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FCS NCAA Football Betting Guide — Odds & Picks For Spring 2021

by Josh Criswell (Josh_Criswell) Last Updated 2021-02-21 14:46:48

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Thought betting on football was over after the NFL season? Think again. Josh Criswell, host of Bet The FCS, a sports betting podcast dedicated to niche markets such as the Football Championship Subdivision and mid-major college basketball, previews the NCAA football spring season in this FCS betting guide.

In most years, the Super Bowl marks the start of an agonizing, six-month football drought. Thankfully, that won’t be the case in 2021.

The FCS football season was postponed from the fall as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing meaningful Division I college football to the spring for the first time ever.

As for FCS betting, the drama has already ensued at the sportsbook. The season kicked off last Saturday, with McNeese rallying from 14 points down in the final three minutes to stun Tarleton State 40-37 in double-overtime — a bad beat so ludicrous that it ended up on SportsCenter With Scott Van Pelt earlier this week.

The first full slate of games kicks off Friday, Feb. 19, 2020. Here’s what you need to know before betting on FCS football at online sportsbooks.

[Read More: College Football Betting Tips ]

Legal Online Sportsbooks Where You Can Bet On FCS Football

*Editor’s Note: FCS teams are playing in states with online sports betting like Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia, so legal online sportsbooks have jumped at the opportunity to provide FCS college football odds to their customers. Find out where you can bet on the FCS, with sportsbook promos and sign-up bonuses, below!

Betting Guide: What Is FCS Football?

FCS stands for Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division 1-AA.

One of the primary differences between the FCS and FBS is the number of scholarships that each team is allotted — FBS schools are allowed 85 total scholarships, compared to 63 for FCS teams. Another major difference is the playoff format.

NFL Players Who Played In The FCS

Six players from the FCS were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, and a total 141 former Football Conference Subdivision players were spread across all 32 NFL teams’ Week 1 roster last season. Some players you might have heard of include quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo, running backs David Johnson and Tarik Cohen, linebacker Darius Leonard, cornerback James Bradberry, and wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Other notable players from the FCS are Joe Flacco and Tony Romo.

FCS Playoff Format

Unlike the FBS, which determines its national champion with the four-team College Football Playoff, the FCS crowns its champion with a true tournament.

Typically, 24 teams battle it out for the national championship in a single-elimination bracket, with the top-eight seeds receiving first-round byes. Due to the pandemic that pushed the season from the fall to the spring, however, the field has been shrunk to 16 teams for the current season. There will be no first-round byes and only four seeded teams.

10 of the 16 teams that make the postseason will receive an auto-bid for winning their respective conference. The six at-large spots are determined by a selection committee, which is made up of athletics directors from various FCS schools around the country.

What FCS Conference Are Playing?

The Ivy League, which does not participate in the FCS playoffs, has canceled spring sports due to COVID-19. The MEAC recently suspended its season, but several teams still plan to participate in the spring.

Notable Opt-Outs

Several 2019 playoff teams have made the decision to pass on the spring season, including NEC champion Central Connecticut and national seeds Sacramento State, Montana, Montana State and Central Arkansas. Back-to-back SWAC champion Alcorn State announced earlier this week that it would be opting out as well.

Reigning Conference Champions

*opted out of the FCS spring season

FCS Football Betting Odds & Picks

Various FCS rankings are released weekly throughout the season, but there are three main ones: the STATS Perform FCS, FCS Coaches and HERO Sports polls. Defending champion North Dakota State stands atop all of the most recent rankings.

Preseason Favorites

Having won eight of the past nine FCS national championships, North Dakota State enters the spring as the undisputed favorite to win it all. The Bison currently have +125 odds to win the national title on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Weber State (+300), Northern Iowa (+450), James Madison (+600), South Dakota State (+600) and Kennesaw State (+1000) are the only other teams with odds of 10-to-1 or less.

Sleepers and Longshots

FCS betting enthusiasts that are looking to get a little more bang for their buck have a handful of potential options that could realistically make a run at a spring FCS championship.

Villanova (+1400) boasts an electric offense with a Walter Payton Award favorite behind center in senior quarterback Daniel Smith, and avoids perennial power James Madison due to the CAA’s spring schedule format. Meanwhile, two-time finalist Sam Houston (+2000) returns eight starters from a defense that led the country in rushing defense, total defense, third-down defense and tackles for loss, while ranking in the top-10 in eight other categories in 2019.

Those interested in backing a heavy longshot could turn their eyes to Albany (+5000), which brings back a pair of potential All-Americans in quarterback Jeff Undercuffler and running back Karl Mofor, but loses the bulk of its offensive line and must overcome a treacherous conference schedule.

Make sure to check out Josh’s podcast Bet The FCS for more NCAA football betting tips!

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About the Author

Josh_Criswell
Josh Criswell (Josh_Criswell)

Josh Criswell is an award-winning sports journalist that has been reporting on the FCS since August 2018. He is the host/creator of the Bet the FCS podcast, which covers FCS football, mid-major basketball and all things sports betting. Josh is also a STATS FCS voter for Top 25 polls and postseason awards.