With NCAAB Vegas Odds available on more than 350 Division I teams and over 5,000 games a season, college basketball gives bettors more action than almost any other sport. From the first tip-off in November through conference tournaments and all the way to March Madness, there’s a full slate of games to bet on almost every night.
But betting on college hoops isn’t always straightforward in the US. Many states still don’t have legal sportsbooks, and some that do won’t let you bet on your own school or on college player props. That’s why so many college basketball bettors use offshore sportsbooks, which accept players from all 50 states and cover every game, every conference, and every market.
Below, we’ll show you the best college basketball betting sites, how to sign up, and exactly how to bet on NCAAB games, from the spread and total to parlays.
Best College Basketball Betting Sites
To bet on college basketball, you need a sportsbook that covers every game and accepts players from your state. These are our top five college basketball betting sites, all of which offer fully functional mobile sites, so you can bet from your phone without downloading an app:
Sportsbook ratings
BetOnline
RegionsAustraliaCanadaUnited States
No Strings Welcome Offer50% up to $250
Minimum deposit$10 Crypto
BetUS
RegionsCanadaUnited States
Welcome Bonus125% up to $2500
Minimum deposit$100
MyBookie
RegionsCanadaUnited States
Crypto Bonus100% up to $1000
Minimum deposit$20 (crypto) / $45 (card)
BetWhale
RegionsCanadaUnited States
Crypto Bonus200% up to $6000
Minimum deposit$20
How to Bet on College Basketball Online
With dozens of games on a typical weeknight and hundreds on a big Saturday, it’s worth getting your account set up before the season starts. It only takes a few minutes.
Choose a sportsbook from our top five and click “claim now.” Fill in your details, create your login, and check the welcome offer while you’re there, since many bonuses need to be claimed with your first deposit.
Then fund your account through the cashier. Offshore books accept cards and crypto, and crypto is usually the quickest way to get money in and out.
PRO TIP: Look for a sportsbook like BetOnline that covers the smaller conferences as well as the big ones. Some of the best value in college basketball comes from games the general betting public never looks at.
How to Place a Bet on a College Basketball Game
Once your account is funded, head to the basketball section and select NCAAB or college basketball. Every game comes with three main betting options.
Here’s how a typical college basketball game might look on the betting screen:
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Away Team | +7.5 (-110) | +260 | Over 145.5 (-110) |
| Home Team | -7.5 (-110) | -320 | Under 145.5 (-110) |
Spread
The spread is the most popular way to bet on college basketball. With so many mismatches between big programs and smaller schools, the spread levels the playing field and makes every game worth betting on.
In this example, the Home Team is a 7.5-point favorite:
Home Team (-7.5): Your bet wins if the Home Team wins by eight points or more.
Away Team (+7.5): Your bet wins if the Away Team wins, or loses by seven points or fewer.
At -110 on both sides, a $100 bet would win $90.91 either way.
So if the Home Team wins 74-70, a moneyline bet on the Home Team wins, but so does the spread bet on the Away Team.
Early in the season, when power programs play smaller schools, you’ll often see spreads of 20 points or more.
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is simply picking which team will win, including overtime. Because college basketball has so many lopsided games with huge underdogs, favorites often come with very short odds:
Home Team (-320): A $100 wager would win $31.25
Away Team (+260): A $100 wager would win $260
Your stake is returned on top of your winnings, so a winning $100 bet on the Away Team would pay back $360 in total.
Total (Over/Under)
Totals betting is about the combined score of both teams, no matter who wins. College basketball totals are lower than in the NBA, usually somewhere between the 130s and the 150s.
Over 145.5: Your bet wins if the teams combine for 146 points or more.
Under 145.5: Your bet wins if they combine for 145 or fewer.
In our 74-70 example, the 144 total points would make the under a winner.
You’ll also find bets on each half. Men’s college games are played as two 20-minute halves, and first-half spreads and totals are some of the most popular college basketball bets.
How to Place a College Basketball Parlay Bet
If you want to bet on more than one game, you can combine your picks into a parlay. With so many games on the board, college basketball is one of the most popular sports for parlays. The odds multiply with every leg you add, but every pick has to win, or the whole bet loses.
To build one, click the odds for each pick you want, and they’ll be added to your bet slip. Then select the parlay option and enter your stake.
For example, if you combined four spread picks priced at -110 each, a $100 parlay would win around $1,228.
If you split the same $100 into four $25 straight bets instead, you’d win $90.91 if all four came in. Three winners out of four would still leave you $43.18 in profit. But with two winners and two losers, you’d be down $4.55 because of the sportsbook’s -110 pricing. That’s why bettors who stick to straight bets need to win more than half their picks to come out ahead.
How to Bet on Women’s College Basketball
Women’s college basketball has never been bigger, and more sportsbooks now offer odds on it. You bet on it exactly the same way, with the spread, moneyline, and total on each game.
The main difference is the format. Women’s college games are played as four 10-minute quarters rather than two halves, so you’ll see quarter bets rather than half bets.
Sportsbooks don’t always cover every women’s game, so you’ll usually find the most markets on the top programs and the biggest conference matchups. Because fewer bettors follow the women’s game closely, the lines can also offer more value than in the men’s game.
When to Bet on College Basketball
- The day before: Lines for most games go up the day before or on the morning of the game. On a busy night, there can be well over 100 games to choose from.
- Late news: College teams don’t always announce injuries the way pro teams do, so lines can move late if a key player is ruled out. Checking team news right before tip-off can save you from a bad bet.
- Smaller conferences: Sportsbooks put less effort into lines on low-profile games, so this is where sharp bettors often find their best value.
Why Use Offshore Sites to Bet on College Basketball?
Even in states with legal sports betting, college basketball comes with restrictions. Several states don’t let you bet on in-state college teams, so you can’t back your own school. A growing number have also banned player props on college athletes, and in Oregon, college sports betting isn’t available online at all.
Then there are the states with no legal sportsbooks at all, including California, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina, all home to major college programs.
Offshore sportsbooks don’t have any of these restrictions. They accept players from all 50 states, cover every Division I game, and let you bet on any team, including your own.
Prefer the pros? Check out our guide on [how to bet on NBA games].
College Basketball Betting FAQs
How do I bet on college basketball?
Sign up with an online sportsbook, fund your account, then head to the basketball section and select NCAAB. From there, you can bet on the spread, moneyline, or total, or combine picks into a parlay.
What’s the best site to bet on college basketball?
BetOnline is our top pick, with lines on every Division I game and a strong range of markets. BetUS, MyBookie, Lucky Rebel, and BetWhale are all strong alternatives, and all five accept players from every state.
Can I bet on my own college team?
Not always with a US sportsbook, since several states ban bets on in-state college teams. Offshore sportsbooks don’t have this restriction, so you can bet on your school wherever you live.
Can I bet on women’s college basketball?
Yes. Most offshore sportsbooks offer odds on women’s college basketball, especially the top programs and biggest games. You bet on it the same way, with spreads, moneylines, and totals.
Can I bet on college basketball live?
Yes. Most offshore sportsbooks offer live betting on college basketball, with odds that update throughout the game, including second-half lines at halftime.