two teams is so wide that neither team is offered a moneyline, as happened in Week 1's Minnesota vs. New Mexico State game.
Also, college point spreads are more than 10 points higher than NFL point spreads. Average totals fall in the 50s, but 65+ point totals are common. Additionally, college football spreads move rapidly due to a lack of information compared to the NFL. Also, college teams have more variance in their performances. The variance in outcome among college teams is greater than that of professional teams, even though NFL teams can experience good and bad games.
There is a lack of information available about college football. It is not required for college teams to publish injury reports (and most of them don't). College games and NFL games with high-profile players attract much more attention from oddsmakers. Similarly, sharp bettors are familiar with NFL teams and have a firm grasp of the numbers.
It is important to take into account factors such as home field advantage (HFA) in both college and the NFL. College football, however, weighs a little more heavily on the environments and disruptors. The atmosphere at pro stadiums like Arrowhead and Lumen Field can certainly be intimidating, but many NFL players have dealt with raucous crowds before. Likely, a 19-year-old freshman entering Penn State's Beaver Stadium has never played before 100,000 spectators.
Although 2.5 points are generally accepted as a boost for HFA, you should find a weighted scale for college. If Louisiana Tech plays in front of 2,500 fans, the result shouldn't be compared to Texas A&M playing in front of 102,000 fans.
There are even factors like elevation that are exaggerated in college. The NFL's highest stadium is Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, which is 5,280 feet above sea level. At 7,220 feet above sea level in Laramie, Wyoming, War Memorial Stadium is a major challenge for visiting Mountain West teams like San Jose State, which comes from 82 feet above sea level.
It is important to consider time zones and the environment since college teams travel across them much less frequently than NFL teams.
College football is a sport where information is hard to come by, so doing some research goes a long way. College football betting can be very advantageous if you pick and choose your spots wisely. Get to know Conference-USA and the MAC. There's a good chance you're one of the few bettors in this market, and if you've done more than 15 minutes of research on these teams, you may have an edge over the linemakers.
Identify a market segment with a high degree of specificity. As a final point, don't ignore HFA and roster talent's impact. There can be a simple reason for this, such as Alabama being a more talented team than Missouri in college football.
Volatility brings opportunities.