How To Bet NCAA Basketball

NCAA Basketball Bets

College basketball betting lines are very similar to those of the NBA, and the betting types are similar as well. This Expert Guide will therefore focus on the main NCAA basketball bets that you can choose from, and explain how they work. In just a short time, you know exactly how to bet on NCAA Basketball.

The NCAA Tournament (also known as March Madness) will provide some other unique betting types, but this guide focuses on the four most common betting markets during the regular season.

For illustration purposes, we will imagine a matchup between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and North Carolina Tarheels. 

👇 Below you will see our NCAA Basketball odds comparison tool, which gives you betting lines from legal US sportsbooks to make sure you’re getting the best price no matter what you want to bet.

Did you know?

• Our odds are updated every 3 seconds, you will see them blink red for when the odds are "shortening" and blue from when the odds are "drifting".
• The best odds will be highlighted in bold.
• Use the filter odds tab to look at spreads, over/under, or money lines. You can also filter by state to show sportsbooks available in your area.
• You can visit directly the operator by tapping/clicking on any of the odds from the odds table.

Live NCAA Basketball Odds

How to Bet on NCAA Basketball Spreads

Betting against the spread when it comes to college basketball games is one of the most popular bets to make. Sportsbooks will set the point spreads based on the probability of a certain outcome occurring, and then it will be up to you to make your bets. 

Here is an example of what a spread for NCAA Basketball looks like:

The first thing to note is that the odds are the same for each team. A $110 bet will win you $100 if you choose the right team.

Gonzaga are the favourtes. Their score will be reduced by 3.5 points for the purposes of your bet being settled. They would therefore need to win the game by 4 points or more for your bet to win.

North Carolina are the underdogs. Their score will be increased by 3.5 points before your bet is settled. Your bet can therefore win even if the team loses, as long as it loses by three points or less.

Sportsbooks often use a half-point to make a choice more difficult.

How to Bet on NCAA Basketball Over/Under

One of the most popular betting markets for college basketball is the Over/Under. An Over/Under bet is sometimes referred to as a total bet. That's because it deals with the total number of points scored by both teams in an NCAA Basketball game. 

This is another extremely popular bet when it comes to NCAA Basketball games. Here is an example:

North Carolina Tarheels vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs

The odds are once again listed at -110, which is very standard for most sportsbooks.

Your task is to predict whether the combined score of the two teams will be Over or Under 189.5 points. If you believe the total will be 190 or more, you would bet Over. If you think that it will be 189 or less, you would bet Under.

Should your prediction prove to be accurate, your bet will win.

How to Bet on NCAA Basketball Moneyline

An NCAA Basketball moneyline bet is easy to understand, but it is not a commonly made bet. A moneyline bet requires you to pick the winner of a specific game, and the sportsbooks will set the lines for each team. 

The payouts are usually quite different depending on which team you choose.

It would take a $145 bet on the Gonzaga Bulldogs to win $100, while a $100 bet on the North Carolina Tarheels will earn you $155. The payout is much better for North Carolina, but there is also a much smaller chance that they win, based on what the sportsbooks think. 

How to Bet on NCAA Basketball Futures

The most common NCAA Basketball Futures bet involves predicting who will be the eventual National Champion. Online sportsbooks will set the odds for this future bet almost immediately after one season ends, and the odds will change as the season plays out. 

If you plan on doing any futures betting at all, then the best time to place a bet is when there is great value in the odds. Although it isn't always the case, the earlier you make a futures bet, the bigger the potential payout will be. 

College basketball future bets can be hugely profitable if you land a winner, and that's one of the reasons why so many bettore gravitate towards them. 

Photo Credits: Sarah Stier / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP