CFB DFS: Top picks, strategies and tips

Dec 30, 2022; Jacksonville, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Howard Cross III (56) during the second half in the 2022 Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field. Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

CFB DFS overview

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) are becoming commonplace among those looking to put real money towards contests involving their favorite players and sporting events. DFS serves as both an alternative to traditional sportsbook wagering for those in states where sports betting is not legal, as well as a top-notch destination for those who prefer the live draft feeling that reminds you of fantasy football drafts in your friend’s basement.

CFB fans now have a way to get in on the DFS fun, too. There are several options for playing CFB DFS out there, such as Underdog Fantasy, Sleeper Fantasy, Boom Fantasy, Vivid Picks and more. In this article, we’ll break down some of the bests ways to get started with DFS, specifically for those who can never get enough college football.

And with the season now hitting the stretch run, now is as good a time as ever to learn the ropes and some of the best tips towards winning during the season.

Sound interesting? Continue reading to find out more, and make sure to click any of the links on this page to kick things off!

How to play CFB DFS

An important thing to note right off the bat is that DFS through Underdog and Sleeper does not offer college football live fantasy drafts or best ball tournaments like the NFL, MLB, NBA, PGA do. College football games will not automatically update in the Underdog system as of right now, either (Sleeper scores CFB DFS contests live). But that doesn’t mean college football fans are just left out to dry!

Instead, college football thrives on Underdog and Sleeper through pick’em contests, which work similarly to props at sportsbooks. Users can enter lower/higher contests (over/under) on specific lines, pick against a player to hit a certain line and so on!

Let’s start with the traditional higher/lower contests. In a normal scenario, you’d face a situation like this — USC QB Caleb Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, over/under 294.5 passing yards in a game. You make your pick of higher or lower and pair it with a player on another team. For instance, maybe you’d want to pair an over on Caleb Williams’ total with an over on South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler’s over.

Here’s what makes it different from normal prop contests, and considerably more exciting: in order for a wager to be legitimate, the user must make at least 2 picks, with a maximum of 5. Like a parlay, the more you stack, the more you can win with a multiplier. Of course, each pick you make would have to be correct and you have to pick from at least 2 different teams. This means you couldn’t pick C.J. Stroud over 275 passing yards and Marvin Harrison Jr. over 75 receiving yards against Indiana during the 2022 college football season.

Below is a look at what that might play out like. In this instance, a user would be making 5 picks for 5 separate players (some former) in the SEC last season. Those who know their recent CFB history would remember that Hendon Hooker did not throw for more than 289 yards against South Carolina in 2022, which means this slip would have lost.

If all of these picks had hit, however, the user would receive a payout of $200 on a $10 wager. Not bad!

Multipliers

That seems simple enough, but for any confused about how the multiplier works, we’ve got you covered! The multiplier refers to the payout potential depending on how many picks you select. Here is how it works on Underdog:

• 2 picks: 3x multiplier
• 3 picks: 6x multiplier
• 4 picks: 10x multiplier
• 5 picks: 20x multiplier

On Sleeper, dynamic multipliers are used, so each contest has a different potential payout. The general rule remains the same, though — stack more picks to win more money.

CFB DFS Picks & Projection Examples

The multiplier and the fact that you have to make multiple picks for a wager to be legitimate opens up the possibility for some serious strategy, especially with how many variables can affect a football game!

Obviously, the offseason is not exactly ripe for college football picks considering games won’t start until September. Once September and Week 0 do roll around though, all college football props will be listed under the related tabs on the Underdog and Sleeper apps.

Let’s time travel back to the national championship game to get a look at how this may work. Below were some of the best picks to choose from when Georgia throttled TCU to win its second-straight national title:

• Brock Bowers over 61.5 receiving yards
• Kenny McIntosh under 3 receptions
• Quentin Johnson under 87.5 receiving yards
• Ladd McConkey over 41.5 receiving yards
• Stetson Bennett IV over 275 passing yards

Those were just some of over 25 picks a user could have made on the national championship game. Hindsight is 20/20, but none of those picks are working against crazy odds here. And if the above was your 5-bet pick’em ticket, you would have won big. Each of the above ended up hitting.

Of course, some would have missed too. One of the highest value picks was Daijun Edwards over 47.5 rushing yards, and Edwards only totaled 30 rushing yards against the outmatched Horned Frogs.

CFB DFS Strategy Tips

Not every college football game is created equally. Conditions were perfect for Georgia’s 65-7 waxing of TCU, but what about when teams are playing in snow or a torrential downpour? Heck, maybe it’s even a very windy day.

The weather is a variable you have to watch out for. So are injuries, opponent strengths and weaknesses, crowd atmosphere, the stakes and so, so much more. Remember, we’re working with college-age athletes here. Part of what makes college football so fun is its unpredictability, and that will make any contest you enter on the games that much more exciting.

Below are some great strategies to watch out for when the college football season rolls around and you’re ready to make your picks!

• Find your line. During a Saturday slate, there will be options upon options to choose from. There were over 20 for the national championship game alone, and Underdog and Sleeper will offer plenty more once the season enters full swing. Settling for lines you are not sure about can ruin your multiplier. Safe picks keep your multiplier alive longer!
• Knowledge about your pick is key, but knowledge about opponents may be even more important. Let’s use Hendon Hooker from last season as an example. He averaged 285 passing yards per game last season. Against Missouri for example, it’s probably a safe bet to take the “higher” option on a line of about 275 pass yards. But if you were given a line of over/under 225 passing yards against Georgia, you’d have to think a little harder. On a separate note, perhaps the player’s opponent is strong defensively in one area, but weaker in another. Your knowledge of the game can truly make a difference here!
• Keep an eye on injuries, weather at the stadium and more. If your star running back pick seems like a lock, perhaps make sure he isn’t dealing with a minor foot injury and playing through it. At the same time, think before locking in a “higher” pick for 275 passing yards in a torrential downpour.

Where CFB DFS is available

Daily Fantasy Sports are legal in most jurisdictions, though it differs from state to state. Underdog Fantasy is legal in 41 U.S. states: all but CT, DE, HI, ID, IA, LA, MI, MT, NV, and ON (Canada). Thrive is slightly less available, but is still able to be accessed in 31 U.S. states. It is not available in AL, AZ, HI, ID, IN, IA, LA, ME, MS, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VT, VA, WA. Sleeper is available in 25 U.S. states.

Some options are not allowed on some sites, including pick’em contests. Unfortunately, Underdog Fantasy does not allow pick’em (prop contests) in AZ, CO, MD, MO, NH, NJ, OH, PA, TN, WA, WV.

Underdog Fantasy Promo Code: SDS

Using our promo code “SDS” will unlock a full deposit match of up to $100 when you make your first deposit. That’s a great welcome bonus! To claim your CFB bonus money, all you need to do is sign up at Underdog and make the first deposit in your account. Underdog will match your money up to $100.

How does Underdog Fantasy work?  Check out the table below to learn more about what Underdog is and what competing in CFB contests on the app entails:

Underdog is one of the top fantasy apps around, and it is very convenient to use. There are contests every day across a variety of sports, but Underdog specifically has some of the best CFB contests of all the DFS apps.

Sign up quickly! College football is right around the corner, so make sure to get in on the fun from the very beginning to kick off a great college football season.

Sleeper Promo Code: SOUTHXL

Using the Sleeper promo code “SOUTHXL” will unlock a first-time deposit match of up to $100. Sleeper is the only DFS app mentioned here that scores college football (and college basketball) games live. That makes it easier to follow along in the app as you try to keep up with your contests!

What can you expect from Sleeper Fantasy? This helpful table should answer any questions you might have:

Sleeper is growing at a fast rate, so make sure you get in on the fun before Week 0 rolls around in August!

Thrive Promo Code: SDSXL

Want another way to get in on the action before fall camp? Thrive has you covered. Using our promo code “SDSXL” will get you a welcome bonus matching your first deposit of up to $250. And believe us, that can go a long way.

To claim that welcome bonus, all you have to do is sign up at Thrive and make your first deposit! Check out the helpful table below to find out where Thrive is legal in the U.S. and Canada:

FAQs

Our Team

The Saturday Down South team has spent hundreds of hours analyzing and participating in the various daily fantasy apps and contests, so that we can bring you expert advice and opinions on CFB DFS and DFS for other sports. Our daily fantasy team is led by the following:

Adam Spencer

Adam has been on the editorial team at Saturday Down South for several years and has covered college football and fantasy sports. Adam loves playing daily fantasy involving a variety of sports including college football, college basketball, NFL, NBA, soccer and even PGA. With a long history of fantasy sports participation, Adam has recently become a major participant in daily fantasy pick’em contests. He appreciates when daily fantasy apps offer a great app experience with live scoring and accurate player cards.

Ethan Stone

Ethan joined the editorial team at Saturday Down South in 2022 and has covered college football, college basketball and fantasy sports. Ethan plays daily fantasy with a variety of sports including college football, college basketball, NFL, NBA and more. Ethan has recently become a big fan of daily fantasy best ball drafts. He appreciates when daily fantasy apps offer plenty of options and a variety of daily drafts.

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South.