College Football Betting 101: Essential Rules for Week 1

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The 2023-204 NCAAF Division I season officially begins on August 26. The first four weeks of the season ends on Saturday, September 23. Unlike the NFL, where teams play an eighteen week schedule, college football plays twelve games before conference title matchups and the bowl season. Check out college football lines when available, betting tips, and updates for four important matchups happening in the first four weeks of this upcoming college football season.

College Football Betting Updates For the First Weeks of the 2023-2024 | MyBookie NCAAF Betting Preview

2023 NCAA Division I FBS season | 154th season of college football in the United States
August 26, 2023–December 9, 2023

Florida State versus -2.5 LSU in Week 1 could Be the Most Important Matchup of the Season

On Sunday, Sep 3, the Florida State Seminoles take on the Louisiana State Tigers. Although in past seasons, LSU versus Florida State hasn’t meant much, Tigers versus Seminoles is huge this season.

The winner could catapult to number 4 or 5 in the nation. Brian Kelly’s LSU squad, the SEC West defending champions, rank in the top ten on most early polls. Kelly’s team ranks in the top five in some. Florida State ranks in the top five in some as well. So LSU against FSU is big.

Bet Florida State @ LSU
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Texas Believes They can Knock off Alabama -6.5 in NCAAF Week 2

Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide squad is a tepid -6.5 favorite against former Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns even though the game takes place in Tuscaloosa.

Can the Longhorns beat Alabama? Whether we do or not, Texas believes it can. The Horns lost the great Bijan Robinson but all five starting offensive lineman from last season return as does starting QB Quinn Ewers and the deepest wide receiver room in college football.

Almost important is that 3-of-4 defensive linemen, T’Vondrae Sweat, Byron Murphy II, and defensive end Barryn Sorrell, are back.

Also, Sarkisian is doing something rare in this day and age of college football. Sark is both recruiting top talent and transferring top talent. So a win against Alabama is possible.

Bet Texas @ Alabama
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Clemson versus Florida State in NCAAF Week 4 could Propel the Seminoles into the Top Four

Clemson has some talent, which makes the Tigers a formidable opponent to Florida State in NCAAF Week 4. The Seminoles, for sure, will have their hands full since this game takes place at Death Valley on Clemson’s field.

Depending on what happens in the first three weeks, Clemson’s game at Duke in week 1 isn’t a slam dunk victory, the Seminoles or the Tigers could be the chalk.

The winner, if they enter the game undefeated, may end up in the CFP Top Four. If the winner is Florida State, and the Seminoles had beaten LSU in week 1, Southern Miss, and Boston College before playing at Clemson Memorial Stadium, no doubt, FSU will be ranked no worse than third in the nation after undefeated Georgia and undefeated Alabama.

Florida State is going for it early. Head coach Mike Norvell knows that if he can beat LSU and Clemson in the first four weeks, he might be able to go undefeated during the regular season.

Bet Clemson @ Florida State
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Ole Miss at Alabama in NCAAF Week 4 should be one of the SEC West’s Key Matchups

Ole Miss travels to Alabama, but if the Tide knows what’s good for them, they won’t overlook Lane Kiffin’s Rebels. Mississippi started last season going 7-0.

This season, Kiffin’s bunch has an early test versus the Tide on Sep 23. The Rebels have enough talent on both offense and defense to challenge Bama.

So if Saban’s squad is feeling too good about themselves after beating Texas in week 2, if the Tide isn’t focused, Ole Miss can pull off the upset win.

Bet Ole Miss @ Alabama
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The roar of the college football crowd is just around the corner, and with it comes the thrill of how to bet on college football! The early weeks of the season are prime time to test your knowledge and potentially score big wins. Are you ready to cash in on your college football passion?

Betting on college football can be a very fun, and winning venture, especially in the early weeks of the season. This time of the season is usually marred by tons of opportunities due to a a bunch of factors like incomplete information, bookmaker adjustments, and varying team dynamics.

While how to bet on college football might seem straightforward, the early weeks present unique challenges. Teams are still finding their rhythm, unexpected breakout players can emerge, and non-conference matchups can be tricky to predict.

Here are some strategies to help your chances of making money during the initial weeks of college football.

How to Make Money Betting on the First Weeks of College Football | MyBookie’s Gives You a Betting Preview for the Start of the College Football Season

2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season | 155th season of college football in the United States
August 24, 2024 – December 14, 2024

1. Research and Analysis

The way to win and be successful in betting is done in thorough research. This means understanding the teams, players, coaching staff, and any off-season changes. Key points to consider include:

Team Performance: Take a look at the previous season’s performance. Teams with strong finishes often carry momentum into the new season. Although, with the transfer portal this is less needed as usual.

Player Changes: Study the key player departures and arrivals. Graduating seniors and incoming freshmen can significantly impact a team’s dynamics. Again, the transfer portal is a massive difference from previous seasons.

Coaching Changes: New coaches bring new strategies and playbooks. Understanding a coach’s history can give insight into potential team performance.

2. Focus on Lesser-Known Teams

Big games attract a lot of public and bookmaker attention, often making the lines sharper. But, games involving lesser-known teams provide more opportunities. Bookmakers might not have as much information, leading to softened lines. Pay attention to smaller conferences and less popular teams where your research can give you a significant edge over the house.

3. Consider Situational Factors

Situational factors such as travel, weather, and game scheduling can heavily influence outcomes. Early in the season, teams might travel long distances or play in unfamiliar climates. For instance:

Travel Fatigue: Teams traveling across multiple time zones might experience fatigue, affecting their performance.

Weather Conditions: Teams from warm climates may struggle in colder environments and vice versa.

Short Weeks: Teams playing on short rest might not perform as well as those with more preparation time.

4. Evaluate Motivation and Momentum

Motivation levels can vary greatly in college football, especially early in the season. Look for teams with something to prove, such as those seeking redemption from a poor previous season or players aiming to showcase their skills for scouts. Additionally, momentum from a strong start can propel teams to perform better than expected.

5. Bet Against Public Perception

The general public often bets based on emotions, brand names, and media narratives, rather than objective analysis. This can create value opportunities for savvy bettors. When the majority of bets are on a popular team, the line often shifts to balance the action, creating value on the less popular side. Betting against the public can be particularly effective in the early weeks when perceptions are still forming.

6. In-Game Betting Opportunities

Live or in-game betting can be lucrative, especially in the first few weeks when teams are still finding their footing. Watching games live allows you to assess team performance and make informed bets based on current game dynamics. If you notice a team performing better than expected, you can place bets that reflect this in-game reality, often at more favorable odds.

7. Manage Your Bankroll Wisely

Effective bankroll management is crucial for long-term betting success. Set a budget for your bets and stick to it, regardless of wins or losses. Avoid placing large bets on single games and instead distribute your wagers to mitigate risk. Using a unit system, where each bet represents a small percentage of your total bankroll, can help manage risk and sustain your betting activities through the ups and downs of the season.

8. Stay Informed and Adaptive

College football is ever changing, with new information coming out constantly. Stay updated with the latest news, injury reports, and team developments. Being adaptive and ready to adjust your strategies based on new information can provide a significant edge over less diligent bettors.

By weeding thorough research, understanding situations, using advanced statistics, and maintaining good, solid bankroll management, you can strengthen your chances of making money betting on the early weeks of college football. 

Remember, success in sports betting requires some patience, the ability to adapt, and a smart, disciplined approach.

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Week 1 in the 2022 College Football Season is more than a month away. But although college football doesn’t kick off for some time, we should start preparing for what promises to be a profitable NCAAF season. Check out five ways, along with five possible NCAA Football Betting plays, to score profit during the first weeks of the upcoming College Football season.

How to Make Money in the 1st Weeks of the College Football 2022 Season

2022 NCAAF Season Week 1 – Week 4

Look for home dogs offering overlay odds

Home underdogs play well in the first month. Teams like Purdue, Hawaii, and Appalachian State are home dogs getting points in the early weeks.

Purdue is +3 ½ versus Penn State. Hawaii is +6 ½ versus Vanderbilt and Appalachian State welcomes North Carolina a +3 home dog.

The Boilermakers, Mountaineers, and Warriors could win straight up, much less cover the spread. Keep that in mind when you go to handicap games with solid home dogs.

Possible Play: Purdue +3 ½ versus Penn State in Week 1

Back road teams that offer a ton of points

In the first few weeks, road teams that offer a ton of points have can cover. Look to take the points versus Power 5 Conference teams.

Even top teams like Alabama don’t always cover in the first few weeks. Bama plays a strong Mountain West team in Utah State in Week 1. The Aggies won’t upset the Tide, but they could keep it closer than 38 ½ points.

Mississippi State might be the second worst team in the SEC this season. The Bulldogs are -16 ½ favorites versus Memphis, one of the AAC’s top programs.

Washington is -22 ½ in their first game versus MAC squad Kent State. Texas is -39 against UL-Monroe. All of those are possible plays. But the best play might be Alabama versus UL-Monroe in Week 3.

The game happens a week after Alabama takes on Texas. Steve Sarkisian used to coach for Nick Saban. So that game will be an emotional roller coaster.

Possible Play: UL-Monroe to cover versus Alabama in Week 3

Consider all angles before backing a team on a neutral field to cover

In the early weeks, Power 5 Conference squads love to throw down against other Power 5 teams or Notre Dame on neutral fields.

Clemson is a favorite over Georgia Tech and LSU is a favorite over Florida State on neutral fields. The Yellow Jackets play Clemson at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Although not their home field, for Georgia Tech it’s a home game. LSU plays the Seminoles in New Orleans. Although not LSU’s field in Baton Rouge, the Superdome make it an LSU home game.

Think of angles like that before backing a team on a neutral field.

Possible Play: Georgia Tech to cover +19 versus Clemson

Find potential moneyline dogs by studying which Power 5 teams have new coaches

LSU has a new coach in Brian Kelly. Even though LSU is at home because the game takes place in New Orleans, Brian Kelly may not have the Tigers geared up to face an improved Florida State side.

In Week 3, Oregon is likely to face BYU a big time home chalk. The Ducks have a new head coach. Not only is Dan Lanning the new head coach, but he’s Oregon’s second choice after Mario Cristobal turned down the Ducks’ massive offer to stay in Autzen.

Possible Play: BYU moneyline over Oregon in Week 3

Go against teams that have lost either a top quarterback, multiple offensive lineman, or both

Kenny Pickett is the reason the Pittsburgh Panthers won the ACC last season. Without Pickett, the Panthers should be okay, but they won’t be great.

Pittsburgh faces West Virginia, Tennessee, and Western Michigan in their first three games. Pitt could lose all three straight up. If they don’t lose, they may find it difficult to cover.

Oklahoma hasn’t announced their starting quarterback. The Sooners don’t have a tough first month with games versus UTEP, Kent State, Nebraska, and Kansas State.

But Oklahoma figures to be overplayed in all four. Do your homework before blindly betting on the Sooners to cover.

Possible Play: Nebraska to cover versus Oklahoma in Week 3

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Navigating the college football season as a gridiron handicapper can be more difficult than navigating the NFL because of the unknowns. More unknowns exist in the early part than in the later part of the season. Check out 4 rules to keep in mind that will help you make money in the first few college football weeks. And don’t forget to take a look at the latest College Football lines before the season kicks off!

4 Betting Rules for First Weeks of 2019 College Football Season

#1 Don’t look past the obvious

If it’s obvious, don’t confuse yourself and come up with a reason for why it’s not obvious. Florida should dominate Miami-FL on August. 24, Oklahoma should destroy Houston on September 1, and Notre Dame should demolish Louisville on September 2.

That’s only Week 1. If you feel real good about something, like Michigan to cover a huge spread against Army in Week 2, lay the points.

#2 Back dogs on the moneyline

Although no college football bettor should go against what’s obvious, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look to back dogs on the moneyline. Oddsmakers don’t have a good bead on underdogs in the first few weeks of the college football season.

It’s a great time to back quality underdogs on the moneyline. For example, Boise State is a +4 dog against Florida State. Boise State should be favored, which means they’ll be an overlay on the moneyline.

Week 2 has Cincinnati taking on Ohio State. The Bearcats will be a huge underdog against a Buckeyes team that might not be as good this season as so many project they will be. Possible underdog moneyline opportunities like Cincinnati-Ohio State can make a college football betting season.

#3 Back offense focused teams ATS over defense focused ATS teams

Too many things happen during the offseason in a college football program for teams to scout their first few weeks opponents. Because defensive coordinators have no real clue what their opponents will do, offensive focused squads tend to play above their spread lines.

Look to back teams with excellent offenses. Also look for teams that used to be defense focused squads that may have pivoted to offense focused squads. Michigan hired Josh Gattis as offensive coordinator. Gattis wants to get rid of the huddle. Think Michigan will score more points this season?

Later on, defense focused squads play above their spread lines. For now, look to back scoring machines.

#4 Go against Alabama and Clemson to cover massive spreads

Alabama and Clemson are the two best teams in college football. Because of that, they often show up as underlays against the spread. For example, Alabama is a -33 ½ favorite over the Duke Blue Devils in Week 1.

Duke is a solid ACC squad. We don’t know how well Bama’s defense will perform because of mass changes. Same goes for Clemson against Texas A&M in Week 2. Both the Tigers and Crimson Tide should go undefeated, but they’ll be over played big time in the first month of the 2019 College Football Season.

Take advantage of massive underlay spreads on both Clemson and Alabama.

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If you’re wary of making early-season college football bets, (as you should be), and you’re looking for some expert NCAAF betting tips from a pro on how to make money betting the first weeks of the 2018 college football season, then consider your ticket punched. I’ve got a trio of expert early-season college football betting tips that will help you get your latest collegiate gridiron betting campaign off in style!

Let’s get to it!

How to make money on the first weeks of the 2018 NCAAF Betting Action

Look for Coaches That Like or Need to Run Up the Score

You know how you see those early season matchups featuring a huge, title-contending school versus a mid-major or overmatched tiny small program that has absolutely no chance whatsoever of winning the game?

Well, some ‘old school’ coaches don’t like showing up their small school counterparts while others believe that once you’re on the field, everything goes.

Look for coaches that like to run up the score or ones that are at programs that are either fight for respect or a berth in the four-team playoff and back those teams to cover some of the ridiculously high spreads you see in the early stages of every college football season.

Look For Really Good Mid-Major Programs

Think about a school like Florida International, where Lane Kiffin has turned the program completely around and they’re actually pretty good. Or maybe a team like the Central Florida Knights.

When you see one of these mid-major kinds of programs going up against one of the powerhouse programs and they’re getting a bunch of points, back them to cover the chalk and then sit back and enjoy the action.

Back the Home Team Between Similar Programs

When you see two schools that are of equal or near-equal quality and talent, etc., then back the team that is playing at home to get a big, season-opening boost from their home fans.

Home teams generally do well, particularly early in the season when players are really playing on adrenaline and emotion and since the two teams are evenly matched, the home team is more often than not, offering the best value!

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If you’re a college football betting enthusiast that wants to get off to a good start over the first three weeks of each and every season, then you need to know that early season college football betting is a bit different from the betting opportunities that take place thereafter.

You see, over the first three weeks of the college football season, there are a ton of matchups that feature elite Division-I programs squaring off against their far smaller – and lesser talented – lower division or mid-major counterparts. While these matchups often produce some insane point spreads that often reach four and five touchdowns, you should know that there are a few methods you can use to help increase your chances of cashing in on the crazy odds you often see over the first three weeks of the season.

How To Make Money Betting On First Weeks Of 2017 College Football

Watch those Insane Spreads

It’s difficult knowing when to back a big favorite in the first few weeks of the regular season, which is what makes betting on college football early on so difficult. For instance, let’s look at the defending national champion Clemson Tigers ‘Week 2 and 3 matchups from last season. Deshaun Watson and the Tigers were whopping 34.5-point home favorites against Troy in Week 2 but never came close to covering the spread in their narrow 30-24 victory over the Trojans and actually had to put 17 fourth quarter points on the board to escape with the win.

Clemson struggled with its offense and miscues early on and nearly had their chance to reach consecutive CFB playoffs ruined in Week 1 because of it.

“Seventeen points by the offense in the fourth quarter was huge,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said at the time. “We had three straight scoring drives. Hopefully we can pick up there next week.”

Well, pick it up they did as Clemson rolled all over tiny South Carolina State 59-0 in Week 3 to easily cash in as a mind-boggling 53.5-point home fave as Watson tossed three TD passes and a pair of backups each tossed one touchdown pass. So, how could Clemson cover the spread in week 3 as insane 53.5-point favorites when they couldn’t cover the spread as 34.5-point home faves the week before?

Well, you need to take into consideration their opponents. Troy finished the 2016 campaign with a solid 10-3 record while finishing third in the Sun Belt conference, though they did tie for the most victories. However, Troy was set for a much better campaign in Year 2 of the Neal Brown era after going 4-8 in Brown’s first season in 2015.

In Week 3, Clemson was basically playing a bunch of high schoolers when they faced a South Carolina State team that was nowhere near the caliber of team that Troy was one week earlier. The bottom line is that, if you’re betting on college football in the first three weeks, you need to be really cautious while doing all of the prerequisite ‘homework’ on the smaller team that is going up against the title-contending powerhouse.

Identify Legitimate Upset Contests

Just like Troy did against Clemson last year, there are a number of smaller schools that will face – and easily cover the spread – against their perennial powerhouse opponents over the first three weeks of the regular season.

You need to identify all of the smaller programs that have a lot of positives going for them heading into a new season and look at all of the reasons they could cover or even win outright and place your wagers accordingly. Of course, identifying these teams is easier said than done, but it’s not impossible and only requires some extra research.

Play the Total

One of the best ways to make money in the first few weeks of the regular season is to simply play the Over/Under Total. For example, Clemson went 0-4 O/U last season in their first four games while facing three totals of at least 62 points and a third of 58 points.

While the Tigers got a ton of attention for their prolific offense, college football bettors that knew better and bet on the Tigers’ underrated defense to put the clamps on Auburn, Troy, South Carolina State and Georgia Tech walked away with a month long of winning total wagers. If the point spread looks to insane early on, simply play the total!