How to Bet on NCAA Basketball

Betting NCAA basketball can be profitable.

NCAA basketball is known for March Madness betting, but money can be made betting on games throughout the season. As with any sport, smart money management is essential. With more than 200 teams playing NCAA basketball, lines are sometimes far out of line with reality. Through discipline and patience you will see your bankroll grow if you observe a few basic principles of betting NCAA basketball.

Things You'll Need

• Spreadsheet software -- like Microsoft Excel
• Membership at a free and legal betting site

Instructions

1. Bet consistent amounts over many games and take advantage of trends. NCAA basketball lines are weighted to take into consideration heavy betting on "public," popular favorites. This means you can make money by consistently betting against "public" favorites in the long run. The "line" or "point spread" refers to the handicap a sports book imposes on the favored team in order to make both teams equal in terms of betting action.

2. Seize opportunities to get the best lines for games you wish to bet on by shopping among the various sports books. A bettor can take steps to minimize risk by searching for discrepancies in lines set by various sports books. NCAA basketball games can have extreme variance among lines across different books. Take advantage of this by locating "middles" of up to three points. This happens frequently as the public pumps up popular teams leading up to a game. A "middle" refers to the disparity between lines at different sports books. If one book offers a team as a 2-point favorite and another offers that team as a 1-point underdog, a bettor can bet both sides and minimize risk. One side of the bet is guaranteed to win, but there exists a 3-point window in which both sides of the bet can win. In this case your are given the possibility of winning both sides while risking only the "vigorish," which is the price the sports book charges to take your bet.

3. Search for veteran teams playing against inexperienced ones, especially early in the season. NCAA basketball squads often pit 18-year-old kids against 22-year-old men. Chemistry can be the difference in a mid-major upsetting a perennial powerhouse.

4. Identify home underdogs playing nationally televised games and bet them consistently. This is a profitable trend over time. NCAA basketball betting can be profitable if one practices sound money management principles over an extended period of time.

5. 

   Profitable NCAA basketball betting requires a disciplined approach.

   Follow trends that have been established over time. Observe sound money management practices. This mandates that one never risk more than 5 percent of his bankroll and never bets exotics. When in doubt, favor the underdog and the "under" and you can be a profitable NCAA basketball bettor. The under refers to the total points scored, which is set by sports books for NCAA basketball games and can be bet like point spreads on teams. The public will typically bet on the favorite and "over" the point spread. Smart bettors can take advantage of this spread by taking a contrarian approach and capitalizing on lines that anticipate heavy action on the favorite and the "over."

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient, don't chase losing bets.

• Show discipline, never bet more than 5 percent of your bankroll.

• Shop for the best lines, the majority of spreads are in question late.

• Don't bet illegally.

• Don't bet money you cannot afford to lose.

• Never bet parlays, teasers or any other exotics.

• Seek help if you have a gambling problem, 1-800-GAMBLER

References

• Docs Sports:College Basketball Lines
• The Greek Sportsbook: "College Basketball Betting"

Resources

• Lines From All Sportbooks
• Sportsbetting Resources
• Sportsbetting Resources