As the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision postseason rolls on, FCS Championship odds are now available. The quarterfinals are quickly approaching with only eight teams remaining, so let’s delve into the latest prices to win the title.
Continue reading to find my complete analysis, explore the top favorites, and FCS Playoff predictions for the rest of the tournament!
2024-25 FCS Championship Odds
The following odds to win FCS Championship are courtesy of BetUS:
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Montana State Bobcats | +185 |
| South Dakota State Jackrabbits | +210 |
| North Dakota State Bison | +225 |
| South Dakota Coyotes | +1000 |
| UC Davis Aggies | +2800 |
| Idaho Vandals | +3000 |
| Incarnate Word Cardinals | +10000 |
| Mercer Bears | +12500 |
The Montana State Bobcats (+185) are favored to win the FCS Championship this year. As the favorite at college football betting sites, Montana State’s FCS odds to win the title suggest an implied probability of 35.1%. Montana State has stiff competition against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (+210) and North Dakota State Bison (+225).
The Jackrabbits and Bison follow the Bobcats closely, with 32.3% and 30.8% implied chances. After these top three teams, the 2024-25 FCS Championship odds taper off significantly to the South Dakota Coyotes at +1000! Does any team have an edge in such a tight tournament?
You can find updated FCS odds at BetUS by navigating to Sportsbook > Football > College Football Futures > FCS Championship.
Format and Factual Information
The FCS Playoffs is a 24-team bracket-style tournament featuring teams from the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The top eight seeds received automatic invites to the second round of the tournament on Saturday, Dec. 7.
The quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 14. Four teams will vie for the right to play in the championship matchup a week later on Saturday, Dec. 21. The FCS National Championship will be broadcast live from Frisco, TX, on ESPN on Monday, Jan. 6, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
The first-ever 12-team FBS College Football Championship will take place this year after instituting a four-team bracket in 2014. In 2020, the FCS Playoffs expanded to 24 teams after debuting with a four-team playoff in 1978. The FCS continues to operate a single-game elimination format.
North Dakota State and South Dakota State have dominated the FCS for more than a decade. Note that 11 of the previous 13 champions have been from North Dakota State or South Dakota State.
FCS Championship Betting Favorites
As I explained above, three teams are the clear contenders to win the title. Before diving into our FCS predictions, let’s analyze the top of the FCS Championship betting lines at sports betting sites:
Montana State Bobcats (+185)
The Montana State Bobcats (13-0) are the only team remaining in the FCS with a perfect record. Brent Vigen owns the FCS record with a record of 44-9 through the first four seasons. However, Vigen hasn’t managed to guide the Bobcats to a national title.
Montana State finished as the runner-up in a 38-10 loss to North Dakota State in 2021, but they haven’t come closer. They’ve had a couple of close calls this season. New Mexico had Montana State in the season opener in August, but the Bobcats held on against their FBS foes in a 35-31 win.
More recently, the Bobcats were nearly upset on the road at UC Davis on November 26. UC Davis scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, but Montana State held on for a 30-28 victory. Since that lapse, the Bobcats have demolished the competition.
Tommy Mellott was nearly perfect in Saturday’s playoff win for Montana State ⬇️
📊 22-25, 300 yds, 4 TDs pic.twitter.com/rNRAcDvqZR
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) December 8, 2024
Led by QB Tommy Mellott and a strong running game, Montana State followed up by rolling over Montana, 34-11, and UT Martin, 49-17. Mellott has been overwhelmingly efficient with 26 touchdowns and one interception on 70.7% completions!
The 2024 Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year is also athletic and mobile, so NFL teams will likely give him a look. Montana State leads the nation with 41.3 points and 496.5 yards per game. They are also backed by a potent defense that ranks seventh in the FCS, with an average of 293.2 yards yielded.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits (+210)
South Dakota State (10-2) is eyeing a third consecutive FCS title this season. They are coming off a 23-3 blowout of Montana last year to capture their second championship in two years. It hasn’t been without blemishes in 2024, but the Jackrabbits are in a solid position to three-peat.
The Jackrabbits’ only losses are against FBS school Oklahoma State, 44-20, and North Dakota State, 13-9. They also needed overtime to defeat South Dakota in October, 20-17. In any event, South Dakota State is in top form recently, as they’ve won five consecutive games.
In their latest effort, South Dakota State pulled away from Montana early for a 35-18 win. QB Mark Gronowski has done a fine job leading this Jackrabbits’ squad as their signal caller. Gronowski has passed for 2,343 yards, 19 touchdowns, and six interceptions on 62.3% completions.
He could bring the pass completion up, though. Compared to Mellott, he hasn’t been as efficient throwing the ball. Nevertheless, the Jackrabbits are sixth in the FCS, averaging a solid 36.5 points per game. Furthermore, Gronowski is still the defending Walter Payton Award winner and was recently invited to the Shrine Bowl, so NFL scouts are taking note.
South Dakota State will host UIW in an FCS quarterfinal next weekend.
2023 Walter Payton Award recipient Mark Gronowski is one shy of the all-time FCS record for wins by a starting QB. pic.twitter.com/XwzhHO2BYg
— FCS Football (@OptaAnalystFCS) December 7, 2024
That said, South Dakota State’s defense ranks No. 1 in the FCS with just 16 touchdowns allowed this season! Overall, the Jackrabbits are fourth with 275.5 yards conceded per game.
Although the offense isn’t as explosive as Montana State on paper, they are a well-balanced team deserving of the second-shortest FCS football odds to win the national title.
North Dakota State Bison (+225)
It’s difficult to write off FCS powerhouse North Dakota State (11-2) from your 2024-25 FCS Championship predictions. The Bison have captured 17 championships — eight from 2011 to 2019! They are back again with a team built to win another title.
North Dakota State enters with two losses on their resume. They dropped a 31-26 loss in a competitive matchup early in the season to the high-powered Colorado Buffaloes’ squad. After winning their next 10 games, South Dakota upset the Bison in a 29-28 final two games ago.
They responded to open the FCS Playoffs with a 51-31 win over Abilene Christian. The offense is potent with QB Cam Miller running the show. Miller has torched defenses to the tune of 26 touchdowns and two interceptions on 73.7% completions. He also has some mobility and can run the ball.
Quarterback Cam Miller has been named @ValleyFootball Offensive Player of the Year. Miller led the league in completion percentage (.742) and ranked second with 2,340 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. pic.twitter.com/JiyrSr6dJc
— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) December 2, 2024
However, North Dakota State’s defense hasn’t looked nearly as crisp as the other top favorites to win the FCS Championship. They are vulnerable against dangerous offenses, which doesn’t bode well versus a team like Montana State.
The Bison have allowed 324.4 yards per game for 25th in the FCS. I am concerned with North Dakota State’s defense in a potential matchup versus Mellott or Gronowski.
Best Sleepers for FCS Championship 2024-25
The clear advantage belongs to the top favorites I mentioned above. The talent level drops off following North Dakota State, but upsets happen! That’s why you should check out my best FCS Championship winner prediction for longshots at offshore betting sites below:
South Dakota Coyotes (+1000)
At +1000, South Dakota (10-2) is the most likely team to pull off an upset over the favorites. The Coyotes have two standout games on their resume heading into the quarterfinals.
They have proved more than once that they can hang with North Dakota State and South Dakota State. In fact, South Dakota pulled off the upset over North Dakota State in the regular season. They ousted the Bison for a 29-28 win in late November and went to OT with South Dakota State to end October.
South Dakota can get into shootouts and win with QB Aidan Bouman and a strong running game. RB Travis Theis is running for 6.3 yards per carry and has scored 16 touchdowns this season!
I can’t say I’m confident in South Dakota’s defense carrying the load, but Bouman and Theis can make life difficult for the favorites. South Dakota is a top choice for your FCS Championship longshot bets!
Idaho Vandals (+3000)
Formerly in the Sun Belt and WAC of the FBS, the Idaho Vandals are finally discovering what it’s like to play winning football. Idaho finished third in the Big Sky for their best season since going 11-2 in 1988.
They enjoyed success in the FCS back in the 1980s, so this is a blast to the past. Head coach Jason Eck has turned the program around and brought the Kibbie Dome back to glory in Moscow. Idaho is riding a six-game winning streak after defeating Lehigh in the previous round, 34-13.
The Vandals don’t do anything especially great compared to the competition. However, they are 22nd defensively and the offense is in top form recently. QB Jack Layne missed time after getting injured in August against Oregon, but has been hot since returning.
Jack Layne had to get a flight path cleared for this throw ✈️ pic.twitter.com/kF1n39WyKA
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) December 8, 2024
Layne has passed for 1,238 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions. If Layne finds a rhythm and the defense steps up, Idaho can beat any team in the FCS Playoffs. At +3000, Idaho is tremendous betting value to win the title!
2024-25 FCS Playoffs Predictions
The way I see it, the FCS Playoffs will likely come down to Montana State and South Dakota State. You can never count out the Bison, but the defense against those high-powered offenses is a major concern to consider. North Dakota State’s defense has some holes to patch up in the secondary.
Montana State and South Dakota State are evenly matched with two very good quarterbacks under the gun. That said, Mellott has been playing out of his mind this season. He is such a versatile quarterback who knows how to take care of the football.
If I need any quarterback to lead the two-minute drill at the end of the game, I want Mellott on my side. He has looked unstoppable recently, and I don’t recommend fading his red-hot arm in the FCS Playoffs.
Paired with a physical defense, expect Mellott and the Bobcats to prevent South Dakota State from winning their third consecutive championship. With this in mind, consider backing Montana State for your FCS Championship winner prediction!
Where to Bet on the FCS Championship?
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