Betting Strategy Guide
How to Bet on College Basketball
Key takeaways
- College basketball is bet mainly on the point spread, the total and the moneyline, and men's games are played in two 20-minute halves rather than quarters.
- Tempo, the number of possessions a team uses per game, varies widely in college basketball and is a major driver of the total.
- Market availability for college games can be narrower than for pro games, so the bets you see vary by event.
To bet on college basketball, you pick a game, choose the spread, the total or the moneyline, and set your stake. The bets work as they do in the pros, but with hundreds of teams, two halves instead of quarters and wide gaps in talent, the numbers behave differently.
Spreads, totals and moneylines
| Market | Example | What wins |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Favorite -12.5 | The favorite wins by 13 or more |
| Total | Over/under 141.5 | Combined points over or under the line |
| Moneyline | Underdog +250 | The underdog wins outright |
Our basketball betting guide explains each bet in more detail, as do the guides to the spread and totals.
A worked example
An underdog at +250 wins $250 on a $100 bet if it wins the game; the price implies 100 ÷ 350 = 28.6%. The same team at +6.5 on the spread, priced -110, wins $100 on a $110 bet if it loses by 6 or fewer or wins. The moneyline pays more; the spread wins more often.
Tempo and totals
Some college teams play fast and use many possessions; others slow the game down. When two slow teams meet there are fewer chances to score, and the total is set lower. Look at possessions per game, not just points per game, when you judge a total.
Conference play
Early in the season many games are mismatches between strong and small programs, with large spreads. In conference play teams face familiar opponents, sometimes twice, and home court is often considered worth more in college than in the pros. Conference tournaments then award places in the national tournament.
March tournament futures
The national tournament starts in March and is single elimination, so one bad night ends a run. Futures on the champion can be bet long before it starts, and the price moves with every result. Long prices pay a lot because the champion has to win every game it plays.
What markets to expect
Market availability for college games can be narrower than for pro games. The main lines are the most common, and other markets vary by event. Check the house rules for how overtime and postponed games are settled, and see the current lines on the college basketball page.
Betting at Betcris Arizona
Betcris Arizona is licensed by the Arizona Department of Gaming. You must be 21 or older and located in Arizona to place a bet. Check the current promotions before you bet, and read our responsible gaming policy. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a college basketball game?
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A men's college game is two 20-minute halves, 40 minutes in all, compared with 48 minutes in the NBA.
What does -12.5 mean in college basketball?
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The team is a 12.5-point favorite and must win by 13 or more for a bet on it to win. A bet on the underdog at +12.5 wins if it loses by 12 or fewer or wins.
Why does tempo matter for college basketball totals?
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Tempo is the number of possessions per game. Fast teams create more scoring chances and slow teams fewer, so the pace of both teams shapes the total.
What is a college basketball futures bet?
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A bet on an outcome settled later, such as which team wins the national tournament. The price moves during the season, and the bet is settled when the tournament ends.
