FCS vs FBS Betting trends

FBS vs FCS Betting: Tips & Betting Strategies

The passion of an FCS vs FBS college football game is unmatched. The highest level of collegiate talent in the FBS go head-to-head with a lower-level division, who look to prove themselves against the best and maybe, just maybe, even pull off an upset. 

But, how often do these upsets really happen? And what's the most effective way to go about betting on them? Here, we'll break down important college football FCS vs FBS betting trends and which upcoming contests to make note of. 

How Do FCS Teams Fare Against FBS Squads?

FBS vs FCS Betting trends
Betting MarketResultProfit
Straight Up459-4 -$862.02
Against the Spread334-380-15 -$7715.97


Against the spread, wagering on FBS teams can be a toss up likely because the lines can be rather large. The FCS programs definitely storm into these matchups hungry and hoping to make a mark against Division 1 opponents. So, the scoreboard can be closer than you think sometimes. In terms of profit, riding with the FBS moneyline and predicting them to win straight up is the most relilable, smartest play. 

In 2022, only eight FCS groups defeated FBS groups. The final scores were:

Final scores in fCS vs FBS Upsets in 2023
FCS TeamFBS TeamFinal Score
William & MaryCharlotte41-24
DelawareNavy14-7
Weber StateUtah State35-7
Eastern KentuckyBowling Green59-57 (OT)
Holy CrossBuffalo37-31
UIWNevada55-41
Southern IllinoisNorthwestern31-24
Sacramento StateColorado State41-10


Notable FCS vs FBS Games This College Football Season:

Best 2023 FBS vs FCS Games
DateFBS TeamFCS Team
Aug. 31stGeorgia StateRhode Island
Sept. 2ndUTEPUIW
Sept. 9thNevadaIdaho
Sept. 9thCentral MichiganNew Hampshire
Sept. 9thNorthern IllinoisSouthern Illinois
Nov. 11thArmyHoly Cross


Best Matchup: Week 11 (Holy Cross vs Army)

Jumping ahead to Week 11, the Holy Cross Crusaders are scheduled to visit the Army Black Knights.

Though game lines haven't been released, The Crusaders will enter this battle with a promising recent track record. The last two seasons, Holy Cross has upset FBS teams in back-to-back years. In 2022 they took down the Buffalo Bulls 37-31. More impressively, the Crusaders stunned the UConn Huskies in 2021 with a ten-point 38-28 victory.  

How To Bet FCS vs FBS Games

If you want to treat all FCS vs FBS games the same, our historical data shows that the best strategy for betting on these college football games is to hammer the favored FBS teams straight up. That trend has been pretty profitable for the last few years.

However, it’s also important to treat these games differently. Is Alabama at -10000 against a random FCS school worth the bet, even if they’re guaranteed to win? Probably not.  

Where To Bet on FCS vs FBS

Almost all college football sportsbooks will offer game lines on these FBS vs FCS games throughout the season. You can also find updated Heisman Trophy odds and national championship odds at most of these books.

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