Tips to become a smarter college football bettor - ESPN

So you want to bet on college football? Welcome. The good news? It's one of the most chaotic, beautiful, bettable sports we have. The bad news is that it can be a little overwhelming if you don't know where to start.

If you've never bet before and are looking for the true basics of betting, start with our beginner's guide to betting.

If you're already fluent but looking to get in on all that Saturday action, don't worry, you don't need 10-leg parlays to make college football work for you. In fact, the best approach is to keep it simple. Here's where to start.

The bread and butter of college football betting is the spread. If a team is listed as -7.5, they need to win by 8 or more to cover. If they're +7.5, they can win outright or lose by 7 or fewer and you cash your ticket.

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Most people love favorites, but I'm not most people. Personally, I gravitate toward underdogs, especially in conference games, rivalry spots or matchups where the public perception is way too high on one side. However, not every dog is live, but I'd rather back a gritty team getting points than bet on a heavy favorite who might pull their starters late or coast through a win without covering.

I don't back underdogs because I think they can cover. I back them because I believe they can win. It's important to know the difference.

Should you bet the underdog money line andbet against the spread?

If you're already betting an underdog ATS, it's worth sprinkling a little on the money line, especially if you genuinely believe the team can win outright. The payout is better, and if you're right about the matchup, you might as well maximize the return. Just don't