Our FBS vs FCS betting report collects data when 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. Based on our data from 2023, that happens less than 6% of the time.
Here, we'll break down important college football FCS vs FBS betting trends and which upcoming contests to make note of.
FBS vs FCS Betting Report
| Betting Market | Result | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 470-27 (94.6%) | +$182.45 |
| Against the Spread | 237-247-11 (49.0%) | -$3169.05 |
As we await the upcoming season, let's review the data over the last five seasons. Clearly, against the spread, wagering on FBS teams is 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 2023, only four FCS groups defeated FBS groups. The final scores were:
| FCS Team | FBS Team | Final Score |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois | Northern Illinois | 14-11 |
| Fordham | Buffalo | 40-37 |
| Idaho | Nevada | 33-6 |
| Sacramento State | Stanford | 30-23 |
In addition to the four upsets, FCS put on an offensive show by scoring 30-points or more in three of the meetings. Despite that, the UNDER went 3-1 with the sole exception being Fordham vs Buffalo cashing the OVER at 54.5 points.
Notable FCS vs FBS Games This College Football Season:
| Date | FBS Team | FCS Team |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 29th | Colorado | North Dakota State |
| Aug. 31st | Oklahoma State | South Dakota State |
| Aug. 31st | San Jose State | Sacramento State |
| Sept. 21st | Nevada | Eastern Washington |
| Sept. 9th | Northern Illinois | Southern Illinois |
| Sept. 28th | Kennesaw State | UT-Martin |
Best FBS Vs FCS Matchups 2024
Looking for the top FBS vs FCS games to bet on this season? Here's a few I recommend putting on your calendar.
north dakota state vs Colorado (Week 1)
The buzz surrounding the Deion Sanders era at Colorado continues after Primetime took over the media last year. Starting the year off 3-0, the Buffs frenzy died down after losing eight of the nine games that followed for a mediocre 8-4 record.
Averaging 38.1 PPG last year, North Dakota State are the biggest type of threat you'll get from an FCS program. The Bison went 11-4 SU, falling by two-points after a double-overtime tilt in the FCS Championship game. The Bison have reached the FCS title game in every season since 2017, with the exception of 2020.
With all eyes on Coach Prime and Shedeur Sanders a Heisman contender and potentially a high NFL draft pick, the floodgates will open if Colorado drops its Week 1 meeting with a lower level school.
UT-martin vs kennesaw state (Week 5)
Jumping ahead to Week 5, the UT-Martin Skyhawks are scheduled to visit the Kennesaw State Owls with game lines not yet released.
So, what makes this so meeting special? It is the Owls first season as a FBS school, joining Conference USA back in July. After notching just three wins last year, the promotion for Kennesaw State comes with nerves. Meanwhile, UT Martin pocketed a steady 8-3 SU record.
In recent years, we've seen some success from inaugural FBS teams like Jackson State who edged a 9-4 SU finish, including a bowl game win or James Madison (11-2 SU) ranking No. 18 in the AP Poll in 2022.
Expect the FBS excitement to be squashed for the Owls when they host the Skyhawks in the first half of the season.
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.
