2024-25 College Football Betting Lines & Odds
The 2024-25 college football season is almost here, and betting lines and odds have been released by top online sportsbooks. As far as early predictions go, Georgia and Ohio State are the co-favorites with odds at +350.
This season is notable for coaching changes, with Alabama's odds dropping to +1400 following Nick Saban's retirement, and Michigan's odds moving to +1600 after Jim Harbaugh left. These changes follow Michigan's national championship win over Washington, their first since 1997, adding interest to the betting options this season.
Favourites to Win the 2025 College Football Championship:
Opening odds for the 2024/2025 College Football Season:
Georgia (+350 via BetMGM) While Georgia did not secure a spot in the CFP after their defeat to Alabama in the SEC championship game, they did stand out as a top team in college football this season. The expansion to a 12-team playoff next year will offer Georgia, along with other SEC teams a greater chance to qualify.
Looking ahead, quarterback Carson Beck, who is among the favourites for the Heisman Trophy, will return to lead a skilled Georgia squad into the next season. Now that Alabama has lost Nick Saban, Georgia's ambition will be even more formidable against their long time rivals.
Ohio State (+480 via FanDuel) With the transition of C.J. Stroud to the NFL with the Houston Texans and starting quarterback Kyle McCord entering the transfer portal, Ohio State was in dire need of a new quarterback. Day has recruited a new QB Will Howard, who has transferred from Kansas State. Alongside Howard, Ohio State secured Alabama’s defensive back Caleb Downs, Jeremiah Smith, the top recruit of the 2024 class, and All-SEC running back Quinshon Judkins through the transfer portal.
Ohio State has also retained several players who were potential top 100 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. With these positive changes, this might be the year Ohio State conquers their challenges.
Oregon (+1200 via bet365)
Oregon's head coach Dan Lanning (Georgia’s former defence coordinator) has quickly dispelled rumours of leaving by affirming his commitment via a social media post. The team have been deemed early favourites with a 12/1 chance to clinch the title.
The Ducks closed the last season ranked third in SP+, and showcased their strength by being heavy favourites against Washington in the Pac-12 championship.
Despite star QB Bo Nix’s departure to the NFL this season, Oregon is well prepared to fill the gap left with quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel (from Oklahoma) and Dante Moore (from UCLA), The team’s focus and strategy remains on cultivating new talent and dominating the line of scrimmage.
Texas ( +700 and +850, )
The Texas Longhorns, with NCAA football odds fluctuating between +700 and +850, captured their first Big 12 title since 2009 and participated in the CFP for the first time this season. Despite their efforts, they were overcome by Washington's formidable offence in the Sugar Bowl. However, their performance this past season marked a significant positive shift for the team that has struggled to find consistent success over the past ten years. Looking ahead to 2024, with Quinn Ewers returning for his junior year, the Longhorns are poised for another strong performance in 2024.
Underdog Contenders for the 2024/25 College Football Season
On many occasions unpredictable circumstances have brought unexpected college football teams to the forefront of national championship contention. We believe that several under-the-radar teams have the potential to go further than expected this season
Below are a few insights into these dark horse contenders:
Iowa State Cyclones
Under the leadership of Matt Campbell, the Iowa State Cyclones have undergone a remarkable transformation by focusing on a disciplined defence and an efficient offence. Their consistent improvement has led them to bowl games and victories over top-ranked teams.
The team boasts key players like quarterback Hunter Dekkers who is expected to have a breakout year, along with tight end Charlie Kolar and linebacker Mike Rose, both of whom have received All-American honours.
With Campbell's coaching prowess and a top-tier defence, Iowa State might just surprise bettors with a Big 12 title or more.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Mack Brown's return to the North Carolina Tar Heels has been instrumental in turning the team into strong contenders in the ACC. He has focused on recruiting top talent and building a powerhouse offence. Quarterback Drake Maye and receiver Josh Downs are among the players to watch, with Maye potentially leading the team on a championship run.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Herm Edwards' NFL experience and player-centric approach have been key to Arizona State's strategy of building a competitive team in the Pac-12. Despite a middle-of-the-pack performance, they have the potential for greater achievements under the right circumstances. Key figures like defensive standout Merlin Robertson and dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels will be crucial to their success. Edwards’ emphasis on a strong defence and offensive line improvements might propel ASU to the top of the Pac-12 and into national championship conversations.
Types of College Football Bets
Knowing which type of bet to place is important for successful betting on football, especially in the context of college games.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common types of bets.
Moneylines NCAAF moneyline bets are straightforward bets on the game's winner, regardless of the final score. Winning bets pay out based on the odds, influenced by the favoured status of the team you bet on.
Points Spreads: Point spreads indicate how much a team is expected to win by. For example, if the spread is 10 points, it's up to you to decide whether the team will meet or exceed this number.
Over/Unders (Totals) Over/Unders involve betting on the total points of a game. You can bet on whether the final game score will be higher or lower than expected.
Prop Bets Proposition bets, or prop bets, focus on outcomes that are not directly tied to the game's final score. Popular prop bets include predictions on individual player performances, such as a quarterback's total throwing yards. However, these types of bets can range from things that are directly connected to the game, such as the first touchdown scorer to other more outlandish options such as how many times Taylor Swift will be shown on screen.
Live NCAAF Odds For those interested in betting during live games, live odds offer a more exciting betting experience. These odds adjust in real-time, which allows you to place bets based on current game developments.
Parlays Parlays allow you to combine multiple bets into one,which increases the potential payout if all of your selected outcomes occur.
Futures Betting Futures bets focus on long-term outcomes, such as season-long achievements, making them more challenging but potentially more rewarding. The most sought-after futures bet is predicting the College Football National Championship winner, alongside other features like Heisman Trophy winners.
College Football Odds: How Betting Lines Work
In the U.S., college football betting lines are typically illustrated with a $100 benchmark.
A ( + ) indicates the underdog, meaning a $100 bet on this team could yield the listed return plus your original stake. For example, a wager of $100 on an underdog listed at +200 would result in a total payout of $300 ($200 in earnings and your $100 bet back).
The ( – ) symbol signifies the favourite, showing the amount needed to wager to win $100. Thus, a favourite at –200 requires a $200 bet to win an additional $100.
Let’s take a look at a few examples to get the hang of this. Consider a matchup between Texas A&M and Florida, with their moneyline set as:
- Texas +130
- Florida -150
In this case, Texas is the underdog. A successful $100 bet on them would bring in $230 ($130 in winnings plus the $100 wager).
Florida, being the favoured team, means a $150 bet is necessary to win $100.
Note that the team listed last is the home team, so Florida is the host.
Whether a bet is worth placing depends not only on who is likely to win but also on the value provided by the odds.
Understanding Opening and Closing Lines The opening line is the initial oddsmakers' prediction for a game. These lines can shift due to betting patterns or news updates such as injuries.
The closing line represents the last available odds before the game starts, and these might differ from the opening line because of last minute shifts in circumstances that could affect the game.
Spread Bets Explained Spread bets also use ( + ) and ( – ) symbols, with an added spread number for clarity.
For instance:
- Texas +4 –110
- Florida –4 –110
This means Florida has to win by more than four points. If you place a $110 bet on Florida under these conditions, and they win by over four points, you’d receive $210 (your $110 bet plus $100 winnings).
Total Bets Breakdown Total bets revolve around predicting the total cumulative score for both teams, deciding if it will be over or under a predetermined figure.
For example:
- Over 55 –105
- Under 55 –105
Here, the expected total score is set at 55 points. Your task is to predict whether the final score will be higher or lower, with a $105 bet generating $100 in profits regardless of which side of the total your bet lands on.
Key 2024 College Football Betting Events
Certain College Football events attract more attention due to their significance.
Championship Games The pinnacle of the NCAAF season is the College Football Playoffs, which culminates in the national championship game in January. Additionally, each of the 11 Division 1-A Conferences hosts a Championship Game at year-end to determine its champion.
College Football Conference Championships Overview:
- American
- ACC
- Big 12
- Big Ten
- C-USA
- FBS Independents
- Mid-American
- Mountain West
- Pac-12
- SEC
- Sun Belt
Rivalry games are highlights of the college football calendar, and offer fans and bettors a taste of intense competition and excitement.
Notable College football rivalries include:
- Army vs. Navy
- Michigan vs. Ohio State
- Texas vs. Oklahoma
- Alabama vs. Auburn
- Florida vs. Georgia
- Harvard vs. Yale
- Notre Dame vs. USC
Bowl Games Teams that did not qualify for the Playoffs compete in postseason college football bowl games which are held at fixed locations annually.
The most prestigious bowl games, known as the New Year’s Six, are:
- The Rose Bowl
- The Fiesta Bowl
- The Sugar Bowl
- The Orange Bowl
- The Cotton Bowl
- The Peach Bowl
Heisman Trophy: Betting on who will win the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the top college football player in the country, is also a popular futures market. Heisman Trophy Football Betting Odds are available before the season starts and adjust through the season based on individual performances and betting trends.
Paul Richard is a professional sports betting and casino content writer with over three years of experience. He provides expert tips, strategies, and betting advice to help bettors succeed.
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