College Basketball Betting

How to Bet on College Basketball

The buzz around March Madness Odds gets bigger and bigger every year. Filling out tournament brackets has become an annual tradition throughout the US and Canada, as people prepare for the whirlwind that is the college basketball championships. But even before the madness begins, there’s an entire season’s worth of intriguing NCAAB games, waiting to be bet on.

Our sportsbook is the one-stop shop for all sports betting, including NCAAB betting. Game odds are tucked away in the “All Basketball” drop-down menu on the Bodog Basketball page. Here, you’ll find college basketball odds for single bets, like point spreads, moneylines and totals, and also a full-scale futures market that facilitates betting on long-term outcomes, like the winner of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship game in April. For those who are new to NCAAB betting, we will introduce each of the aforementioned bets, and more, in the guide below.

Getting Started with NCAAB Betting

Before you can start betting on NCAAB games in our sportsbook, you’ll need to sign up for a free account. Our Registration is quick, easy and free; all that’s required is some basic information, such as date of birth, postal code and phone number. Once authorized, you can log in to your account and begin to explore the sportsbook and other platforms, but to actually place bets, you’ll need to make a deposit.

Depositing funds into your Bodog account can be done by tapping your account profile icon at the top-right corner of the screen and locating the “Deposit” option. The deposit methods vary from traditional (credit card, Direct Bank Transfer, Interac e-Transfer) to alternative (Bitcoin, Bitcoin SV, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, USD Tether). Whichever option you choose, be sure to check out the current list of promotions, as match bonuses are often available, including the generous Sports Welcome Bonus worth up to $400.

College Basketball Betting Options

As is the case with all popular sports across North America and indeed around the globe, the betting options when placing a wager on college basketball are aplenty.

College basketball is popular with Bodog bettors all year round, but the action really heats up when the March Madness odds are released.

NCAA betting is similar to NBA betting in that you can bet straight on the moneyline and back your fancied team for glory, or take on our traders with a bet on the spread. For instance, if you think the favourites will win by three or more points and want to boost your odds, opting for the -4 spread at an enhanced price is the way to go.

Alternatively, if you are undecided between a particular side but do think there will be a glut of points scored, having a flutter on the over/under market may well be the way to go for you.

You can bet on whether a certain player will score a total number of points, rebounds or assists, or even combine them into a parlay. Will the game go to overtime? You can bet on that too!

College Basketball Betting: How It Works

Once you have decided on which bet you wish to place, it’s time to get wagering. Make sure your Bodog account is loaded with betting funds, and then place your bets either as a single or as a multiple-game parlay.

As March Madness approaches, the game lines are released and the odds fluctuate based on form, injuries, and breaking news. However, you can often get the best price by betting on the college basketball futures well in advance.

Not only can you place futures bets on the outright winners of March Madness, you can also wager on whether a team will make it to the final four. So, if you’re confident that a team has what it takes to reach the latter stages but are unsure of whether they can go all the way, this is the market for you.

Single NCAAB Bets

With your deposited funds available in your Bodog account, it’s time to make some bets. College Basketball is nested under the Basketball section of the sportsbook. Here you’ll find gamelines, which include odds for the spread, moneyline and total, which we’ll explain in detail. 

Spread Betting

The spread uses a margin of victory (or loss) in the bet structure. The dominant team (called the favourite) must cover the margin of victory in order for supporters’ bets to pay out. For example, if the spread is 6.5 points, the favourite must win by at least 7 points. Conversely, the underdog bets win even if they lose but stay within the margin. If the underdog in the above scenario lost by just 6 points, their bets would pay out. 

The payout is determined by the odds listed in the brackets beside the spread. A positive set of odds show how much money you’d win off a $100 bet, while negative odds show how much money you’d need to bet to win $100.

Moneyline Betting

Betting without the spread means you’re betting on the moneyline. Here, the team simply has to win outright in order for their bets to pay out. Teams have odds that reflect their probability of winning and thus dictate the payout, which will always be higher for the underdog and lower for the favourite. 

Totals

Totals, also known as over/under betting, is often tacked on to the spread or moneyline, but it can also be made independently. This bet asks you to guess if the total number of points scored between two teams in a game will go over or under the prediction. For example, the total for the 2022 NCAAB Championship game was 151.5; North Carolina ended up scoring 69 points, and Kansas scored 72 for an actual total of 141. Bettors who took the “Under” were rewarded for their betting prowess.

Futures NCAAB Betting

In contrast to the gamelines, which provide odds for the games happening every night, the futures market is where you’ll find betting options for the NCAAB postseason. Odds for the championship winner and the teams to make the Final Four can be found here. 

NCAAB Bet Slip

Any bets you place will appear on the Bodog Sportsbook bet slip at the corner of the screen. Simply input the amount of money you want to stake and you’ll see the Win column display the payout should your bet come through. Good luck with your picks and enjoy the games.

College Basketball Betting FAQs

Is it legal to bet on college basketball?

Absolutely! College basketball betting is almost as popular as NBA betting and when March Madness comes around, it really does take over from the professional ranks.

What happens if my spread bet is a push?

If you bet on a team at -3 and they win by 3 points exactly, fear not as your bet hasn’t lost. It will be pushed and you will receive your wager back.

Should I bet on the favourite in college basketball?

Favourites are favourites for a reason. They often have the better players, coaches and form going into a particular game or tournament. That being said, underdog stories do happen, so bet wisely.

Should I bet on the unders in total betting in college basketball?

This very much depends on the game in question. If both or one of the teams in question is known for a solid defence as opposed to free-flowing attacking play, then you might want to bet on the unders, depending on where the line has been set.

Which team has won the most March Madness tournaments?

UCLA have won the most tournaments in March Madness history with 11 successes. Ten of their 11 tournament wins came between 1964 and 1975 in a period of domination that is unlikely to ever be replicated.

How many overtimes are allowed in college basketball?

In theory, college basketball games can have an infinite number of overtimes played. The reason? Basketball games cannot end in a tie.

Which college basketball game had the most overtimes?

In 1981, Bradley and Cincinnati men’s college basketball teams played out an incredible seven overtime periods.