Many people think betting on college basketball is easy, which is not true! This type of bet has many aspects that create a game-changing landscape. There are many teams to bet on and the odds change constantly; this is what makes the betting market one of the most unique and volatile markets you will find in sports betting. The key to betting college basketball successfully is using previously demonstrated success as a guide.
Best College Basketball Betting Sites
|
Operator
|
Bonus
|
Features
|
Claim Now
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
200% Bonus
|
|
|
|
100% Bonus
|
|
|
|
100% Bonus
|
|
|
|
100% Bonus
|
|
|
|
50% Free Bet
|
|
|
|
100% Bonus
|
|
|
|
Promotions
|
|
|
|
Jackpot Focus
|
|
|
|
50% Free Bet
|
|
|
How Can I Win Betting on College Basketball?
The best way to bet on college basketball and win is to specialize in a select few conferences, and bet lines right when they open. That way, you can get the best of the numbers.
You can use our power ratings to create your own point spread projections. Be sure to follow local beat writers and team accounts for your selected conferences to acquire more information than the betting market and sportsbooks.
What is a point spread in college basketball odds betting?
Point spreads are a bet on the margin of victory in a game. One team will be favored because they’re the stronger team, and they need to win by more than the point spread to win the bet. The other team needs to lose by that number of points, or win the game, to win the bet.
Let’s say Villanova is a -9.5 favorite over Indiana in the NCAA Tournament. Villanova needs to win by 10 points or more to win the bet. If Indiana loses by 1-9 points, or wins the game, it wins the bet for its bettors.
What is a Total bet in college basketball?
The total is a bet on the combined points scored by both teams in a single game. As a bettor, you’re not trying to guess the number exactly -- you’re trying to predict whether it will go “over” or “under” the preset amount. That’s why a total is also called an over/under.
Let’s say the total in that Villanova-Indiana game is 144 -- an average college basketball total. If Villanova wins 80-70 (150 total points), the game goes over. If Villanova wins 70-60 (130 total points), the game goes under.
How do college basketball moneylines work?
A moneyline is a wager that forces you to pick the winner of a game, but the odds are adjusted for each team’s ability.
American moneyline odds are based on winning money. A favorite will have a minus sign in front, and that number represents how much you need to risk to win this money. The underdog will have a plus sign, and that number represents how much you will win if you risk this amount.
Villanova might be -400 against Indiana if it’s about 10 points better on the point spread. To win some money betting on Villanova, you must risk much more. You’ll get your amount back, if Nova wins as expected. Indiana will be a corresponding +300, let’s say.
American odds scale up and down based on how much you want to bet, so it’s usually easier to think of them in small amounts.
Conclusion
The key to winning money betting college basketball is not trying to pick the winner of each individual game; instead, it's more about finding small edges over time. Bet with point spreads, totals, or moneylines; knowing how all these types of wagers fit together is essential to building a solid pre-betting foundation upon which successful decisions can be made.
As you learn the different types of wagers, you will be able to combine your knowledge of each type of bet with specialisation; you can then react quicker than others to move away from the field of novice bettors to become consistently successful in betting on college basketball after the market has adjusted.
FAQ
Can you make a regular profit betting on College Basketball?
Yes, but it’s not easy. You can consistently be profitable by finding value in odds, being an expert in specific conferences or teams and managing your bankroll well. Most casual bettors lose by betting off their gut and not with data and a disciplined approach to betting.
What is the best bet to make as a beginner?
The point spread is probably the easiest type of bet to understand and is a good starting place to begin to learn how to bet. It will make the games more even by allowing wagering on underdogs and favorites equally.
What is the best time to place a bet?
Betting right after the lines open is a good time to bet if you have good information or a strong projection. However there are times when waiting on the line movements would be a better option—depending on the match-up and betting patterns.
What level of importance is bankroll management?
Bankroll management is extremely important. The best bettors lose on any given wager or two. Setting a budget and then betting a small (1-3%) percentage of your bankroll will help you get through losing streaks and stay in the betting game long-term.