College Football Betting in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is one of the states where college football betting is legal. In this guide, we will take a look at the top online sportsbooks that accept Pennsylvania residents, and we will also provide some tips on how to make successful wagers on college football games. 

Is college football online betting legal in PA?

You can legally bet on college football from anywhere in Pennsylvania.

PA lawmakers first legalized betting on sporting events in October 2017. However, they needed a federal waiver to allow for this new form of gambling. That waiver was granted in 2018 when US Supreme Court ruled against a federal ban on states allowing online wagering. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control board (PGCB) has created regulations for online betting on college football in PA.

Unlike in New Jersey, where you cannot bet on local college teams, in Pennsylvania, you can bet on local college football teams as well without limitation. 

PA college football bet types

College football betting in Pennsylvania offers various types of bets. 

Moneyline Betting

One of the most popular forms of college football bet types is moneyline. Moneyline betting is simply placing a wager on whether the home team will cover the spread or not. For example, if the spread is -7, then you would bet $100 on the home team covering the spread.

Point Spread 

The next way to bet on college football is point spread betting. Point spread betting is similar to moneyline betting except instead of betting on the winner of the game, you are betting on whether the spread will be less than or greater than a specific amount. For example, let’s say you want to bet on a game between two teams with a spread of +6. Then you would bet $100 that the team with the lower scoring team will win.

Over/Under Bets

An over/under bet is another way to bet on college basketball. An over/under bet is placed on whether the total score of a game will be above or below a defined amount. 

Futures Bets

Futures betting is yet another way to bet on college football. Futures betting is used to predict the outcome of future events. For example, you may bet $100 on a team to win their next five games.

Parlay Bets

Parlay betting is a combination of multiple bets into one wager. Parlay betting is done by combining multiple bets into one wagering option. For example, you could combine a moneyline bet with a point spread bet and a futures bet into one wager.

College football betting lines in Pennsylvania

College football odds are different from the prices posted by bookies and online betting sites. These college football odds are the different wagers you can place on the game.

A basic set of sports betting odds includes moneylines, point spreads (also called favorites), over/under bets, and futures or out-rights.

Most betting sites in PA will set their own line. However, they may hire a third party to do it for them instead.

As a customer, you can compare prices online before buying anything.

When you check the odds on a sportsbook before placing your wager, you’re line-shooting. If you find the odds at a better price, then you’re saving yourself some cash.

Suppose you like Florida better than Miami. You then notice the line has moved from +335 to +305.

Placing bets with the second book would immediately save you $30 per $100 you place. You could simply browse through the odds at several online sportsbooks. A task that takes you no time at all can save you money.

Line movements

Sportsbook line movements can happen due to several factors, including weather forecasts or news about injuries to key players.

However, bookies often adjust their odds due to growing betting activity on one team. One big bet could cause them to shift the odds in favor of another team.

If a college football game has moved from one point spread to another, it means that most people who were previously backing the underdog now favor the favorite. So if you want to take advantage of this situation, you might be able to get some good value by placing a wager on the favored team.

Regular season & postseason

College football odds are different during the regular season than they are in the playoffs. Because of that, the lines are infinitely less accurate.

Mistakes happen during the regular season, but they’re less common when there are fewer teams playing. However, mistakes don’t stop happening once the playoffs begin.

Bet on college football vs. the NFL

College football has its own set of rules and regulations. There are some major differences between professional football and college football.

The first difference between the NFL and college football is the total amount of teams. There are 32 NFL franchises (teammates), but the NCAA says there are more than 780 college football programs nationwide.

There are two divisions at the highest level of college football: FBS (130 teams) and FCS (126 teams).

With almost 300 teams in the top divisions of American collegiate sports, there isn’t nearly the same level of press attention given to most professional team sports.

It means that there’s less info available when it comes to college football betting, which makes it tougher for bettors and oddsmakers alike. It usually means more errors and softer betting lines for most college football contests. Oftentimes, oddsmakers don’t know enough about college football to set lines correctly.

There are some bets available in college football that do not exist in the National Football League. On top of that, the differences between competing programs at the highest level and local schools also mean bigger spread discrepancies. That’s one reason you’ll often find bigger spread disparities in college football than in professional football games.

College football betting tips

We provide you with some great tips on how to maximize your chances of winning big on college football bets.

Tip #1 – Pick Your Team Wisely

When choosing a team to back, you need to pick a side that you think will win. However, if you do not know who is going to win, then you should avoid placing any wagers. There are many websites out there that offer free picks, but you need to use them wisely. Some of these websites may give you good advice, but others may just be trying to get you to sign up for their premium packages.

Tip #2 – Avoid Free Picks

Free picks are usually given away by bookmakers to attract new customers. They are normally very poor value for money. If you want to place a bet on a specific match, then you should always check the odds before making a decision.

Tip #3 Use Bet Credits

Bet credits are a form of loyalty reward scheme used by many sportsbooks. Most betting sites will allow you to earn credits and bonuses by registration and a first deposit. Once you have earned enough credits, you can redeem them against future bets.

Tip #4 – Choose A Sportsbook That Is Reputable

It is important to choose a bookmaker that is trustworthy. Many scams and offshore sportsbooks exist, and you should steer clear of them. As mentioned above, we recommend that you read reviews of betting sites before deciding which ones to use.

Best Pennsylvania College Football Teams

• Penn StateNittany Lions – The Nittany Lions are a perennial powerhouse in college football. With a storied history going back to 1892, Penn State boasts eight National Championships, including the first-ever playoff championship in 2014. The program has produced some of the greatest quarterbacks in NCAA history such as Joe Paterno, Terry Hanratty, and Pat White.
• Pittsburgh Panthers – Pittsburgh is another perennial power in the Big East Conference. The Panthers have appeared in the playoffs seven times since 2004, making them one of the most successful programs in recent years. 
• Bucknell Bison – Bucknell is located in Lewisburg, PA. Founded in 1887, the school competes in the Patriot League. The team plays home games at KeyArena.
• Duquesne’s Dukes – Duquesne is a private Catholic university located in Pittsburgh. Founded in 1890, the team competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Coach Jim Cerny has led the team since 2015. Before taking over, he spent time coaching at West Virginia, Rutgers, and Boston College.

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