I love betting on college football, but it’s a short season, and it can be difficult to put together a college football betting strategy that is profitable over the long term with so much variance. However, that’s what our college football bets and free college football expert picks are here to help you do. So, without further ado, let’s dive into our top college football betting advice as we break down four tips to help you turn a profit this season.
College Football Betting Advice: 4 Tips to Turn a Profit This Year
College Football Betting Advice: 4 Tips to Turn a Profit This Year
Tip #1: Do Your Homework!
Unlike the NFL, college football rosters turn over significantly each season. That team you loved to bet on each week on their way to the National Championship Game last year probably won’t have the same roster a year later, especially with the current state of the transfer portal.
Knowledge is power in sports betting. Thoroughly research teams, players, and coaching staff to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Know what’s different year-over-year and week-over-week. Key factors to consider include team performance statistics, player injuries, and historical matchups.
Additionally, stay updated on recent news, as changes such as a new starting quarterback or a significant injury can drastically affect game outcomes. Local beat reporters can be a great source of information.
Tip #2: Identify Bets with Positive Expected Value (+EV)
If you don’t know what positive expected value (+EV) means, you’re not alone. It’s a long way of describing a bet that you expect to be profitable over the long term.
To calculate +EV, you must first calculate the probability of the outcome you’re betting on. You can do this by taking a projections- or market-based approach.
A projections-based sports betting strategy is pretty intuitive: You’re using stats, trends, and such to estimate the chance of an outcome.
A market-based strategy is often less intuitive. To follow this approach, you’d be taking the odds from across the market to estimate a consensus, then playing lines that beat that consensus by a certain amount.
OddsShopper’s college football betting model does the hard work for you by indexing the odds from across the market to spit out +EV bets. You’ll often find lots of +EV college football player props due to how inefficient those markets often are.
Tip #3: Manage Your Bankroll Wisely
Effective bankroll management is crucial for long-term success in sports betting. Set a budget for your betting activities and stick to it, regardless of your success or losses. Avoid placing bets that exceed your budget or chasing losses with larger bets.
A good rule of thumb is to risk no more than 1-2% of your total bankroll on a single bet. This approach helps prevent significant losses and allows you to weather the ups and downs of betting without financial strain. Getting too aggressive with any one bet is a sure way to ruin your college football betting strategy.
Tip #4: Keep Your Emotions in Check
One of the biggest pitfalls in sports betting is letting emotions influence your decisions. Avoid betting on your favorite team or against a rival team purely based on personal biases.
While it can be fun to back your hometown team, if you’re looking to profit on college football over the longterm, emotional attachments can be a drag on your bankroll. Instead, rely on objective analysis and data-driven insights.
Maintain discipline by following a consistent betting strategy and avoiding impulsive wagers. Keeping a betting journal can also help track your decisions, analyze outcomes, and refine your strategy over time.
