Jimmy Boyd in 
Which college football teams really have the best home-field advantage? Most sources try to generalize the upper hand into a simple number that can be applied to every team and every game. The fact of the matter is, that there is no magic number that applies universally (the national average is just over three points, but it can vary drastically).
Each team has built its own home field profile, and that is what I have tried to capture. I will go into more detail about how I came up with these numbers below, but the table that follows shows how much better each team has performed historically (represented by points) at home compared to on the road.
The data was taken for each team for games between 1989 and 2021 in conference play only to help remove outliers caused by playing inferior non-conference opponents. Keep in mind that some of the best teams in the nation over the past few decades show up at the bottom of this list.
This doesn’t mean they don’t have any home-field edge, but rather that they play just as well on the road as they do at home, so their true advantage is simply not as significant. They also might start blowing teams out at home and call the dogs off a little bit. You have to decide how much that matters for yourself when betting on college football.
We’ve also tried to exclude those teams that haven’t been in FBS (formerly Division 1A) very long so as not to skew the numbers with a small sample size. Also, teams like Notre Dame, which traditionally haven’t played in a conference, aren’t included (for what it’s worth Notre Dame’s home field is slightly above average with a true advantage of about 3.5 points).
So, where do these numbers come from? As I said, I pulled game data for each team for all of their conference games from 1989 to 2021. I then took the difference between each team’s home margin of victory and road margin of victory and divided that number by two to get each team’s advantage at home over a neutral field. As you can see, not all home-field advantage is created equal!
If modeling a rough power rating for each team, then making situational adjustments while monitoring the latest news seems like a lot of work, check out our free college football picks so you can get some advantage bets without the effort!
Best Home Field Advantage in College Football
| Team | Home Record | Home Margin | Road Record | Road Margin | True Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee | 56-26-0 | 9.93 | 39-44-0 | -1.77 | 5.85 |
| Cincinnati | 71-37-1 | 6.55 | 49-61-0 | -5.01 | 5.78 |
| Hawaii | 47-55-1 | -0.85 | 24-66-0 | -12.30 | 5.73 |
| East Carolina | 71-47-1 | 5.55 | 55-63-0 | -5.45 | 5.50 |
| Rice | 64-54-0 | 1.83 | 41-80-0 | -8.86 | 5.35 |
| Marshall | 83-23-0 | 11.99 | 54-46-0 | 1.46 | 5.27 |
| UTEP | 45-72-1 | -4.20 | 20-104-1 | -14.55 | 5.18 |
| Iowa State | 55-77-2 | -2.55 | 32-100-1 | -12.56 | 5.01 |
| Florida State | 109-25-0 | 19.56 | 83-39-0 | 9.61 | 4.98 |
| Buffalo | 35-53-0 | -0.76 | 26-65-0 | -10.63 | 4.94 |
| Nebraska | 94-37-0 | 13.46 | 73-55-1 | 3.65 | 4.91 |
| South Alabama | 20-20-0 | -1.27 | 6-33-0 | -11.05 | 4.89 |
| Missouri | 65-63-0 | 0.68 | 42-84-0 | -8.59 | 4.64 |
| Connecticut | 29-34-0 | -4.41 | 13-51-0 | -13.48 | 4.54 |
| Akron | 59-62-0 | -2.83 | 33-94-0 | -11.76 | 4.47 |
| Wyoming | 67-56-1 | 1.19 | 41-84-0 | -7.68 | 4.44 |
| Fresno State | 61-24-1 | 10.34 | 43-43-1 | 1.51 | 4.42 |
| Arkansas State | 63-36-0 | 4.78 | 40-59-0 | -3.95 | 4.37 |
| North Texas | 49-44-0 | 1.63 | 36-55-0 | -7.07 | 4.35 |
| Arkansas | 60-61-1 | 0.61 | 45-82-1 | -8.04 | 4.33 |
| Toledo | 96-27-2 | 11.66 | 74-55-1 | 3.10 | 4.28 |
| SMU | 58-60-0 | -3.05 | 32-89-1 | -11.52 | 4.24 |
| Texas Tech | 73-56-0 | 4.29 | 54-76-0 | -4.17 | 4.23 |
| Colorado | 72-57-2 | 2.42 | 55-77-1 | -5.95 | 4.19 |
| Kansas State | 86-44-1 | 7.76 | 61-74-0 | -0.43 | 4.10 |
| Cal | 69-67-0 | 1.26 | 42-96-1 | -6.91 | 4.09 |
| Oregon | 102-36-0 | 10.58 | 77-61-0 | 2.43 | 4.08 |
| Arizona State | 83-55-0 | 5.21 | 56-79-1 | -2.89 | 4.05 |
| Penn State | 91-39-0 | 11.22 | 72-53-0 | 3.15 | 4.04 |
| Wisconsin | 87-43-3 | 10.14 | 70-63-0 | 2.11 | 4.02 |
| UCLA | 84-55-0 | 3.88 | 59-81-1 | -4.13 | 4.01 |
| Oklahoma | 97-25-0 | 15.84 | 82-36-2 | 7.89 | 3.98 |
| Houston | 81-43-1 | 7.55 | 55-67-0 | -0.20 | 3.88 |
| Kansas | 40-90-0 | -11.13 | 23-108-1 | -18.86 | 3.87 |
| Florida | 93-25-0 | 15.79 | 80-38-0 | 8.08 | 3.86 |
| Kentucky | 49-82-0 | -5.75 | 30-102-0 | -13.36 | 3.81 |
| Tulane | 47-65-0 | -4.06 | 24-87-0 | -11.64 | 3.79 |
| Syracuse | 62-59-1 | 1.23 | 46-75-0 | -6.35 | 3.79 |
| Maryland | 55-72-0 | -3.71 | 41-93-0 | -11.22 | 3.76 |
| New Mexico | 45-73-0 | -3.82 | 35-91-0 | -11.24 | 3.71 |
| Miami (FL) | 89-32-0 | 13.12 | 73-43-0 | 5.75 | 3.69 |
| BYU | 68-18-0 | 13.76 | 61-25-1 | 6.51 | 3.63 |
| Washington State | 61-72-0 | -1.27 | 52-86-0 | -8.49 | 3.61 |
| Mississippi State | 61-66-0 | -1.49 | 38-91-1 | -8.56 | 3.54 |
| Indiana | 46-85-1 | -6.82 | 29-106-0 | -13.89 | 3.54 |
| Ohio State | 114-19-1 | 19.04 | 100-30-2 | 12.05 | 3.50 |
| Louisiana Tech | 48-22-0 | 9.44 | 35-32-3 | 2.54 | 3.45 |
| UTSA | 22-14-0 | 1.92 | 15-20-0 | -4.97 | 3.45 |
| Ohio | 64-61-2 | 3.46 | 55-69-1 | -3.42 | 3.44 |
| Arizona | 67-72-0 | -0.19 | 50-87-1 | -7.01 | 3.41 |
| North Carolina | 73-58-1 | 2.90 | 53-78-0 | -3.91 | 3.41 |
| Mississippi | 59-69-0 | -0.95 | 41-84-0 | -7.73 | 3.39 |
| Michigan State | 83-51-0 | 5.43 | 65-67-1 | -1.34 | 3.39 |
| New Mexico State | 23-38-0 | -3.49 | 19-38-0 | -10.23 | 3.37 |
| Clemson | 101-30-1 | 12.57 | 76-52-0 | 5.88 | 3.35 |
| Boise State | 54-13-0 | 18.73 | 48-14-0 | 12.05 | 3.34 |
| Minnesota | 60-74-0 | -1.93 | 39-95-0 | -8.57 | 3.32 |
| Utah | 85-47-0 | 8.86 | 72-56-0 | 2.25 | 3.31 |
| Wake Forest | 49-80-0 | -5.40 | 38-96-0 | -11.95 | 3.28 |
| Northern Illinois | 75-36-0 | 9.64 | 69-47-0 | 3.10 | 3.27 |
| Louisville | 74-40-0 | 7.11 | 57-53-0 | 0.60 | 3.26 |
| Oregon State | 60-78-2 | -2.79 | 40-96-0 | -9.24 | 3.23 |
| Miami (OH) | 79-45-1 | 7.69 | 65-59-2 | 1.29 | 3.20 |
| UCF | 62-26-0 | 9.53 | 50-39-0 | 3.25 | 3.14 |
| Temple | 50-59-0 | -4.59 | 35-85-0 | -10.85 | 3.13 |
| TCU | 84-48-0 | 8.48 | 71-64-0 | 2.33 | 3.08 |
| Memphis | 66-53-0 | 2.98 | 46-75-0 | -3.16 | 3.07 |
| Kent State | 47-81-0 | -4.96 | 33-93-1 | -11.03 | 3.04 |
| Nevada | 46-27-0 | 5.56 | 33-38-0 | -0.48 | 3.02 |
| Air Force | 79-43-0 | 6.55 | 60-62-1 | 0.55 | 3.00 |
| Auburn | 82-46-3 | 5.53 | 70-60-0 | -0.45 | 2.99 |
| UNLV | 36-73-0 | -7.99 | 24-86-0 | -13.97 | 2.99 |
| Washington | 86-52-1 | 6.43 | 67-68-0 | 0.55 | 2.94 |
| Oklahoma State | 70-63-2 | 2.25 | 59-73-1 | -3.56 | 2.91 |
| Georgia Southern | 20-12-0 | 7.19 | 17-15-0 | 1.38 | 2.91 |
| South Carolina | 61-63-3 | -0.67 | 45-81-0 | -6.47 | 2.90 |
| UAB | 47-38-0 | 1.79 | 39-48-0 | -3.99 | 2.89 |
| Texas A&M | 81-46-1 | 6.96 | 71-56-0 | 1.25 | 2.86 |
| Rutgers | 37-81-0 | -10.63 | 26-95-2 | -16.33 | 2.85 |
| Southern Miss | 75-41-0 | 8.00 | 66-54-1 | 2.31 | 2.85 |
| Virginia | 83-48-0 | 3.49 | 51-78-1 | -1.91 | 2.70 |
| Michigan | 98-34-1 | 12.37 | 88-46-1 | 7.00 | 2.69 |
| Baylor | 61-70-0 | -4.27 | 39-91-1 | -9.54 | 2.64 |
| Virginia Tech | 84-36-0 | 11.48 | 77-43-1 | 6.24 | 2.62 |
| Central Michigan | 72-55-1 | 3.73 | 60-65-3 | -1.50 | 2.62 |
| Tennessee | 82-50-0 | 5.97 | 67-60-2 | 0.78 | 2.60 |
| Florida International | 27-36-0 | -3.25 | 20-42-0 | -8.34 | 2.55 |
| West Virginia | 77-47-2 | 6.95 | 67-57-0 | 1.91 | 2.52 |
| Boston College | 61-62-1 | 1.07 | 53-68-1 | -3.90 | 2.49 |
| Purdue | 60-73-2 | -1.24 | 44-87-1 | -5.97 | 2.37 |
| Bowling Green | 72-55-3 | 5.15 | 68-60-1 | 0.45 | 2.35 |
| Colorado State | 67-55-0 | 3.34 | 61-62-0 | -1.22 | 2.28 |
| LSU | 86-46-0 | 5.63 | 68-60-1 | 1.18 | 2.23 |
| Texas | 90-34-0 | 11.77 | 78-42-0 | 7.33 | 2.22 |
| NC State | 73-58-0 | 0.23 | 52-77-0 | -4.08 | 2.16 |
| Northwestern | 58-76-0 | -4.91 | 55-78-0 | -9.20 | 2.15 |
| Gerogia Tech | 84-48-0 | 3.17 | 59-69-1 | -1.06 | 2.12 |
| Tulsa | 53-57-1 | 0.96 | 45-66-0 | -3.13 | 2.05 |
| USC | 96-40-2 | 10.62 | 87-50-1 | 6.59 | 2.02 |
| Iowa | 83-53-0 | 5.33 | 69-64-1 | 1.32 | 2.01 |
| Louisiana-Monroe | 41-43-0 | -2.27 | 32-53-0 | -6.22 | 1.98 |
| San Diego State | 69-39-1 | 5.72 | 62-46-0 | 1.79 | 1.97 |
| Western Michigan | 82-47-0 | 6.13 | 65-61-1 | 2.20 | 1.97 |
| South Florida | 33-40-0 | 0.26 | 29-43-0 | -3.33 | 1.80 |
| Vanderbilt | 26-104-0 | -11.75 | 22-109-0 | -15.31 | 1.78 |
| Utah State | 43-25-0 | 7.56 | 41-32-1 | 4.24 | 1.66 |
| San Jose State | 34-37-0 | -3.90 | 28-48-0 | -7.20 | 1.65 |
| Florida Atlantic | 34-32-0 | 2.30 | 29-35-0 | -0.92 | 1.61 |
| Troy | 45-24-0 | 6.93 | 39-30-0 | 3.86 | 1.54 |
| Stanford | 79-58-0 | 1.69 | 72-69-0 | -1.35 | 1.52 |
| Georgia | 83-33-0 | 9.76 | 79-37-1 | 6.78 | 1.49 |
| Navy | 23-21-0 | -0.95 | 18-28-0 | -3.72 | 1.39 |
| Ball State | 65-62-1 | -0.12 | 63-60-1 | -2.86 | 1.37 |
| Pitt | 66-56-0 | 1.05 | 55-61-2 | -1.55 | 1.30 |
| Eastern Michigan | 44-81-1 | -6.75 | 37-89-0 | -9.30 | 1.28 |
| Duke | 29-98-0 | -11.13 | 30-104-0 | -13.56 | 1.22 |
| Alabama | 101-31-1 | 13.35 | 93-38-0 | 10.96 | 1.20 |
| Western Kentucky | 28-23-0 | 6.14 | 32-21-0 | 5.58 | 0.28 |
| Illinois | 45-88-0 | -6.83 | 47-86-2 | -7.35 | 0.26 |
| Louisiana-Lafayette | 61-43-1 | 0.61 | 61-46-0 | 0.59 | 0.01 |
| CFB Average | 3.30 | -3.07 | 3.18 |
There are a few things to keep in mind when you look at this data. First, obviously, there is a lot of turnover for college football teams, so there is going to be some fluctuation from year to year, however, over this length of time, there are certainly some patterns that emerge. You will also notice that the teams at the top of this list are mostly bad road teams, which influences how much “better” their numbers look at home.
This table is a must-have if you are going to improve your college football handicapping. Study it and use it to set your own lines to compare to the weekly point spreads and find your value. Boyd’s Bets is here to help you improve your win rate this season.
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