College Football Friday Night Betting
Once upon a time, the thought of regular televised Friday night college football games was considered absurd. Friday nights were said to be reserved for high school football. High school football on Friday nights is a sacred religion in many states, particularly Texas. The book “Friday Night Lights” was a riveting story of high school football and its impact on Texas communities. Many other states and towns could relate to the book and connect to its cultural impact.
However, Friday night high school football now has a fierce competitor. College football has gone all in for Friday night televised football. And the TV ratings and exposure are strong enough to justify it. “Follow the money” has never been more true these days, especially in college football, where every dime counts.
College Football Week 14 Betting Lines
The major colleges are looking for any form and path to generate revenue, and schools with lower profiles are looking for additional exposure. Teams from the Group of Five conferences, such as the American Athletic, Sun Belt, Conference USA, Mid-American, and Mountain West, are eager to take the field on Friday nights when the bigger brands are off. This strategy allows them the full attention of fans, gamblers, and, most important of all, prospective recruits. Teams that would normally be ignored on a full Saturday find that the entire nation is focused on their Friday night matchups.
Friday night college football has been so successful that the Big Boys are dipping their toes into it. The Big Ten, ACC, and Pac-12 have had regular Friday night games on their schedules. In like manner to the Group of Five schools, these Power Five leagues can get extra recruiting and donor attention by being featured on Friday nights when they can draw the country's full attention.
One of the most popular Friday night cards is the opening weekend. College Football spreads its schedule with games every day, Thursday through Monday, in the first weekend of the season. Thus, Friday night has a loaded slate. In 2022, the Michigan State Spartans of the Big Ten hosted a 35-13 win over the Western Michigan Broncos. It was great exposure for Sparty and the Big Ten in Week one.
Also, the Illinois Fighting Illini began their march to a bowl game with a Big Ten matchup at the Indiana Hoosiers, and the TCU Horned Frogs started their quest for a College Football Playoff berth at the Colorado Buffaloes. Thus, Friday night TV football immediately impacted the national conversation.
In week three, the Florida State Seminoles made a statement about their improvement leap with a 35-31 win at the Louisville Cardinals.
The UCF Knights staked their claim as one of the best teams in the American Athletic Conference with a 41-19 win over the SMU Mustangs for week six.
In week nine, one of the best Friday night games of the season took place when the East Carolina Pirates upset the BYU Cougars 27-24 to earn bowl eligibility. East Carolina was once a regular bowl program, and it has taken them several years to rebuild. Meanwhile, BYU has always been a regular on the Friday night scene as their massive fan base brings plenty of eyeballs to the tube.
The Washington Huskies beat the Oregon State Beavers 24-21 in a week ten _qc-12 Friday night classic. The Beavers and the Huskies were able to draw attention to the quality of their programs and the Pac-12 itself.
Teams such as the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers of the Sun Belt Conference have developed national followings by playing regularly on Friday nights. Coastal Carolina is a favorite of gamblers as an emerging Group of Five power.
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