With 365 Division I teams, there are plenty of NCAABB public betting opportunities. Consider that you can bet on college basketball nearly every night from November through the national championship in April. While a large percentage of bettors get into college basketball betting in March Madness betting for conference tournaments and the national tournament, NCAA basketball betting is available starting in November.
Overall, NCAA basketball betting is similar to betting in other sports. However, it has unique characteristics due to the high volume of games, frequent roster turnover, and intense focus on the March Madness tournament. College basketball generates substantial sports betting volume. There are games almost every night from November to April, especially non-conference early-season mismatches, lots of value early before lines sharpen.
Of course, the signature event is the March Madness (NCAA Tournament). It is the biggest betting event, with a 68-team single-elimination bracket in March/April. Upsets are common, so underdogs cover spreads at high rates historically. Meanwhile, futures and live betting traffic are massive. Gamblers have a lot to consider, including injuries, transfers, coaching changes, and motivation (e.g., late-season games for bubble teams), and swing lines fast. Finally, there are many NCAAB prop bets available due to the large number of teams.
College basketball betting differs from betting on other sports, such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, or even pro basketball. Due to a mix of NCAAB betting predictions factors, including game rules, team dynamics, scheduling quirks, market factors, and unique events such as March Madness.
First, there are shorter March Madness odds games. NCAA games are 40 minutes (two 20-minute halves) vs. 48 minutes in the NBA (four 12-minute quarters). The shot clock is 30 seconds in college (vs. 24 in the pros), leading to fewer possessions and lower-scoring games on average (~68-75 points per team vs. ~105+ in the NBA). Next is a massive roster turnover. College teams feature young, inexperienced players (freshmen/sophomores dominate), frequent transfers, and high annual turnover.
Breakdown of College Basketball Betting Types
Moneyline: Pick which team wins outright—no margin matters. Specifically, favorites have negative odds (e.g., -150 means bet $150 to win $100). Underdogs have positive odds (e.g., +130 means a $100 bet wins $130). Great for close games or heavy underdogs with upset potential.
Point Spread: College hoops because games often feature big mismatches. Sportsbooks set a “spread” (handicap) to level the playing field. As an example, if Duke is -8.5 vs. a smaller school, Duke must win by 9+ points for your bet to win. If you take the underdog +8.5, they can lose by up to 8 (or win outright), and you still win. Consider that a half-point (like .5) avoids ties/pushes. If it’s a whole number (e.g., -8) and they win by exactly 8, it’s a push (the stake is refunded). Odds are usually around -110 (bet $110 to win $100) on both sides.
Over/Under (Totals): Bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a set number. As an example, with a total set at 142.5, bet Over if you think it’ll be 143+ points, Under if 142 or fewer. College games often feature higher scoring than the pros due to the shot clock and pace, but defensive matchups vary widely.
Parlays: Combine multiple bets (e.g., spread + total + moneyline from different games) for bigger payouts, but all legs must win.
Futures: Long-term bets like “team to win the National Championship,” conference winners, or player awards (e.g., Wooden Award).
Prop Bets: Specific outcomes (e.g., team to score first half over X, player points—though player props are restricted in some states).
Live/In-Play Betting: Wager during the game as odds shift in real time. Very popular in college due to momentum swings.
Alternate Lines: Adjust the spread/total to improve or worsen odds (e.g., take a team at -3.5 instead of -8.5 for a lower payout).