Is Fred Biletnikoff #178 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1971 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Fred Biletnikoff #178 sells for $454 against $4.64 raw: a $450 spread, 98× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($164) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $4.64
- PSA 10
- $454
- PSA 9
- $164
- Gem premium
- 98×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $454 | +$425 | +$400 | +$300 |
| PSA 9 | $164 | +$134 | +$109 | +$9.36 |
| PSA 8 | $149 | +$119 | +$94.28 | −$5.72 |
Net = sale price − $4.64 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $237 | +$182 |
| 50% | $309 | +$254 |
| 75% | $382 | +$327 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $590 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $454 | −$136 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $272 | −$318 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $272 | −$318 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1971 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Fred Biletnikoff #178 — FAQ
Is Fred Biletnikoff #178 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Fred Biletnikoff #178 sells for $454 against $4.64 raw: a $450 spread, 98× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($164) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Fred Biletnikoff #178 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Fred Biletnikoff #178 (Football Cards 1971 Topps) sells for about $454 versus $4.64 for a raw near-mint copy — a 98× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Fred Biletnikoff #178?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $590, ahead of PSA 10 at $454. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Fred Biletnikoff #178 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your football card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
