How To Bet On College Basketball

Some might say that NCAA Basketball is the best sport to bet on. College basketball piques at the NCAA Tournament time - March Madness! Outside of the Super Bowl, is the biggest sporting event to bet on all season long.

The good part about March Madness is it is nearly a month long. People have had some success just blindly betting on NCAA Basketball. But, if you want to ensure you are in it for the long haul, it is important to understand who and what you are betting on and how it works. 

What do the lines mean? What are the odds? What do they tell us? 

Those are all things you must know before you start successfully betting on NCAA games.

Key betting terminology

Let's go over some of the key terms you should know when you are starting out.

Point spreads: This is how many points the “favorite” is “supposed” to win, according to oddsmakers. Therefore, if you see a (-), that’s the “favorite.” If you see the Kansas Jayhawks -5 over Duke Blue Devils, this shows that the Jayhawks are a 5-point favorite over the Blue Devils. 

Duke would be the “underdog”. Most point spreads are -110, so for every $110 you bet, you would win $100. If you took the Jayhawks -5, and they won by $6 and made a $55 - you would win $50. 

Totals: This is how many points oddsmakers are projecting to be scored in the game. You then can choose to bet “over” or “under” that number. 

Remember: this is the COMBINED points for both teams. 

So if the Kansas Jayhawks/Duke Blue Devils total was 150.5, anything at 151 or more is the “OVER,” while anything at 150 or less is the “UNDER.” These are also -110 with the “juice” that the sportsbook takes. $110 to win $100.

Moneyline bets: This is just a straight bet on who will win the game.  So if you see Kansas Jayhawks -200 and Duke Blue Devils +175, that is what the payout would be. Therefore, Kansas just simply winning the game over Duke, no matter what the final score difference is. 

For Kansas at -200, you would have to bet $200 to win $100, as they are the “favorite.” But, Duke as the underdog, at +175, it would just take a $100 bet to win $175 if they won the game.

There are three different formats for odds when betting on NCAA Basketball - American, Decimal, and Fractional.

American: Here you will see a number +150 or -150. This is how you determine your moneyline bet. 

Fractional odds: When you get fractional odds, you multiply the fraction showing by the amount you bet to show a winning profit of your bet.

Decimal: These odds vary because they will show the amount you would win, which includes the original bet. These are shown one number, which would be the amount you win on a $1 bet. So 2.25 would be $2.25 for every $1. 3.35 = $3.35 for every $1 wagered.

Other popular NCAA basketball betting types

Here are some other college basketball bets you can make

1. NCAA Champion: This type of bet can be placed before the season starts. Oddsmakers analyze team rosters and offseason moves to assign odds to each team's chances of winning the championship. These odds may also be updated during the season based on team performance. For example: Kansas +800, North Carolina +1200, Duke +1500, etc.
2. Conference title winner: Just like the previous bets, this one involves selecting the team you believe will win their respective conference title.  Conferences such as the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, SEC, etc., will have odds to win the conference, and you can wager ahead of the season or even during the season.
3. National Player of the Year:  You can place bets on the player you think will be named the National Player of the Year before or during the season. This option allows you to anticipate standout performances.
4. Freshman of the Year: Before the season commences, you can bet on a newcomer player with an exceptional debut season. This is a chance to capitalize on your insights about players who might exceed oddsmakers' expectations.

Best online sportsbooks for NCAAB betting

Here are the sites we suggest to all our members:

More betting tips

If you’re exploring NCAA basketball betting, there are a few essential tips to keep in mind. These insights will help you navigate the game and make more informed betting decisions.

Understand line movement

Line movement can tell you a lot about what’s happening behind the scenes.

• When odds shift, it’s often due to strategic moves by bookmakers or large sums of money being placed on one side.
• Don’t just follow the line blindly—ask yourself why it’s moving. Is it due to sharp bettors, injuries, or new information? Understanding the "why" can give you an edge.

Stay on top of injury news

Injuries can have a huge impact on NCAA basketball games.

• Knowing who’s in or out before sportsbooks adjust their odds can give you a leg up.
• While betting against oddsmakers is risky, being ahead of injury reports can work in your favor.

Keep tabs on injury updates—they could be the difference between a smart bet and a missed opportunity.

Consider home and away dynamics

Even though NCAA basketball is played indoors, location still matters.

• Many teams perform better at home, where they’re more comfortable and energized by their fans.
• Conversely, some teams struggle on the road, especially in hostile environments.

Understanding these dynamics adds important context when evaluating potential bets.

Start small if you’re new

If you’re just getting into betting, it’s smart to start with smaller wagers.

• Even if you’ve done your research, starting small helps minimize risk while you learn the ropes.
• As your confidence and bankroll grow, you can gradually increase your unit sizes.

Betting on NCAA basketball is as much about strategy as it is about knowledge. Start cautiously, stay informed, and let experience guide your approach over time.