If you’re a college basketball fan anywhere in North America, chances are you visited one or two NCAAB betting sites along the way. There’s a wide variety of sportsbooks out there offering lines on the entire college basketball season, from regular season games through to March Madness. We’ll show you how to navigate those lines and get the most betting value out of these college basketball games.

Reading NCAA basketball (NCAAB) odds is simpler than it might seem at first. To start, know there are three main types of bets: moneyline, point spread, and over/under (totals). Moneyline bets involve picking the winner of the game outright. The favorite team has a minus sign (-) before its odds, showing you how much you need to bet to win $100.

The underdog has a plus sign (+), indicating how much you win if you bet $100. Point spread bets focus on the winning margin. If a team is listed as -5, they need to win by more than 5 points. Over/under bets are about the total score of both teams combined. If the total is set at 150, you bet whether the score will be over or under that number. Understanding these betting odds can help you make informed bets on NCAAB games.

To see how the odds table works for each NCAAB game, let’s introduce some of the different types of bets you can make on your favorite college basketball teams:

College basketball moneylines ask you to pick the winner of a game, straight-up. The betting favorite will be shown using a negative number (e.g. Butler –150), and the underdog using a positive number (e.g. Providence +130).

Spread betting turns a game into more of a 50/50 situation by forcing the favorite to win by more than the posted number of points in order to cover. Butler was a –2.5 spread pick in our above example game, while Providence was +2.5.

Totals have become very popular among all sports bettors – they might even be the easiest type of sports betting there is. When betting on college basketball totals, you just pick whether the two teams will combine to score Over or Under the posted number of points.

A parlay bet allows you to combine several college basketball bets into one package. If all your picks win, your payouts get multiplied instead of added together, but if you miss even one pick, the entire parlay loses.

Prop bets (short for "proposition" bets) let you wager on things besides the game itself. Player props are the most popular of these; you can bet whether an individual player will score Over or Under their posted total for points, rebounds and other statistical categories.

Futures betsare on events that won’t be resolved until a future date, like who will win the next March Madness tournament. College basketball futures odds are usually available all year long – even during the offseason.

Betting on NCAA basketball, especially during March Madness, can be thrilling. Here are some tips to help you make smarter bets.

Know the Teams: Before placing any bets, it's crucial to know the teams well. Look at their recent performance, head-to-head matchups and any player injuries. Teams on hot streaks or with strong defenses often do well in the tournament.

Understand the Odds: Make sure you understand how odds work, including moneyline, point spread and over/under bets. This knowledge helps you make informed decisions and identify value bets.

Consider the Location: Games aren't played on neutral courts in the early rounds. Teams playing closer to home can have an advantage, so consider the location when betting.

Watch for Upsets: College basketball is famous for its upsets. Sometimes, betting on an underdog can pay off, especially in the early rounds. Look for teams that are peaking at the right time or have a playing style that could trouble higher-seeded teams.

Manage Your Bankroll: Set a budget for how much you're willing to spend and stick to it. It's easy to get carried away during the excitement of the tournament, but managing your bankroll ensures you won't lose more than you can afford.

Shop Around for Odds: Different online sportsbooks may offer different odds on the same games. Shopping around can get you better odds for your bets, increasing your potential winnings.

Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news, including injuries and team dynamics, up until game time. Late-breaking news can significantly impact odds and game outcomes.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of making successful bets during NCAA basketball season. 

The March Madness 2024 tournament features 68 teams competing for the NCAA championship.

March Madness 2024 will take place across several U.S. cities, with the Final Four happening in Phoenix, Arizona.

Regular season lines The UConn Huskies currently have the highest chance of winning the NCAA tournament in 2024, with odds listed at +425. Houston and Purdue are also strong contenders, following UConn closely in the odds.

A spread in college basketball is a betting line set by oddsmakers to level the playing field between two unevenly matched teams. It indicates how many points the favored team must win to cover the bet.

Basketball odds show which team is likely to win and by how much. They guide bettors on potential payouts for their bets. For example, if a team is favored to win, their odds might be lower, offering smaller payouts.