College Basketball Betting: Expert Guide on NCAA Betting

College basketball betting has become extremely popular over the last decade, and the month of March is dominated by NCAA basketball. So where can you learn how to bet on college basketball if you’re new to the game? Right here!

This Expert Guide to NCAA Basketball Betting will give you a well-rounded overview of the subject. We’ll tell you about the most common types of bets that you can make, and how they work. Here is all the info you need about basketball betting on NCAA games. The rest is up to you!

NCAA Basketball Betting: Types & Strategies

College Basketball Betting: NCAA Basketball Against the Spread

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 NCAA Basketball betting against the spread 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.

North Carolina are the favorites. Their score will be reduced by 5.5 points for the purposes of your bet being settled. They would therefore need to win the game by 6 points or more for your bet to win.

Gonzaga are the underdogs. Their score will be increased by 5.5 points before your bet is settled. Your bet can therefore win even if the team loses, as long as it loses by 5 points or less.

Sportsbooks often use a half-point to make NCAA Basketball betting against the spread more difficult.

College Basketball Betting: NCAA Over/Under

One of the most popular betting markets for college basketball is the NCAA Over/Under. An NCAA 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 a 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 221 points. If you believe the total will be 221 or more, you would bet Over. If you think that it will be 220 or less, you would bet Under.

Should your prediction prove to be accurate, your NCAA over/under bet will win.

College Basketball Betting: NCAA Money Lines

NCAA moneylines are easy to understand, but are 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 $222 bet on the North Carolina Tarheels to win $100, while a $100 bet on the Gonzaga Bulldogs will earn you $185. The payout is much better for the Bulldogs, but there is also a much smaller chance that they win, based on what the sportsbooks, in this case, UniBet, think. NCAA moneylines can be very profitable as there can be some real mis-matches with massive schools coming up against schools who are a lot smaller and less devoted to their basketball program.

College Basketball Betting: 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 NCAA Basketball future 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 future bet, the bigger the potential payout will be. 

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

College Basketball Betting: NCAA Prop Bets

NCAA prop bets are another very popular choice for many bettors. There are three types of NCAA prop bets:

• Team props
• Player props
• Game props

Prop bets never really have any correlation to the result of the game. They’re more for side entertainment rather than serious picks. This can be very enticing for a lot of more casual fun-loving bettors. 

NCAA prop bets are similar to NBA prop bets in the sense that they are both based on statistical outcomes of the game. Such as:

• PPG
• Rebounds
• Blocks 
• Steals 

Some of the most popular team props are:

• First team to make 10 points.
• Team to make more two-point field goals.
• Team to get the most steals.

Some of the popular NCAA player props you will see are:

• No. points scored by a player.
• Which player will have the most assists?
• Player vs player for the most points. 

How Can You Win in NCAA Basketball Betting

The best way to be successful when making NCAA basketball bets is to stick to a conference that you want to follow. If you support a team then go with their conference. Try to place your bets when the opening lines come out, you will get the best odds at this time. Follow the teams you’re betting on, do plenty of research on them and keep up with injuries, coach changes and any roster changes. You need to have knowledge before placing any NCAA basketball bets. 

Search the Right Info for Successful College Basketball Betting

If you want to be successful when betting on College Basketball, it is essential that you are looking at the best possible information. Research is key! College basketball is ever changing. Whether it be injuries, suspensions, schedule changes, tournament implications, or coaching changes. If you know what’s going on in college basketball you will have a much greater chance in being successful.

Free NCAA Basketball Picks

Look out for Free NCAA Basketball picks when scouring the web. A lot of casual bettors choose to stay away from expert picks as for the most part they are behind a pay-wall, or the bettor is looking for fun rather than profits and would prefer to make their own picks.

However, if you are willing to follow picks, always look at the free picks available. Your profit margins will be higher than if you were to spend on picks and a lot of free pick come from experts anyway. If profit is your sole goal when betting definitely look into free NCAA basketball picks.