Sportsbook operators frequently suspend wagers on certain games when large sums of money come in, altering the odds. Though there is no standard duration for these pauses, recent observations indicate that suspensions on college football games tend to be longer compared to NFL contests.
According to a report by Bettormetrics, an odds data and intelligence provider, an analysis of halt times during week eight of the college football season and week nine of the NFL revealed that odds adjustments on college games take longer than on NFL matches after significant money flows into the market. The report examined the major domestic online sportsbook operators, including Bet365, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Hard Rock, highlighting that NFL games experience shorter suspensions.
Football remains the most heavily wagered sport in the United States, with the NFL leading over college football in popularity. However, college football presents substantial opportunities for bettors due to the high number of teams—134 in the NCAA’s FBS division and 129 in the FCS division. To capitalize on this, gaming companies must reduce pause times to enhance access and improve profitability.
“Those who master suspension in college games will ultimately come out on top,” said Sabin Brooks, chief revenue officer at Bettormetrics. “Doing so is a win-win because the bettor will have an improved betting experience, meaning they will keep coming back, and the operator will be able to bring in more handle, leading to better products, customer experience, and sportsbook profitability.”
During the analyzed periods, DraftKings and FanDuel recorded the shortest suspension times for NFL games. For college games, FanDuel led, followed by DraftKings. Bettormetrics data showed that operator suspension times were 8.7% longer for college football games than for NFL equivalents.
While Bettormetrics did not explain why NFL games have shorter suspension times, the reasons are fairly apparent. The NFL betting market is highly liquid, requiring massive amounts of money to prompt odds changes. Moreover, every NFL team, regardless of popularity, maintains a significant presence, unlike in college football where some teams are relatively obscure.
Although Bettormetrics did not delve into specific details, it can be inferred that the longest betting pauses on college football games likely occur outside the major conferences. For instance, a large bet on an SEC game and a similar bet on a Sun Belt Conference game would probably result in a longer suspension for the latter due to lower liquidity.
