Last week, we featured a list of the top ten matchups of the 2013 NCAA football season. Now, it’s time to move on to the next step: determining the betting lines for these matches. It’s complicated, but it’s also fascinating. Let’s take a look.
What are the Odds of Winning?
One of the first things you’ll want to do is assess the odds of your favorite team winning. In some cases, you may want to bet on the underdogs to gain an edge. For example, if you are a Michigan State fan and the lines have them as a 6.5 point favorite against Ohio State, you may want to place a bet on Michigan State to win. Of course, you also need to consider the opposite; if you are backing Ohio State, you may want to avoid betting against them as they are a 6.5 point favorite against Michigan State. Another example: if you are a Penn State fan and the lines have them as underdogs against Rutgers, you may want to bet on them as it is usually a close game between these two teams. But if you research the odds, you’ll notice that they are heavily favoring Rutgers. In these cases, it’s best to go with the favorite as you may win something even if the game is close. But if you really want to win big, you may want to consider backing the underdog.
Which Team is Favored?
Besides odds, you’ll also want to assess which team is favored to win. In some cases, it may be pretty obvious. For example, Michigan State is a very seasoned team and has had a lot of success under Coach Mark Dantonio. They also play in the Big 10, so they have a lot of motivation to win. On the other side, Penn State has been disappointing this year and is still looking for its first Big 10 title. Their games this year have been close (one of their biggest victories was by just a single point) and this weekend will be no different. Rutgers is also a solid team, but they are coming off their worst losing season in years. And even then, they managed to put together a winning record. So, in some cases, it may be pretty obvious which team is favored to win.
How Many Points Will the Game Be?
Another important thing to consider is how many points will the game be? The general rule of thumb is: the fewer points the better for both teams. However, occasionally, you’ll run across games where one team is clearly outperforming the rest and you may want to bet on them. For example, last year’s U.S. Open was won by a guy named Rory McIlroy. He was a massive favorite (5 points) against everyone else in the field and was nearly unbeatable. In the final round, he shot a 63 which was a record for that tournament. In some cases, you may be able to get a massive payoff even if the game is relatively close. For instance, McIlroy’s teammate, Martin Kaymer, was a 1.5 point favorite against him in the final round and Martin Kaymer shot a 63 as well. The difference: Kaymer won by just 4 points! In these cases, it’s best to go with the massive underdog as you may win a lot even if the game is close. But, if you’re feeling adventurous, you may want to bet on the favorite as you may hit a huge payout if they win.
Where can I Bet this Game?
You’ll also want to consider where you can bet this game. The majority of the bets will probably be placed on either team with a lot of college football betting websites accepting wagers on both sides of this game. With the recent passing of legislation regarding online gambling in New Jersey, you’ll want to look for websites that offer betting lines for major sporting events in other states. To be safe, it’s best to visit a site that is certified to operate in a legalized gambling environment.
What is the Best Place to Bet?
Besides assessing the betting lines for a game, you’ll also want to consider the best place to bet. In some cases, it may be pretty easy. If you’re in Las Vegas, Nevada, you may want to bet on Missouri vs. Texas A&M. Not only is Nevada a legal betting state, but it is also home to some of the best college football players who are on their way to the NFL. Also, in Las Vegas, there are often off-games between the teams. This means you may get to see some props in addition to the game. For example, after the Rebels beat the Tigers 33-28 in the 2014 edition of the Battle in Little Reno, NV, you may want to bet on Missouri to cover the spread in the upcoming rematch this year.
How Do I Place a Bet?
To place a bet, you’ll first need to visit a website that handles sporting events. Once there, you’ll want to consider whether you want to bet on a team or individual players. Once you’ve made that decision, you’ll be presented with a list of games and you’ll have to choose one to bet on. Next, you’ll want to consider whether you want to bet on the over/under or straight up/down. After that, you’ll be presented with a list of players on your chosen team. You’ll then want to click on each player and choose whether you want to bet on them to win or lose. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you may want to consider going against the spread by placing a “do not want to bet on” marker on players you don’t want to bet on. And finally, you’ll want to consider whether you want to wager cash or credit card. Most online sportsbooks will allow you to wager with either one, but it’s best to use a credit card as you’ll have the option to review your transactions later.
Will This Be a High-scoring Game?
As we mentioned above, the fewer points the better as far as the general rule of thumb goes. In some cases, however, you’ll run across games where the scoring is very high. For example, this past year’s U.S. Open was won by a guy named Rory McIlroy. He shot a 62 and had a 68-65-63—a total of 210—in the final round. In some other cases, a game may even end in a tie. If you’ve ever played pick up football, you may have encountered a situation where it’s tied at the end of the game and someone has to be named MVP. That’s often the case with college football and you may want to bet on a draw as it’s often a very close game. But, as we stated above, the fewer points the better.
What is the Weather Like?
Another thing you’ll want to consider is the weather. Last year’s U.S. Open was played in extremely hot and humid conditions. And while it may not have been the majority of the games, it was certainly a factor in a lot of them. If you live in a place where the weather is reasonable, you may want to consider moving out of state as going to a different climate may affect your health. In some cases, you may want to bet on the underdogs as the heat may be affecting the competition of the favorites.
In Closing
As you see, there are a lot of variables to take into consideration when determining the betting lines for a game. But, in the end, it’s all about assessing the odds and, in some cases, going against the grain. If you’ve followed our advice on this, you may hit a massive payout even if the game is close. And that, my friend, is pretty exciting.