NCAA Predictions, Tips And Picks

• How To Bet On NCAA Basketball
• NCAA Vs NBA Differences
• You’ll Need To Scale Down
• NCAA Teams To Bet On
• NCAA Basketball Betting Markets
• NCAA Predictions Summary

College basketball is a hugely popular sport in the United States, and its popularity with bettors is well-known.

If you’re keen to join the action and begin your NCAA basketball betting journey, then we hope this guide teaches you all you need to know.

Let’s jump right in and explore how to best bet on college basketball.

How To Bet On NCAA Basketball

If you’re keen to bet on basketball, yet you want to focus on NCAA, then here are a few things you should consider:

NCAA Vs NBA Differences

Of course, the players are playing the same game with the same rules, but there are inherent differences between NCAA basketball and making NBA picks.

Let’s get into those differences now:

The Intangibles Are More Important

Watching copious amounts of NBA can skew your perception of the sport, as you’re constantly watching the best players and coaches in action.

While that’s great, and what fans pay for, it can easily distort your view of the game. After a while, you may subconsciously think that the college game is as smooth, crisp, and intense as the pro-leagues.

Keep in mind, though, that the NCAA players are still learning their trade, and mistakes will inevitably happen during gameplay.

Even the smallest errors have the capacity to change the course of a game, so make sure you keep this in mind prior to placing a bet.

The Matches Are Shorter

College basketball games tend to be shorter than those found in the pro-leagues, clocking in at just over two hours. While this isn’t a huge difference, it’s still something to consider.

Not Every Game Is Televised

The NBA can spoil us by giving us the impression that every basketball game, even at the college level, is televised.

However, this simply isn’t the case in NCAA basketball. With so many teams, only a small fraction of games reach TV - making the smaller games harder to bet on.

You’ll Need To Scale Down

To put it simply, there are hundreds of college teams in the United States, and it’s foolish to think you can bet on most of them, let alone all of them.

The key to successful NCAA basketball betting is to focus on a select few conferences - preferably those with plenty of TV coverage. This will make your life so much easier and will help prevent things like betting fatigue and burnout. It’s best to bet on a few teams competently than trying to bet on a lot of them badly, after all.

If you live in the United States, then take a look at teams in your local area, or maybe ones in the next state over. If you live outside the USA, then pick the teams you think will do well - including those who have won a recent National Championship.

NCAA Teams To Bet On

In any sport, it’s always a good idea to back the most successful teams. NCAA basketball is no exception.

The teams with the most victories in Division 1 NCAA men’s basketball are:

• Kansas
• Kentucky
• North Carolina
• Duke
• Temple
• Syracuse

If the prospect of betting on college basketball daunts you a little, then playing it safe and sticking with the big-hitters is never a bad strategy.

NCAA Basketball Betting Markets

Now that we’ve covered the basics of basketball betting let’s next talk about the basketball betting markets you’ll have at your disposal.

Before we get into it, though, remember that it’s best to stick with the betting markets you feel most confident in. If you’re a complete beginner, then we recommend sticking to the basics until your confidence increases and you’re better prepared to move on.

Moneyline Bets

Moneyline bets involve predicting which of the two teams will attain victory in a match. Popular with both new and experienced bettors, moneyline bets remain the most common in NCAA basketball, and in sports in general.

Over/Under

Also known as ‘totals’ in the USA, this betting market involves the punter deciding if an NCAA basketball game will go under or over the amount determined by the bookmaker.

Bookies make their predictions by studying the offense and defence of the respective sides. However, the unpredictability of college basketball means they don’t always get things right, so feel free to challenge them by betting in this market.

NCAA Outright Winners

A market with longer-odds than the others, outrights allow you to decide who you think will win a conference, or, if you’re feeling brave, the National Championship.

You’ll need to have an intimate knowledge of college basketball to competently bet in this market, meaning it’s best suited for experienced bettors. The long odds can be tempting, but we recommend not approaching this market until you feel ready.

This market is also referred to as the ‘futures’ market. Lines are sometimes released at the start of the season, but they’re more commonly released immediately following the conclusion of the National Championship final.

NCAA Prop Bets

Prop bets are best considered as side wagers, where the punter does not bet on the actual outcome of the match. Instead, they are betting on specific in-games events.

You can bet on a specific player scoring a certain amount of points, getting a certain amount of assists, or making a certain amount of blocks. Even if the player in question plays on the losing team, your bet will still come in should you be successful.

Prop bets require an understanding of specific players, making them a little more advanced than some of the other markets featured above.

NCAA Predictions Summary

NCAA basketball betting requires a different philosophy to the NBA, but this is to be expected considering the young age of the players.

Successfully betting on college basketball will require focus, research, and clarity. Remember, it’s best to stick to a few conferences rather than trying to bet on every team, and that betting on televised games will make your life so much easier.

As will sticking to betting markets reflecting your experience level. When it comes to NCAA basketball betting, quality really is more important than quantity.