As opposed to 16 games a week in the NFL, football bettors have a wealth of games to choose from each week in the college ranks. Online sportsbooks such as 5Dimes post betting lines for just about every game played in Division IA (FSB) on a weekly basis right up until bowl season.
There are the five major conferences that include the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC. The other five conferences in D-IA are referred to as the Mid Majors. This list includes the AAC, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, and the Sun Belt. Between the two, some of the best betting value each week can be found in head-to-head matchups in the Mid Majors.
Nationally ranked teams in each major poll’s Top 25 will always garner the most attention from the general betting public. The online books are well aware of this betting phenomenon, and they react accordingly with sharper betting lines. Money coming in on these games will then move these lines, and the public responds accordingly with more money on the favorite. This happens on a weekly basis all season long, and the books continue to make a killing.
What you do not see online books doing is promoting matchups in the Mid Majors. These can be much harder to predict given the more local aspect of these games. Staying off the national betting radar, the point spreads and total lines tend to be less sharp. In fact, the top college football bettors feast on any number of soft lines that pop up each week.
As a recreational football bettor, it can be tough to capitalize on those types of opportunities. However, that does not mean that you cannot take advantage of betting Mid Major games in general. The best way to develop a winning betting strategy is to focus on just one of the five Mid Major conferences. If you live in the South, the Sun Belt might make the most sense. The Mountain West is a perfect option for anyone living in the Pacific time zone. The MAC is the Midwest while the AAC and C-USA have a broader-based membership.
It really does not matter which Mid Major you decide to focus your energy on. The general idea is to get a better working knowledge of 10 to 12 teams that face one another every season. Familiarity can lead to a higher level of predictability when it comes to betting on the games.
There is a much higher level of parity at the Mid Major level. You usually have two or three teams at the top of the standings and a few more bringing up the rear. The rest of the pack is muddled in the middle. Rivalry games take on extra meaning, especially when the current betting trends heavily lean one way or the other.
The main thing in breaking down these matchups is finding out which team has the best playmakers. A strong quarterback at this level can dominate a game. The same could be said for an outstanding running back. This is when finding a reliable injury report is worth its weight in gold. Local media sources can be extremely helpful when it comes to uncovering accurate information about any Mid Major program. Sometimes, this can be the edge that adds the best value to the betting odds.
Another tip for betting Mid Majors is to pick and choose your spots carefully. Higher units on one or two solid plays can provide a better overall return on investment than spreading yourself too thin with too many games in the mix.
