College Football Betting At New Jersey Sportsbooks

Despite what you may have heard, you can bet on college football in New Jersey. As long as betting doesn’t involve New Jersey-based schools or games played inside state lines, anyone 21 and older can legally bet on college football in the Garden State.

Now, the 2020 college football season is set to be one of the most unusual in history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several large conferences have postponed and/or cancelled games from their teams’ schedules.

However, don’t let this deter you. Read on to see exactly how you can bet on college football in New Jersey this year, both online and in-person.

What are the best college football betting sites?

There are now 10 retail sportsbooks and 18 sportsbook apps taking bets on college football in 2020. These are the very best of them:

Betting on college football with NJ betting apps

NJ betting apps have made football betting easy. There are, after all, 18 of them:

Online Sportsbook	Land-Based Affiliate	Sports betting partner(s)	iOS app	Android app	Available Bonus
DraftKings	Resorts AC	Kambi	Yes	Yes	$25 in free bets
William Hill	Monmouth	NA	Yes	Yes	$50 free bet
Fox Bet	Resorts AC	NA	Yes	Yes	$20 + Up to $100 free cash
FanDuel	Meadowlands	Betfair/IGT	Yes	Yes	Up to $1,000 risk-free bet
PointsBet	Meadowlands	NA	Yes	Yes	2x up to $500 free bets
Caesars	Caesars AC	Scientific Games	Yes	Yes	$10 free
BetMGM Sports	Borgata AC	IGT	Yes	Yes	$500 deposit match
SugarHouse	Monmouth Park	Kambi	Yes	Yes	Up to $250
Golden Nugget sportsbook	Golden Nugget	SBTech/Scientific Games	Yes	Yes	Up to $50 risk-free bet
888 Sport	Caesars	Kambi	Yes	Yes	$10 free
Hard Rock	Hard Rock AC	GiG	Yes	Yes	$100 free bet
Resorts	Resorts AC	SBTech	Yes	Yes	Up to $250 match bet
BetAmerica	Golden Nugget	SBTech	Yes	Yes	100% up to $500
Borgata Sports	Borgata AC	GVC	Yes	Yes	Up to $250 risk-free bet
Bet365 NJ	Hard Rock AC	NA	Yes	Yes	Up to $100 match bet
TheScore Bet	Monmouth	Bet.Works	Yes	Yes	Up to $100 match bet
Unibet Sportsbook	Hard Rock AC	NA	Yes	Yes	$20 + Up to $250 risk-free bet
Wynn Sports	Caesars AC	GPGS/Sci Games	Yes	Yes	NA

First and foremost, you should choose the app that feels most comfortable to you. You should be able to sign up by clicking a few buttons and providing some personal information. The entire process should take only a few minutes.

Then, it’s a matter of depositing money on the app. You will have plenty of options to choose from, like PayPal.

By the way, be sure to take note of any bonus codes we have listed. Don’t forget to enter them into the correct spaces on your registration or deposit forms – you’ll miss out on free money and other goodies if you do.

Once you’re ready, browse through the college football betting markets in search of a good bet. Choose wisely, confirm the bet, then wait and see if your first college football bet on the app is a winner.

2020-21 College Football Futures

One popular item that you can bet is on the team you think might win the National Championship. Futures odds change throughout the year as the season progresses. To get the best odds, you’ll need to get your futures bet placed fairly early in the season.

You can also bet on the potential 2020-21 Heisman Trophy winner and several Conference champions. Check the current futures odds for all NCAAF futures in our real-time odds feed below. Click “Bet Now” to start the sign-up process and claim your free bet bonus.

How does college betting work?

There are several ways you can bet on college football games at NJ sportsbooks, including:

Moneyline

The moneyline is the easiest college football game bet you’ll find. You simply pick who you think will win.

The tricky part is the three-digit number next to each team’s name. Those numbers are payout ratios that tell you how much you stand to gain for a successful wager.

A negative number means that the team is the favorite, and the amount listed is how much you must bet to win $100. A positive number means that the team is the underdog, and a $100 bet will win you the published amount.

Point spreads

A point spread is a wager on the expected margin of victory. You can bet that either the favorite will exceed the sportsbook’s expectations, or that the underdog will lose by fewer points than the established mark.

Totals

Totals bets are usually known as over/under bets. The sportsbook will estimate how many points both teams will combine to score, and you can bet whether the actual amount will be over or under that number.

Futures

College football futures allow you to pick a team to win its conference or the national title. NJ sportsbooks post college football futures markets before the season and adjust the odds as the season progresses.

Parlays

College football parlays allow you to combine two or more basic college football bets into one. Parlays offer bigger payouts, but you must win every game in a parlay for it to pay.

Is college football betting legal in NJ?

Betting on college football is legal at all licensed NJ sports betting operators as long as no in-state schools or games played inside the state or games involving New Jersey schools outside the state are involved.

The state’s first retail and online sportsbooks opened in 2018. There are now nearly three dozen options (online and retail) that you can use to bet on sports in New Jersey.

Where can you bet on college football in NJ?

Outside of the 18 apps taking bets on college football in 2020, there are 10 NJ retail locations where you can bet on college football games.

1. Monmouth Park Sports Book by William Hill

Monmouth Park Sports Book by William Hill was the first in the state to start taking bets when it opened on June 14, 2018.

It features two sportsbook locations at the track and sports bar as well as an open betting area on the main grandstand.

The sports bar area has air-conditioned seating for 130. There are 22 live betting windows overall, six at the sports bar and 16 in the grandstand. Plus, there are two self-serve betting kiosks.

The minimum wager at William Hill Monmouth is just $2.

2. Borgata Race & Sports Book / Moneyline Bar & Book

The Borgata Race & Sports Book also started taking bets on June 14, 2018, in a temporary sportsbook location.

The permanent 8,000-square-foot Moneyline Bar & Book opened June 29, 2019.

The Borgata Race & Sports Book still takes sports bets and features 100 seats and 10 betting windows. The Moneyline Bar & Book has 144 seats, self-service betting kiosks, and six live betting windows.

The minimum wager is $5 at each.

3. FanDuel Sportsbook at Meadowlands Racetrack

FanDuel Sportsbook at Meadowlands Racetrack started taking bets on July 14, 2018.

It has expanded to now include 30 live betting windows and 17 self-betting kiosks. There are seats for more than 200 around the venue.

The minimum wager at FanDuel Sportsbook is $5.

4. William Hill Sportsbook @ Ocean Casino

The William Hill Sportsbook @ Ocean Casino started taking bets on June 28, 2018.

The 7,500-square-foot sportsbook is located in the heart of Ocean’s gaming floor and features live betting windows and self-serve betting kiosks.

The minimum wager is $2.

5. The Book at Harrah’s

The Book at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City opened Aug. 1, 2018. The 3,800-square-foot sportsbook features stadium seating and access to live betting windows and self-serve betting kiosks.

The minimum wager is $2.

6. The Book at Bally’s

The Book at Bally’s in Atlantic City opened in 2018 as a temp sportsbook. But in summer 2019, the more than 15,000-square-foot sportsbook opened. It features private fan caves and more than 150 seats in the main area.

There are 10 live betting windows and self-serve betting kiosks.

The minimum wager is $5.

7. The Sportsbook at Golden Nugget

Golden Nugget sportsbook opened Aug. 15, 2018. The permanent sportsbook opened its doors a couple weeks later and has seating for more than 100 with four live betting windows and 10 self-service betting kiosks.

The minimum bet is $5.

8. DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts

Resorts opened a temporary space on Aug. 15, 2018. But the new DraftKings Sportsbook that opened in November 2018 includes five betting windows and 12 self-service kiosks. Plus, there are stadium-style seats.

The minimum bet is $2.

9. William Hill Sports Book at Tropicana

The William Hill Sports Book at Tropicana opened its temp space on Oct. 25, 2018. The permanent book features eight betting windows, four betting kiosks, and bar and lounge-style seating for 180.

The minimum bet is $2.

10. Hard Rock Sportsbook

The Hard Rock Sportsbook opened Jan. 30, 2019, and expanded into a permanent location in the spring. It features six betting windows and seating for 50.

The minimum bet is $5.

What’s the difference between betting college football vs. NFL?

The biggest difference between college football and the NFL is the number of teams. There are just 32 teams in the NFL. By contrast, the NCAA says there are more than 780 colleges and universities with football programs in the US.

While oddsmakers can count on intense national media scrutiny in the NFL, college football coverage is more localized and difficult to find. There are betting opportunities in college football that simply do not exist in the NFL. Look outside the programs that compete on the national stage for fruitful opportunities.

College football betting lines and line shopping

Many people go to multiple stores and online in search of the best prices on products. Sports bettors are no different, and college football lines offer an excellent opportunity to look for a good deal.

Some NJ retail and online sportsbooks set their lines independently. Others use a third-party service. As a result, lines at different sportsbooks are often different from each other, and it’s a good idea to look for the best offers before you place your wager.

This is called line shopping. Find the bet at a better price and you’re essentially putting money in your pocket.

You should also keep an eye on the lines as game time approaches. You may find a sportsbook has changed its line.

When the line on a college football game moves, it’s often a good indication of where most of the betting public is putting their money. Because sportsbooks want to balance the potential payouts on both sides of a bet, you might find some great deals betting on the other side of the wager. This practice is known as fading the public.

New Jersey NCAAF teams

New Jersey only has three schools with NCAA Division I football programs. Only the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights compete in the top-tiered Division I FBS. Rutgers is in the FBS’ Big Ten Conference.

The other two NCAA Division I football programs in NJ are the Monmouth University Hawks (Big South Conference) and Princeton University Tigers (Ivy League). Both these teams compete in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

But remember, NJ sportsbooks will not take bets on any of these New Jersey-based college football programs. If you want to bet on local college teams in NJ, you’ll have to stick to programs based in nearby Philadelphia or New York City.

In the FCS, these teams include:

• Columbia University Lions (Ivy League FCS)
• Fordham University Rams (Patriot League FCS)
• Long Island University Sharks (Northeast FCS)
• University of Pennsylvania Quakers (Ivy League FCS)
• Temple University Owls (The American FBS)
• Villanova University Wildcats (Colonial Athletic Association FCS)

Additional New York and Pennsylvania teams that compete in the top-tiered Division I FBS include:

• Penn State University Nittany Lions (Big Ten)
• University of Pittsburgh Panthers (ACC)
• Army Black Knights (Independent)
• Syracuse University Orange (ACC)
• University at Buffalo Bulls (MAC)

College football betting tips

Betting on college football in NJ is infinitely more fun when you win. These tips might help:

Don’t wait for the playoffs: There’s value to be found all throughout the college football regular season. But once the postseason rolls around, oddsmakers won’t be making the same mistakes they might during the regular season. If you’re going to bet on college football this season, start now.

Fade the public: “Fading the public” means taking advantage of movement in a line when the public is betting heavily on one side. However, betting on one side or another doesn’t change the match-up or your assessment of it. So, there can be terrific opportunities when the sportsbook is trying to balance its ledger.

Live betting

Most basic college football bets are booked before kickoff, but many sportsbooks also offer action during the game, too. This is known as live, in-play, or in-game college football betting.

The best way to get in the in-play wagering game is with a sports betting app. Things change fast and you need to focus on the game. Bets might only be available for a few seconds at a time.

The trick is to be quick on the draw with your app of choice and be ready to pounce when a good bet presents itself.

How to watch college football games

ESPN networks carry a ton of college football games. There are also a variety of games featuring teams in the national championship picture on FOX and CBS throughout the season. Finally, conference networks like the Big 12 Network, the Pac-12 Network, or the Big Ten Network feature conference games.

You can find most of these networks through your local cable provider. Or, you can purchase an ESPN+ subscription from ESPN.com and stream games online.

Of course, you can always head to a New Jersey retail sportsbook to watch. They are sure to have most games on their television screens.

Biggest rivalries in college football

There are all kinds of rivalries in college football. There are in-state rivals and those that always seem to have a major impact on the national championship picture. And then there are those long-standing traditional rivalries such as Army vs. Navy.

Any way you slice it, every college team probably has a rival, and the biggest rivalries may change over time.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest rivalries in college football:

1. Army-Navy: Navy leads the all-time series between these two Armed Forces schools 60-49-7.
2. Michigan-Ohio State: Games don’t get any bigger than the annual Big Game between these two schools. Michigan leads the series 58-51-6.
3. Miami-Florida State: This in-state rivalry is led by Miami, but Florida State has recently closed the gap to 34-30.
4. Clemson-Alabama: These two teams played in the College Football Playoff Championship game last season for the third time in four years. They are expected to contend with each other again in 2021.
5. Texas-Oklahoma: This Big 12 interstate rivalry, better known as the Red River Showdown, features the Longhorns and the Cowboys. Texas leads the series, 62-47-5.