During the college football season, there will be dozens of games on the board most Saturdays. Three types of odds are the most common:
Point spread: The point spread, also called the “side,” evens the playing field in a lopsided matchup.
Alabama -35.5
New Mexico State +35.5
With this example, bettors backing the underdog New Mexico State need the Aggies to win or keep the losing margin to 35 points or less. Alabama would need to win by 36 or more points for Crimson Tide bettors to cash that wager.
Over/under: These bets, also called the “total,” are simple. The sportsbook sets a line on combined points by both teams, and bettors can take over or under that point total.
