How Often Do College Football Underdogs Cover the Spread?

min read
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King (10) runs for a touchdown against Syracuse during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 in Syracuse, N.Y.
(AP Photo/Hans Pennink)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Sep 12, 2024, 2:48 PM

When it comes to online sports betting, the most popular market for NCAA fans is generally the college football spreads section of the online sportsbook.ย 

Unlike the NFL, FBS college football has more than 100 teams, with most of them in action every week from Labor Day through Thanksgiving.ย 

For those experienced in betting NCAA football odds, diving into the deep corners of the sport for an undervalued dog is part of the fun. But how often do underdogs actually cover the spread?

I crunched the numbers to find a definitive answer.ย 

How Often Do College Football Underdogs Cover the Spread?

Since 2005, college football underdogs playing in regular-season games cover the spread 50.4% of the time.

Since 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned PASPA, underdogs have won at a slightly higher rate of 50.6%.

After accounting for the vig, thatโ€™s not quite high enough to be a profitable betting endeavor โ€“ though it does beat how often college football favorites cover the spread.

The lesson here is to choose your college football betting spots with care. Check out my weekly college football picks if youโ€™re looking for a little help on where to start.

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.