Nothing screams Americana quite like the smell of cut grass on a hot fall Saturday afternoon, cold beers, and NCAA College Football. The best way to up the stakes and enhance Saturday afternoons is to place some action on your favorite NCAAF game, and our guide to USA College Football betting can keep bettors inside the legal field of play by avoiding penalties.
Our guide will provide you with the best college football betting options, from domestic sportsbooks to online betting sites that can be accessed nearly anywhere in the United States. Our guide to college football betting has insight into the Power 5 conferences, as well as the College Football Playoffs and bowl game odds for which teams are favored to qualify for the postseason.
Before you place a wager at a USA football betting site in 2024, take a few moments to read through our guide for the best in NCAAF wagering that the web has to offer, as well as strategies that can inform new bettors on what steps to take prior to risking any money.
The USA's Best College Football Betting Site
Bovada Sportsbook
Bovada caters to die-hard college football fans by offering a strong selection of NCAAF betting lines, odds, props, and futures each season. Bovada Sportsbook covers teams from across the country and includes a variety of point spreads, over/under lines, parlays, live betting, and a host of additional wagering options. Bovada is accessible from your computer or mobile device and accepts some of the most popular cryptocurrencies trading today. This brand's online gambling platform also includes a casino, poker room, and racebook.
Top USA Online Sportsbooks
Offering College Football Betting Lines
| Site Name | Current Bonus | Rating /5 | U.S. | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.9 |  | Visit Site Review |
| 2 |  | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.5 | | Visit Site Review |
| 3 |  | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.3 | | Visit Site Review |
| 4 |  | 100% Max $2,500 | 4.2 | | Visit Site Review |
| 5 |  | 20% Max $500 | 4.2 | | Visit Site Review |
| 6 |  | 50% Max $500 | 4.2 | | Visit Site Review |
| 7 |  | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.1 | | Visit Site Review |
Why Are These The Best College Football Betting Sites?
There are several factors that go into an elite-caliber college football betting site, but here are our top 5 reasons for picking the online sportsbooks found above.
1. Trusted - When we get down to brass tacks, the most important factor is whether you get paid for a winning bet and because each of the sportsbooks listed above have been around longer than most sites in the industry, we can confidently say that they're the safest bet you can make on NCAA football anywhere in the USA.
2. Freedom - Anyone who is at least 18 years old can sign up and bet on any of the hundreds of betting lines and prop bets that are posted ahead of each week's slate of games during the college football season. With essentially no restrictions on what can and can't be wagered on, just about anything during a contest is fair game!
3. Value - When it comes to line shopping and getting competitive odds, the college football betting sites we recommend easily take the cake. Several sportsbooks out there fill their lines with juice, but these sites prefer to squeeze out the vigorish and provide you with the best bang for your buck.
4. Bonuses - And speaking of value: Why not double your money this college football season by selecting a bonus or promotion? All the sites above cater to the rookies and veterans of the betting world by adding more money to your account, so you have more opportunities to score big during the season. Many bonuses are based on deposit matching, but there are several opportunities to stuff your bankroll with promo cash.
5. Experience - Because our recommended college football betting sites are industry leaders, they each have built an infrastructure that is made to give bettors the best user experience that you'll find anywhere. Whether your betting on college football from a computer or mobile device, before or during the game (via live/in-play wagering), the services provided by these online sportsbooks are unmatched by anyone on the Internet.
2024 NCAAF National Championship Odds
Each College Football postseason, the NCAA rolls out its final four teams to compete for the College Football Playoffs and National Championship. The latest College Football National Title Odds can be found below.
Is It Legal To Bet On NCAAF Games In The US?
Yes, it is absolutely legal to place bets on college football games as long as you are selective about where you place those bets and base your choices on complying with USA sports betting laws. Some states in the USA feature regulated domestic sportsbooks for in-person and/or online NCAAF betting. For bettors not located near a region that allows for domestic sports betting, online betting sites operating outside of the jurisdiction of the United States are legal to use and are open 24 hours a day.
The reason betting with an offshore sportsbook will not get USA bettors into any trouble is that gambling laws do not mention wagering over the net with an international website. Washington has laws that forbid all online betting, but our preferred betting sites accept members from this state. Considering all of these factors, being aware of all the information regarding sports betting in your region is the best practice.
Mobile College Football Betting
American society has been moving away from stationary devices at such a fast rate that laptops no longer seem portable. Tablets and smartphones are always nearby and offer the perfect outlet to allow for mobile sports betting. The entire sportsbook site can be accessed via an iPad, iPhone, or Android-powered device just by clicking on one of the links we've provided using a current mobile browser.
Smartphones and tablets are quickly converted into hand-held college football betting portals, with active response control that behaves like a downloadable app that doesn't require going to the Google Play or App Store. These betting applications are web-based and can be accessed quickly, all while offering premium security and data encryption. A functioning device, some money to risk, and a connection to the web are all that is needed to wager on NCAAF while on the move.
Bitcoin NCAAF Betting
Online sportsbooks are always looking to entice new members to join up and take advantage of their services, and most of the sites we recommend for college football betting prefer the use of Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies as a form of deposit and withdrawal. Sportsbook welcome bonus cash offers increase in value up to 3X when using Bitcoin to add funds to member's bankrolls. BTC is also the only method of withdrawal that can be completed within 24 hours of its request, while all other currencies will take a minimum of one day or more to process.
Differences Between Betting on College Football and the NFL
While similar in many ways at first glance, there are some notable differences between NFL and college football. NCAA Division I Football has over 130 teams split into various conferences. The NCAA recently changed Division I to allow a 12-team playoff to decide the national champion - known as the College Football Playoff. The NFL is made up of 32 franchises that play a 17-game season over 18 weeks.
The playoffs consist of 14 teams, 7 from the AFC and 7 from the NFC, in a single-elimination double bracket with the winner of the AFC and NFC playing for the NFL championship.
The CFP National Championship Game is similar to betting on the Super Bowl in that both games feature extremely high ratings and high bet volumes and feature the final two remaining teams competing for a title.
The key difference between betting on the two is college football has disparity due to the number of teams in Division I, with only a handful of contenders each year.
The NFL, on the other hand, has more parity in play each week due to a salary cap and the worst teams being able to draft the best players the following season, keeping a balance and a level playing field in the process.
Why You Should Bet On College Football
In short: Betting on college football is an American tradition. This year marks the 151st anniversary of football, with the first-ever game being played between Rutgers and Princeton on November 6, 1869. Rutgers beat Princeton 6-4, and you can bet that this was the first football game that had money riding on it.
Since then, many sports betting innovations - such as the invention of the point spread by Charles Kline McNeil - began with wagering on NCAA football games.
With dozens of games available each Saturday, there's a smorgasbord of choices you can make before heading out to the pregame tailgating parties. Millions of fans from around the country bleed their favorite school's colors, but how many can turn that passion into profit?
If you think you know the ins and outs of the collegiate game, then there's no question you should dive right into betting on college football.
How Are NCAAF Conferences Structured?
In NCAA Division I football, the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC make up the Power 5 Conferences and are the most competitive at the collegiate level.
Outside of these 5 conferences exists a second-tier group, which consists of the AAC, Conference USA, MAC, MWC, and SBC.
Currently, there are four teams (Notre Dame*, Army, UConn, UMass) who are FBS Independents and do not compete in any conference.
Here is a breakdown of how each Power 5 Conference is structured:
ACC – Atlantic Coast Conference
ACC – Atlantic Coast ConferenceThe ACC was established in 1953 and currently has 17 members who field college football teams. Notre Dame is a member of the conference in all sports except football due to football broadcast rights with NBC.
- Boston College Eagles
- California Golden Bears
- Clemson Tigers*
- Duke Blue Devils
- Florida State Seminoles*
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- Louisville Cardinals
- Miami Hurricanes*
- North Carolina Tarheels*
*Threatening To Leave The ACC
- NC State Wolfpack
- Pittsburgh Panthers
- SMU Mustangs
- Stanford Cardinal
- Syracuse Orangemen
- Virginia Cavaliers
- Virginia Tech Hokies
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons
The two teams with the best divisional records at the end of the season play in the ACC Championship Game in early December to decide the winner of the conference.
Big Ten – Big 10 Conference
Big Ten – Big 10 ConferenceThe Big Ten was established in 1896 and is the oldest Division I athletic conference in the United States. Currently, the conference has 15 members who field college football teams.
- Arizona Wildcats
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Maryland Terrapins
- Michigan Wolverines
- Michigan State Spartans
- Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Northwestern Wildcats
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Oregon Ducks
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Purdue Boilermakers
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- UCLA Bruins
- USC Trojans
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Washington Huskies
The two teams with the best divisional records at the end of the season play in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Big 12 – Big 12 Conference
Big 12 – Big 12 ConferenceThe Big 12 Conference was established in 1994 and currently has 15 members who field college football teams. The 15 teams are not split into divisions:
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- Baylor Bears
- BYU Cougars
- Cincinnati Bearcats
- Colorado Buffaloes
- Houston Cougars
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Kansas Jayhawks
- Kansas State Cowboys
- Oklahoma State Wildcats
- TCU Horned Frogs
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- UCF Knights
- Utah Utes
- West Virginia Mountaineers
Each team plays one another during the regular season, competing in a round-robin structure with the two teams with the best conference record playing at the end of the season in the Big 12 Championship to decide the Big 12 Champion.
Pac-12 – Pacific-12 Conference
Pac-12 – Pacific-12 ConferenceThe Pac-12 Conference was founded in 1959 but only has 2 member schools as of April 2024 due to the departure of all remaining programs. There have been expansion negotiations with the Mountain West, but the conference is at risk of falling out of the Power Five unless changes are made quickly.
- Oregon State Beavers
- Washington State Cougars
In normal circumstances, each team would play nine conference games, and the two teams with the best overall conference records would play in the Pac-12 Championship Game at the end of the regular season.
SEC – Southeastern Conference
SEC – Southeastern ConferenceThe SEC was founded in 1932 and currently has 16 member teams.
- Florida Gators
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Kentucky Wildcats
- Missouri Tigers
- South Carolina Gamecocks
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Vanderbilt Commodores
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Arkansas Razorbacks
- Auburn Tigers
- LSU Tigers
- Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Texas Longhorns
The two teams with the best in-conference records at the end of the season will play at the end of the regular season in the SEC Championship to decide the winner of the conference.
College Football Playoff Selection Process
Since 2014, the CFP Selection Committee has determined the teams that qualify for the College Football Playoffs on the Sunday following the results from Conference Championship Weekend. The committee reviews the win-loss record, head-to-head results, and general strength-of-schedule of every team and then ranks them.
2024 College Football Playoffs
- CFP Round 1: 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9
- CFP Round 2: 5/12 Winner vs. 4, 6/11 Winner vs. 3, 7/10 Winner vs. 2, 8/9 Winner vs. 1
- CFP Semifinals: Top Remaining vs. Bottom Remaining, Middle Two Ranked Teams Face Off In Other Semi
- CFP National Championship Game: TBD
Past College Football Playoff Results
Below you can find all of the results from the CFP Semifinals and National Championship games since the four-team knockout tournament was established in 2014.
2014-15 Champion: Ohio State Buckeyes
- Semi: No.2 Oregon 59, No.3 Florida State 20
- Semi: No.4 Ohio State 42, No.1 Alabama 35
- NC: No.4 Ohio State 42, No.2 Oregon 20
2015-16 Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide
- Semi: No.1 Clemson 37, No.4 Oklahoma 17
- Semi: No.2 Alabama 38, No.3 Michigan State 0
- NC: No.2 Alabama 45, No.1 Clemson 40
2016-17 Champion: Clemson Tigers
- Semi: No.2 Clemson 31, No.3 Ohio State 0
- Semi: No.1 Alabama 24, No.4 Washington 7
- NC: No.2 Clemson 35, No.1 Alabama 31
2017-18 Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide
- Semi: No.3 Georgia 54, No.2 Oklahoma 48 - OT
- Semi: No.4 Alabama 24, No.1 Clemson 6
- NC: No.4 Alabama 26, No.3 Georgia 23 - OT
2018-19 Champion: Clemson Tigers
- Semi: No.1 Alabama 45, No.4 Oklahoma 34
- Semi: No.2 Clemson 30, No.3 Notre Dame 3
- NC: No.2 Clemson 44, No.1 Alabama 16
2019-20 Champion: LSU Tigers
- Semi: No. 1 LSU 63, No. 4 Oklahoma 28
- Semi: No. 3 Clemson 29, No. 2 Ohio State 23
- NC: No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25
2020-21 Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide
- Semi: No. 1 Alabama 27, No. 4 Notre Dame 6
- Semi: No. 2 Michigan 11, No. 3 Georgia 34
- NC: Alabama 52, Ohio State 24
2021-22 Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide
- Semi: No. 1 Alabama 31, No. 4 Cincinnati 14
- Semi: No. 2 Clemson 28, No. 3 Ohio State 49
- NC: Georgia 33, Alabama 18
2022-23 Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide
- Semi: No. 1 Georgia 42, No. 4 Ohio State 41
- Semi: No. 2 Michigan 45, No. 3 TCU 51
- NC: Georgia 65, TCU 7
2023-24 Champion: Michigan Wolverines
- Semi: No. 1 Michigan 27, No. 4 Alabama 20
- Semi: No. 2 Washington 37, No. 3 Texas 31
- NC: Michigan 37, Washington 13
Additional Football Resources
- USA Sportsbooks Sites was developed by die-hard college football fans, so we tried to present a section here that really speaks to the college football fan. We urge you to bet according to odds and performance rather than betting on your alma mater for sentimental reasons or betting simply for the sake of supporting your favorite team. The objective of betting is to win money - so you need to bet with your head and not your heart.
- NFL Football Betting Guide - This page of our guide is designed to provide fans with a comprehensive resource for all things NFL. You will find information about the league's structure, season predictions, odds, and which NFL betting sites are legally sanctioned options for USA players.
- 2024 NFL Season Preview - Get a sneak peek at the upcoming NFL season and what this year's teams have in store for us. Naturally, this preview is based on pre-season information, so the season can always surprise us.
- Thanksgiving Day Football Betting - If Thanksgiving Day football is a part of your holiday weekend, then you'll enjoy this page that focuses on these specific games offering information about the participating teams, odds, and where to legally bet on the games.