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SportsNCAA basketball betting guide for 2024
The number of athletes who compete every year in top-level sport organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association is about half a million.
College basketball is one of the most exciting sports to bet on, packed full of drama, excitement and emotion. Being hugely popular in the US and Canada, you'll also find a whole array of online NCCAA betting opportunities.
Read on to find out how betting on NCAA basketball works, the different types of wagers and how to get into live betting on NCAA basketball.
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An introduction to NCAA basketball
Basketball supporters who enjoy top-quality of play have a host of games to spark their interest each year.
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NCAA basketball features 353 schools playing in 32 Division I conferences
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There are also 24 Division II basketball conferences, with nearly 50 further conferences in Division III
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Unlike the NBA, where matches have four quarters, NCAA games are divided into two halves of 20 minutes
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The champion of each Division I conference qualifies for an annual tournament
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They are joined by 36 selected teams
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These 68 then compete in a single-elimination tournament, known as March Madness
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It takes place over three weeks, with the Final Four usually played on the first weekend in April
How NCAA basketball odds work
Betting on NCAA basketball mirrors the way wagering takes place on the NBA and other head-to-head sports. This is a simple guide to how the odds work.
Take the example of a game between Duke and MI State. The odds, expressed as decimals, may read:
If you stake C$10 on Duke, the favourite, you get back C$18. If you put C$10 on Washington, the underdogs, your return is C$21.
You might see odds in other formats, such as fractional and moneyline (also known as American) odds.
However, most sportsbooks let you swap between systems to let you choose how you view prices. Try out our Odds Calculator to see how they compare.
NCAA basketball betting options
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The point spread
Also known as handicap betting or simply the 'spread', this is the number set by sportsbooks to get punters to wager on both the underdog and the favourite. In this example, the underdog, represented by a plus sign, can lose by six points or win to cover the spread, while the favourite (shown with a minus sign), must win by at least six points.
Eg:Michigan
State
-5.51.90
Texas
Tech
+5.51.90
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The moneyline
One of the most popular types of bets due to the fact that it's so straightforward, this is simply betting on which team you think will win the game.
Eg:Liberty1.70
Auburn2.25
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Total points - over or under
This is the number set by sportsbooks estimating what they think will be the final score of both teams combined. If you predict it'll be higher than the number set by the sportsbook, then you should go for the overs, while if you think it'll be lower, you should opt for the under.
Eg:Over
140.51.90Under
140.51.90 -
Quarter bets
As the name suggests, this bet is simply determining which side you think will score more points in the first quarter.
Eg:Utah
State1.75
New Mexico
State2.15
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Prop bets
Prop bets, or proposition bets, are novel bets you can make on special events that do not relate to the overall outcome of the game. College basketball props examples could be betting on which player will score the most points, which team will get the most rebounds, or which team will score first.
Eg:Mamadi Diakite to score
the first points3.2
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To win the Conference
You may have a strong hunch that one team is sure to win its conference. You can wager on this well in advance.
Eg:To win ACC:
Duke5.0
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To reach the latter stages
This bet is for you if you reckon your selection can go deep in the tournament. Semi-finalists are called the Sweet Sixteen, finalists the Elite Eight.
Eg:To reach the Elite Eight:
Yale26.0
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To win the NCAA National Championship
Perhaps you have a very strong fancy for the overall winner of March Madness. The earlier you put money on it, the better the odds should be.
Eg:To win March Madness:
North Carolina41.0
Live betting on NCAA basketball
- Nowadays you can place bets on games that are in-play
- Odds will fluctuate depending on how the game unfolds
- You can bet on various different markets, such as who will win the next quarter or even the overall outcome of the game
- Bettors enjoy trying to outsmart sportsbooks as the game goes on
More on basketball
Brief NCAA basketball timeline
Basketball is invented at Springfield College, Massachusetts
1891The NCAA, established four years earlier, takes its new name
1906The first NCAA national championship, in track and field, is held
1921Oregon wins the first NCAA national basketball championship
1939The all-black Texas Western basketball team face an all-white Kentucky line-up – a landmark in the civil rights movement
1966Members are divided into three divisions – I, II and III
1973UCLA wins the basketball title for the 10th time in 12 years
1975Mike Krzyzewski takes over as head coach as Duke, where he wins five national titles
1980Christian Laettner completes his record haul of 407 points from 23 NCAA tournament games
1992The NCAA moves to its current HQ in Indianapolis – it now awards 90 national championships each year
1997For the first time, a total of 68 teams take part in March Madness
2011UMBC springs the biggest shock in the event's history by beating top seed Virginia 75-54.
2018Recent NCAA men's basketball champions
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2022
Kansas
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2021
Texas
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2019
Virginia
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2018
Villanova
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2017
North
Carolina -
2016
Villanova
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2015
Duke
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2014
Connecticut
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2013
Louisville
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2012
Kentucky
FAQs
What is the NCAA? The organization that has overall responsibility for collegiate sports in the United States. Basketball is one of the most popular sports it administers.
What are some of the most popular NCCA basketball bets? The point spread is a perennial favourite with NCAA basketball fans. The spread is set by the sportsbook and you must determine which side will win or lose by more than that margin.
What are the best NCAA basketball betting sites? Our online betting guide tells you all the areas you need to know about when choosing a site. These include important considerations such as security, licensing, range of bets and bonuses.
All of your recommended online casinos, shown further up this page, score highly on all the above.
Can I bet on NCAA basketball on mobile? You certainly can. Nearly all sportsbooks now boast user-friendly apps that allow you to bet on your device.
What is NCAA basketball live betting? Once the game gets under way, sportsbooks will offer you the ability to wager on the live action, as well as the overall result.
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