Sports betting operators pause wagers on college football games longer than NFL games when adjusting odds after significant betting action, according to recent analysis by Bettormetrics.

The study, examining data from Week 8 of college football and Week 9 of the NFL season, found suspension times for college games were 8.7% longer compared to NFL games across major sportsbooks including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and others.

Key findings:

• FanDuel and DraftKings showed the shortest suspension times for NFL games
• For college games, FanDuel led followed by DraftKings
• College football suspensions averaged 8.7% longer than NFL

The longer pause times for college football can be attributed to:

• Lower market liquidity compared to NFL
• Greater number of teams (134 FBS + 129 FCS teams)
• More obscure matchups, especially outside major conferences
• Less betting activity on smaller conference games

Industry experts note that sportsbooks who can optimize suspension times for college games will gain competitive advantages through:

• Improved customer experience
• Increased betting handle
• Better overall profitability
• Higher customer retention

The NFL's shorter suspension times reflect its position as the most liquid betting market in US sports, requiring significant money to impact odds. Unlike college football, there are no "obscure" NFL teams, leading to more consistent betting patterns and faster odds adjustments.

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