The first Thursday Night College Football broadcasts began in 1991. 10 years later, Southern Mississippi and Louisville played the first Tuesday night game with Friday college football soon following the same season.
The goal was more TV advertising revenue in the pockets of schools, the networks, and NCAA college football. An offshoot was more cash in the pockets of successful handicappers. All the added games, lines, props, totals, moneylines, and first-half wagering options available make Thursday College Football a bettor's paradise.
Why Use Free Thursday College Football Picks
Thursday college football adds some handicapping rules different from the Saturday slate. It's a short week for teams that played on Saturday. That compresses the time for coaching staffs to prepare game plans and a shorter recovery time for players dealing with injuries.
This is where depth comes into play. Big-name college programs or ones with coaches who are strong recruiters can have an edge over opponents who are short in those areas. Examine past history of how a coach got his team prepared on short rest. Did they not miss a beat or did they flop?
Obtaining free Thursday night college football picks from a professional bettor expands your handicapping prowess increasing your chances of finding wagering edges on the Thursday card.
Check out where the CFB betting public is before making your Thursday night CFB picks. Need help? Find the help you need with my Thursday night CFB computer picks.
Betting Value in Free Thursday College Football Picks
Many teams get into a comfort zone playing 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon games. Shifting to a Thursday night kickoff can upset the rhythm of a team, especially road teams that are changing time zones. A West Coast team traveling to the East Coast for a September non-conference tilt throws off that rhythm, changing two or even three time zones.
NCAA college football teams flying to Hawaii to play can change time zones even more than that. In addition, teams that have a lack of quality depth at linebacker or the secondary, for example, can have a significant disadvantage playing on Thursday night if they've had some key injuries on defense.
That won't show up in the betting odds, but an astute handicapper will be on it if it provides a few extra points. And a shift of one of two points can mean the difference between cashing a winning ticket and discarding a losing one.
Wunderdog Free Thursday Night College Football Picks
I've been immersed in identifying the best wagering odds for over two decades. It requires careful study of each team, analyzing situations, angles, and matchups, and then placing the correct amount of my betting bankroll on the best lines.
The end result is a consistent long-term profit. Winning at sports betting may sound impossible to a lot of fans but it is very possible - if you assess the odds and wager correctly.
All my picks come with in-depth analysis allowing you to grasp the foundational reasons why. For years, we've all watched sports for entertainment - but it's even more fun to watch and win.
Free Thursday College Football Picks vs. Premium Picks
Free Thursday College Football Pros:
- Broadens your knowledge of sports betting situations, angles, and line movement
- No cost means no money lost
- Acquiring free picks enlightens you to what coaches have their teams ready to play on short rest
Free Thursday College Football Picks Cons:
- Betting with an ill-prepared handicapper will ultimately mean more bankroll red ink than black
- Solo national TV broadcasts can feature line movement that is confusing and even extreme
- Handicapping service may force picks on TV games even when there is no wagering value
Premium Thursday College Football Picks Pros:
- High-quality selections should come with proper money management techniques
- On a short week, professional services maximize analyzing time
- Proposition bets expand wagering opportunities and winning nights
Premium Thursday College Football Picks Cons:
- Can inhibit the enjoyment you used to have watching televised sporting events
- Irritating salesmen barrage you, more interested in getting money from you than winning money for you
- Picks from undocumented services can strain your wagering bankroll
How To Win With Free Thursday College Football Picks
Start by finding a documented handicapping professional who consistently wins. My picks come with a two-decade track record of collecting the right information and then applying that to odds that have the best mathematical percentage to return a profit.
Money management is another important element that I stress. A service that encourages you to bet 5% of your bankroll on Saturday and then 30% on a super-hyped HUGE THURSDAY NIGHT RELEASE is no reliable service at all.
Successful sports betting is akin to playing the stock market: know the product, assess the odds, and buy in at the right price within your gambling limits.
Thursday College Football Betting Strategy
National TV Home Dogs
Many schools are only featured once all season on prime-time television. Regardless of that team's record or the opponent, that means it's not like any other game on the schedule. It can be an event, with fans getting to see themselves on TV and players getting national exposure.
The game can be a memorable event on multiple levels. Home underdogs in that situation can bring enormous intensity to play their best game of the season. During a national TV non-Saturday tilt, Appalachian State was a 5-point home underdog to undefeated Coastal Carolina but won the emotionally charged game, 30-27.
The previous week, Appalachian State had its worse loss of the season, 41-13, to Louisiana-Lafayette. The Mountaineers cashed at +175 on the moneyline against Coastal Carolina, showcasing another way there is value in national TV home dogs to pad your betting bankroll.
Props
Sides, totals, and moneylines aren't the only way to wager on Thursday night College Football showdowns. With so few games on the card, oddsmakers have to increase their handle by offering various team and individual player props.
Plenty of those betting numbers are going to offer outstanding wagering value. In that Coastal Carolina/Appalachian State example, Coastal Carolina came in averaging 48.8 points per game. Yet, home underdog Appalachian State's defense played a ferocious game holding Coastal Carolina three touchdowns below its season average. Matchups come into play, as well.
A good running back can have his best rushing game of the season if he's facing a smallish or suspect defensive line. A pass-happy quarterback can carve up a soft secondary going far OVER his TD or passing yards prop. That can be the case even more on a national TV broadcast.
Ignore Rankings and Hype
A Top 25 team is likely to be the betting favorite on Thursday night against a non-ranked opponent. The pregame prognostication will be on how this will probably be a one-sided game but ignore the hype. Instead, examine the matchups carefully while weighing the situation.
If this is the only Top 25 opponent a team is going to play all season, they often treat it like a championship game. A struggling team with a 2-4 record can approach a Thursday national TV game as a reset.
And coaching staff has a great opportunity to put in trick plays to try and squeeze out a few more first downs and points, especially if they're at home trying to fire up the fans. Many times a team with a losing record puts on a great performance during solo marquee TV broadcasts.
Free Thursday College Football Picks Subscription
Thursday College football games differ in many ways from the Saturday card. It's also a short week for handicapping, so by signing up for a subscription to my picks you'll get the early jump on these games as I've already done all the work.
My plays come with solid, in-depth reasoning on where the wagering value is and why. Even if you choose not to bet, you'll still capture valuable information to augment your handicapping game. Insight from an established and documented handicapping pro - easy, informative, and free.
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