When it comes to college basketball, today’s betting odds could shift significantly tomorrow. Much like the youth and exuberance of the players in these games, nothing stays the same for too long.
College basketball has a certain purity to it that sets it apart from the NBA. Perhaps it’s due to the players’ youth. Or the throngs of students and graduates. Maybe it’s because of the rivalry amongst the schools. Whatever it might be, NCAA basketball is a fantastic sport to watch and wager on.
We’ll go over all of the essentials of college basketball betting so you can be sure you will be on the track to victory when it comes to NCAAB betting by the end of this article.
Types of College Basketball Bets
NCAA betting rules may appear convoluted at first look. However, once you get the hang of it, you’ll quickly learn that it is actually pretty straightforward. All it takes is an understanding of the different types of bets available and what they mean.
Moneyline
Moneyline bets on college basketball are the easiest to place because all you have to do is pick which team will win – that’s it. In essence, you have a 50/50 chance of winning, which is pretty good odds.
The payoff, on the other hand, is seldom half. Bookmakers usually pick one team as the favored to win and the other as the underdog. The value of the line can be used to identify the difference. Positive odds indicate the underdog, whilst negative odds indicate the favorite.
Total (Over/Under) Bets
The over/under is without a doubt one of the top NCAAB bets. It doesn’t matter who wins or what the score was. This wager is simply based on the number of total points scored by both teams. Bookmakers set a number beforehand, and bettors just need to decide if the end score is going to be over or under that number. This bet is as rudimentary as a Moneyline bet, which means you also have a 50/50 chance of winning.
Game Spread Bet in College Basketball
Both the underdog and the favorite are given a point-spread “handicap” in this college basketball wager. This amount for this spread will always be exactly the same, and it is designed to keep the game stabilized.
Prop Bets in College Basketball
This wager is centered on certain game outcomes that occur during the game. Props are “side wagers” that are not related to the outcome of the game, such as who the winner will be or how many points they will win by.
Props will differ from one sportsbook to the next. However, the prop category has some of the finest college basketball selections. Among the various possibilities are which team will score the game’s first basket or which player will make the most three-pointers.
Futures Bets
Vegas wagering around NCAA basketball also includes futures bets. These are long-term gambles that generally include options like which team will emerge triumphant in any tournament or championship or which players will receive awards, such as MVP of the Year.
Betting Events for College Basketball
There are NCAA basketball bets to be had 24/7 between November and March. This is when the college season begins, and with so many teams across the nation competing, it’s a tight schedule. However, there are some dates that you should specifically make a note of in your diary well in advance:
Tournaments at the start of the season: These tournaments kick off the basketball season. These events feature teams from all conferences, making them a perfect taster before March Madness.
Tournaments in the conference: Each conference -32 in total- holds a competition to declare its champion at the end of the regular season. There will be plenty of NCAA bracket wagering as a result of this.
Is it even necessary to explain NCAA March Madness? It’s a 68-team single-elimination tournament for the national championship, and it’s complete mayhem – in the best possible manner. The finest college basketball bets appear to happen during the NCAA Tournament when the entire country is kept on the edge of their seats.
Author Bio: Vinod Gill is a writer who specializes in writing content on Sports and Gaming subjects. He is a Digital Marketing Consultant, Blogger, and Co-Founder of Ecompany.