NCAA football and NFL football may seem the same thing to a profane, but that is not the case. At collegiate level the game is sensibly slower. The players are students, not professionals, and a lot of them are simply not good enough to compete in a league as competitive as the NFL. The purpose of the NCAA is to educate the athletes of tomorrow, giving them reps and developing their passion for the game, nurturing their talent before they choose to eventually find their path in the league. The differences, however, are not just in the rulebook. The NCAA circuit has way more teams and a huge number of supporters. It’s not just a matter of the players’ classmates. On Saturdays, the day in which college football games are played, there are parents, ex-students and simple fans on the stands, to encourage the team from their alma mater. Ticket prices are way cheaper for NCAA games so it’s easier to go to a live game, thus the stadiums are always packed. Betting works also differently between college football and the NFL. Although both competitions are widely watched, and not only in the US, most bets are placed on NFL games. In this area, there are different types of bets. The bettor can choose from the simplest guess, such as those concerning the winner of a given game, to the most complex, such as those involving the touchdown scorer or the points differential. Certainly, the NFL features more well-known teams and players, so betting on the league seems a lesser risk. However, whenever a bettor wants to get a feel for college football, he or she can consult a comparison site that offers the latest odds, such as Oddschecker, one of the most popular in the industry. On this platform it is possible to consult news, statistics and all the information one needs to place an accurate bet on a game, player or full season. This is really a must-go destination for whoever is passionate about American football and/or betting. Easier rules for college football Football coaches are probably the only persons who can confound the NCAA and the NFL: wherever they coach they are paid millions of dollars. For the players, the two competitions are quite different. A college receiver has to have just a foot inbound to catch a thrown ball. In the NFL, the reception is good only if both feet are inside the gridiron. In college football the clock temporarily stops after each first down, to give some seconds to the chain crew in order to reset the chains signaling the distance to cover for a new set of downs. In the NFL it always runs. The down by contact rule doesn’t exist in NCAA and a player is automatically ruled down when any part of his body (other than the feet or hands) touches the ground. The penalties are also different. Everything considered, NCAA is tendentially easier. The defensive pass interference, one of the worst fouls in the game, is absolutely detrimental in the NFL (assigning a first down at the spot of the foul for the offense), while for the college ruling it is just a 15 yards penalty. Defensive holdings award a first down and a 5 yards penalty in the league while they give away 10 yards and a down repetition if the first is not gained in the NCAA. Head coaches can call two challenges (and a third, whether both are successful) in the NFL and just one in the college tournament. Two sides of the same coinObviously, even if there are some differences, these players are playing the same game. The best prospects playing in the NCAA eventually end up in the NFL after graduation, especially if they are nationally recognised as top future assets by winning individual accolades, like the popular Heisman Trophy. Last year’s winner, the wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, is bound to enter the league by the front door come the NFL Draft, next April. By Chris Bates