Study: Cal One of the Best College Football Teams to Bet On
Sports betting analysis says Cal has done well late in the last three seasons
The California Golden Bears are a late-season team, according to a recent report from online sports betting guide Bookies.com.
According to the report, which surveyed historical odds from 12 sportsbooks, a $100 “moneyline” bet on California in each of the Golden Bears’ final five games of the 2018 to 2020 seasons would have returned a profit of $699.60.
The total profit of $699.60 ranked California sixth-best among “Power Five” college football teams, referring to members of the most influential athletic conferences.
In a moneyline bet, a bettor picks which team they believe will win the game. There is no requirement to win by a certain number of points, as with a “point spread” bet.
For example, Las Vegas oddsmakers are offering a moneyline bet for this Saturday’s match-up between California and Oregon State, as of Oct. 27, of California +100, according to VegasInsider.com. A bettor who picks Cal to win at these odds in a moneyline bet would win a $100 profit on a $100 bet, as the Golden Bears are close underdogs.
The Power Five team, which would have returned the most money in the last three seasons according to the analysis, is the Oregon State Beavers. The total profit would have been $1,016, even though the Beavers won only five of the 15 games in the report’s sample.
On Oct. 27, 2018, the Beavers won in overtime 41-34 against the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder, Colo., as heavy underdogs. The offered moneyline then was Oregon State +1311, meaning a $100 bet would have returned a profit of $1,311.
A notable surprise from the Bookies.com report: A $100 bet on each of perennial favorites Alabama and Clemson’s last five games in the most recent three seasons would have resulted in bettors suffering a loss.
So, big money is made on big upsets: seems reasonable. Not a good way to make a living given the probabilities.
My money is on Cal. That is, if I were a bettor.