If you are a real fan of college football, once all the bowl matchups are announced, you are absolutely giddy with excitement. For bowl game nuts like yours truly, this is a perfect time of year. In the last 30 years, I’ve probably missed watching 10 games. Stupid, right? But thanks to technology, the ability to record and watch later is a blessing on this end.

I recently sent out a questionnaire to some of my Doc’s members, asking what they wanted to know and understand about betting college football during the bowl season, and I’ll use some of the best ones to blend in with my knowledge.

Is There a Difference Between Bowl Game Betting and Regular Season Wagering?

Betting on NCAAF games starts here! Find our top sportsbook picks, compare latest odds, & news. We also track Heisman trophy and National Championship odds all season long. Jan 11, 2021 NCAA Football Picks. When it comes to picks for college football games, The Sports Geek has you covered. Our team of expert NCAAF handicappers have many years of experience in winning college football bets. Scroll down to check out our NCAA football picks and let our team guide you to more wins when betting on NCAAF games. Futures betting in college football is heavily centered on the Division 1 championship game. You’ll also find Heisman odds and conference champion odds. These are bets you can make weeks or even. A point spread allows bettors to wager on the margin of victory in a college football game. A -14 favorite needs to win by 15 points or more to cover the spread. A +14 underdog needs to lose by less than 14 points, or win the game, to cover the spread.

Yes, but probably not what you would think. The methodology is basically the same for oddsmakers at betting websites. What matters is what you know and can find. Because the last two months of any season is 95 percent conference games, it can be easy to fall in love with one you follow closely. Because these are nonconference clashes, you need to find how each team did in the nonconference, understand their strengths and weaknesses, say at quarterback or in the secondary, to have a knowledgeable feel.

If you don’t generate power ratings, find a known quantity that does and learn who the stronger conferences are and where the teams ended for ratings and compare to the point spread. Along the same line, when we get deeper in the bowl season, some conferences will have a good or bad postseason, and that can become a valuable tip.

Can Coaching Changes Affect Team Motivation?

Back when we had 25 or fewer bowl games, this was a definite trend to follow. Now with 40 or more bowls, the number of coaches moving on being fired is higher and its overall impact has been diminished. Needless to say, it is never a positive, particularly if the opponent comes in playing their best football of the season.

How Do Players Sitting Out Bowl Games Affect Team Chemistry?

Frankly, this bothers former coaches and former players more than it does a player's teammates. Sure, there will be players that are not thrilled about it, but most realize if a person has NFL ability and should be chosen in the first four rounds of the NFL draft, it makes sense to protect yourself for potential earning power. If coaches can come and go, why can’t players? Not an issue for making college football picks.

How Do you Handicap Motivation of Teams Involved?

This is a tricky aspect of betting college games. There is a common assumption that when a team is not playing in the bowl game that they aspired to, they are lacking in motivation. Not saying this isn’t true, however, that’s a little too easily tossed about anymore.

Instead, consider this one part of the equation and match it with another. Say a team expected a better bowl game and they're matched against an opponent who has won several games in a row and they are a seven- to 10-point underdog. If a team has won that many in a row, their confidence is high and assuredly they are feeling disrespected. The underdog is worth a look.

Another scenario is a team expected to win their conference championship contest and is shipped to a more minor bowl and they are facing a team that is winning, but not covering spreads. On one hand, the likely favorite might not as focused, where the other club is sold by their coaches to give a big effort as an underdog and they bring their A-Game.

How Does Travel Affect Bowl Games?

Almost all bowl matchups typically hone in on having at least one team that plays closer to where the bowl is being played from a regional bowl perspective with the other relatively close for those fans who want to travel. Over the years, the team in closer proximity has lesser details to work out for travel plans and covers the spread the majority of the time.

Betting on Bad ATS Teams (Especially If Against Winning ATS Opponent)

Conventional wisdom for betting bowl games is to follow the money. If a team covers the spread 75% or more during the regular season, why wouldn’t they be money in the postseason? It doesn’t work out that way as, over the 15+ years, they hover at just over 45 percent.

Instead, look to back poor ATS clubs at 34% or lower as they are in the 55-60 percent range over the past three five-year periods. And if they are matched against a foe that has a winning spread record, that climbs to over 60 percent winning margin against the college football odds.

Snap Up Unpopular Underdogs

Any number of sports betting websites have bet percentages on wagers cast or money wagered on specific bowl games. Underdogs are generally good bets, especially those in many of the minor bowl matchups.

When reviewing the betting percentages, those that land in the 31 to 39 percent range have beaten the number almost 58 percent of the time since 2005 and those below 30 percent are an outstanding 63+ percent.

When is the Best Time to Bet Bowl Game, Early or Late?

When the lines first come out, if you feel you have a great number and information, you can fire early. Otherwise, gather as much intel as possible, watch for news that would impact a team by player defections, player suspensions, or coaches leaving, and use this info to your advantage. Having patience is smart.

Also, if you liked a team at, say, +7.5 and that line fell to +5 or lower, don’t force a pick just because you liked them. Going under the key numbers of 7 and 6 could cost you. Always look for the most value when betting college games, and missing one won’t change your life no matter the outcome.

Doug Upstone of Doc’s Sports wrote this article and over the last nine weeks of the college football regular season in 2020, he nailed over 62 percent of his plays and loves bowl games.

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Doug Upstone of Doc’s Sports has -21 Documented No. 1 Titles - 87 Documented Top 10 Finishes - 24 Handicapper of the Month Awards. Doug as a professional handicapper/writer has written for various well-known sports betting websites and several of the football newsletters you have read before.

College Football Sports Betting Line

As fall approaches, pigskin fans are not only getting ready for some football, but they are also trying to find the best legal college football betting sites. Not that Saturdays need help being more exciting, as few things in life offer more in the way of pageantry and suspense, but when you actually bet on your favorite team, all the excitement of the weekend’s matchup is taken to the next level. When your team makes it to the College Football Playoffs, it’s about as good as it gets.

With only a handful of states offering land-based legal sports betting now that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act has been overturned, the rest of us may feel like our representatives have gone three and out. Of course, more and more states are working on legalizing sports betting, and it’s only a matter of time before the majority of the US offers the pastime. However, there’s no need to wait: With offshore online sportsbooks offering more betting lines and better perks than you’ll find at any local book, you can simply get on the Internet, sign up at one (or several) of these books, and start betting on your favorite NCAAF teams.

Is It Legal To Bet On College Football?

No matter which state you live in, there will be odds for college football and National Championship odds and it is legal to bet on college football. As this season wraps up, bettors are already looking forward to betting on college football in 2021. Finding legal college football sportsbooks can be found with online sportsbooks or state-regulated betting locations. Some books may not allow odds on in-state college sports or on certain propositions like player props. These will change on a state-by-state basis, as each governing body’s regulations are different across the board. This is why online sportsbooks can be the best legal location to bet on college football, as they offer the most betting lines on the primetime games and even the cupcake games.

Where to Find a Reliable Sportsbook

Las Vegas Insiders College Football

Outside of just a few states (at least for now), you’ll need to go online to find a safe and reliable sportsbook to place your college football bets. Most online sportsbooks have generally comparable offerings, with things like deposit bonuses and page layouts being the main difference between services. Before choosing a site, you should do some research and decide which aspects are most important to you. There are lots of good options out there, and the top sites – like Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline, BetDSI, and BookMaker – have been offering lines on college football for ages.

In the meantime, though, Bovada is a known industry leader, delivering consistent and satisfying customer service within an easy-to-use interface and an award-winning website. They’re known for paying customers quickly, never missing a single payout to anyone, and being totally mobile-friendly, whether you’re an iPhone or Android user. If you’re going to stop by a few online sportsbooks, you might want to check out Bovada first, as it comes widely recommended. Still, don’t let your search stop there. It is actually one of the best betting strategies out there to have memberships at multiple sportsbooks so you can always shop lines for the best odds and biggest payout.

College Football Sports Betting Podcast