College football is absolutely massive across the United States. The betting handle for NCAA football games rivals that of the NFL. The fans are often more passionate and the sheer number of games each weeks gives bettors a huge selection of betting lines to look for value plays.
This will be the third year of the extended College Football Playoff that will see the top 12 teams from the season battling through a single-elimination bracket to determine the National Champion. The major bowl games will feature as the quarterfinal and semifinal games with the National Championship taking place on January 25th, 2027 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sports betting goes hand in hand with NCAA football. On this page we explain the options Americans have for betting on college football this season, take a peek at the early 2027 National Championship odds and look at an example of the three most common bets you can make on a college football game. At the bottom of the page we’ve included a step by step guide to getting started.
Where Can Americans Bet On College Football?
Your options depend on where you live. Here are the main ways to bet on college football games in the United States.
Licensed Sportsbooks
Sports betting is legal in more than 35 states plus Washington, D.C., where licensed sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM offer odds on college football games. You must be 21 or older in most states and physically located in a state where the sportsbook is licensed.
Prediction Markets
Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket let you buy and sell contracts on the outcome of college football games. Instead of betting against a sportsbook, you trade with other users, and the price of a contract reflects the market’s view of how likely an outcome is. These platforms operate under federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than state gambling law, which is why they are available in most states, including states without legal sports betting.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps such as PrizePicks and Underdog offer player stat contests in most states. Rather than betting on who wins, you pick whether players will go over or under a statistical projection.
Offshore Sportsbooks
Offshore sportsbooks are licensed outside the United States and accept bets from across the country. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, which means Americans who use them have no state regulator to turn to if there is a dispute over a bet or a withdrawal.
2027 National Championship Odds
Here are the odds for the 2027 College Football Championship heading into the season (odds taken September 4th, 2026).
- Oregon +700
- Notre Dame +700
- Ohio State +725
- Georgia +900
- Texas +900
- Indiana +1100
- Miami Florida +1200
- LSU +1400
- Texas Tech +2500
- Alabama +3300
- Texas A&M +3300
- USC +3300
- Oklahoma +3300
I’ve only included the 13 teams with 33/1 or better odds heading into the season. These odds will change throughout the season.
NCAA Football Game Bets
The three main betting options for a college football game include the spread, money line and total points. Sportsbooks take these three types of bets on every NCAA football game throughout the year, while also offering additional betting options for the higher profile games.
Here’s an example of what NCAA Football game lines look like using last year’s week 1 game between Texas and Ohio State:
In this example, Ohio State was a 2.5 point favorite and the over/under was set at 47.5 points. Check out our football betting page for a full breakdown of each of these three main betting options including examples.
How To Bet On College Football in the USA – Step By Step
Whichever option you choose, the process of getting started is similar. Here’s a general guide.
Step 1. Choose Your Option
Decide which type of platform fits how you want to bet. Licensed sportsbooks offer the full range of bets where they are available, prediction markets let you trade contracts on the outcome, and DFS apps are built around player stats. Review the options above before signing up.
Step 2. Check The Age and Location Rules
Every platform has its own eligibility requirements. Most prediction markets and DFS apps require you to be at least 18, while licensed sportsbooks require you to be 21 in most states and physically located in the state where they are licensed.
Step 3. Create and Verify Your Account
Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Regulated platforms are required to verify your identity, so you may be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a photo of your ID.
Step 4. Fund Your Account
Deposit using one of the platform’s payment methods, which commonly include debit cards and bank transfers. Check how withdrawals work, and how long they take, before you deposit.
Step 5. Find The Market and Place Your Bet
Navigate to the college football section, select the market you’re interested in, and choose your position. Before confirming, check the price or odds and how much you stand to win, using the bet types explained above as a guide.
Step 6. Set Limits
Decide on a budget before the season starts and stick to it. Most regulated platforms let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
Check out our college football betting page for a different look at college betting including tips and bowl game specific pages.
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