NCAAF Schedules
Understanding the NCAAF Schedule
The NCAAF schedule basically runs at the same time as the NFL season, but the NCAA college football season perfectly complements its professional counterpart.
College football games are mostly aired on Saturday, from the end of August to mid-December, followed by bowl games and capped by the national championship game just a week after New Year’s Day.
Find all the NCAA football odds you need in the sportsbook of your choice.
The NCAAF schedule is not just about games; it’s about strategy, fairness, and the journey to the coveted College Football Playoff and bowl games.
Structure of the NCAA Football Schedule:
The NCAAF schedule is designed to accommodate varying numbers of college football games per team, typically ranging from eight to twelve games in a season. Each team plays an equal number of home and away games.
However, the specific dates, opponents, and locations are the puzzle pieces that shape each team’s unique schedule. Conferences play a pivotal role in determining the NCAAF Calendar. Teams within the same conference may have distinct schedules based on their affiliations.
Conference Involvement:
College football conferences wield considerable influence over the NCAAF schedules. They decide the number of conference games, ranging from eight to ten games, and whether to include a conference championship game.
The finalized conference schedules are submitted to the NCAA and are made available for fans to plan their game days.
NCAA's Role:
The NCAA doesn’t dictate specific game dates but provides a selection of approved schedules. These approved NCAAF schedules outline which teams play home and away games but leave the scheduling of dates to the schools.
The schools assess their overall season’s flow and determine the most suitable dates based on the approved schedules.
Bowl Games and College Football Playoff:
The NCAA employs selection committees to determine bowl game participants. While the College Football Playoff selection committee considers factors like strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and conference championships, other bowl committees primarily base their decisions on team records.
The College Football Playoff schedule is controlled by the NCAA, while other bowl games vary in their selection criteria.
Release and Adaptation:
The NCAA football schedule is released at the start of the season, detailing the slate of games for each team.
However, as the NCAAF season progresses, changes might occur due to rescheduled or canceled games. The NCAA also monitors average temperatures to avoid scheduling multiple games at the same time due to climate-related challenges.
Bye Weeks:
Every college football team enjoys a bye week, a period without a scheduled game. Even during the bye week, teams may have one game planned to ensure equity in scheduling. This approach prevents certain teams from having more games while others have none, which could lead to unfair advantages.
Tips Before Betting on College Football Games
Although NCAA football is still football and has mostly the same rules as the NFL, it can differ widely. Keep in mind some tips before engaging:
Beware Of The NCAAF Odds
College sports, especially college football, can be volatile. Even if juggernaut programs like Alabama and Georgia are powerful and win consistently, they are prone to getting upset. Do not blindly throw money at their moneyline as their NCAAF Odds can be at ridiculous prices.
Focus On the MoneyLine
Learn how to convert the odds into win probability and determine if you are comfortable wagering cash for this team’s shot at winning (or covering the spread). Look up the matchups and check the teams' records on the spread before you bet on NCAA football.
Check The Weather.
Most teams play outdoors so the weather and field conditions will affect win probabilities and scoring rates. A snowy day in Wisconsin will play out differently than a hot, sunny day in Florida, especially if a team is not used to playing under certain conditions.
2024 College Football Schedule & More Events
Unique to the NCAAF schedule are bowl games. These are postseason games played in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) where they usually pit the better teams against each other.
The College Football Playoff National Championship is the biggest bowl game of the college season, and is typically played on the second Monday of the New Year, concluding the college bowl season.
Almost every college football game is available for betting online. They have their own point spreads, moneylines, and totals, while some others will have props.
