Top College Basketball Betting Sites

Our recommended college basketball sites have everything a sports fan could possibly want, including the best betting bonuses, quick and easy banking methods and in-play wagering opportunities. But just how does college basketball work, and what are some of the markets you should look out for? This page should answer all your questions, so settle in and let us talk you through everything you need to know about placing college basketball bets online.

How We Review an College Basketball Betting Site

We spend a lot of time reviewing online college sports betting sites, so we know which features make a great sportsbook. Here’s what to expect from top college basketball betting sites. 

• Licensed and regulated – There’s no way around it: college betting sites must hold a license from the relevant state gaming authority. As far as we’re concerned, this is non-negotiable.
• Competitive odds – The best sites give bettors the best prices for their bets. That’s why we give extra credit to sportsbooks that offer competitive odds so you don’t have to worry about missing out. 
• Variety of betting markets – Bettors want different ways to wager on basketball, and top college betting sites rise to the challenge with the choice of basketball markets. Not only this but offering a range of sports is important for during the off season or just when you fancy a change. 
• Easy deposits and withdrawals – Banking should be a breeze at online sportsbooks. The best sites offer a range of safe options for depositing and/or withdrawing your funds, including debit and credit cards, PayPal, and prepaid Play+ cards. 
• Fast payouts – Bettors rarely enjoy waiting around to receive their winnings. Accordingly, top college betting sites are quick to approve and process withdrawal requests. 
• Loyalty programs – Sportsbook loyalty programs are a great perk, letting players rack up points as they make real money bets. These can then be redeemed for bonuses and even earn you faster withdrawals and other features at some sites.
• Bonuses and promotions – Top sportsbooks add value with free bets and deposit match bonuses for newbies, not to mention ongoing promotions like parlay insurance and odds boosts for regulars.
• Additional features – Leading college betting sites don’t stop at the basics. Top sites often have sought-after features like parlay builders, cash out options, and live betting.

Types of College Basketball Bets

The best college basketball betting sites offer plenty of ways to wager, which is understandable given the sport’s popularity with bettors – especially during peak periods such as March Madness. Here are some of the popular markets to put money on.

Moneylines

College basketball games never end in a tie, making it the perfect sport for moneyline bets. All you have to do is back a team to win. For example, you might bet that the Virginia Tech Hokies will beat the Pittsburgh Panthers in their Atlantic Coast Conference clash. 

Point Spreads

This market levels things up between teams with a clear gulf in strength. The favorites are given a points handicap to overcome, or you can bet on the underdogs to either win outright or lose within an allowable deficit. Point spreads can be particularly interesting during March Madness when top-seeded teams take on ostensibly weaker opponents who could cause an upset.

Let’s look at an example:

New Mexico State Aggies (+6) +100

UConn Huskies (-6) +100

Here you could get evens on the UConn Huskies to beat New Mexico State Aggies by at least 6 points. Alternatively, back New Mexico and hope they lose by less than 6 points.

Totals

Also known as over/under bets, these markets are all about predicting certain statistics – most notably, the overall points tally in a game. So, for a game between the Furman Paladins and Mississippi State Bulldogs, you might be able to bet whether the total tally will be over or under 137.5, say. This market is a great alternative if you’re struggling to find a winner but have a feeling that it will be a low or high scoring game. 

Futures 

Futures markets test your ability to predict outcomes far off in the distance. For example, you might put money on which teams you think will top their conference leaderboards, or even who’ll be crowned NCAAB champions at the end of March Madness.

Prop Bets 

Proposition bets aren’t related to the game’s final score, but rather with specific details and statistics. So, you might bet on how many hoops the Maine Black Bears will land in the first half, or – if betting in-play – whether the Oregon Ducks will be the next to score during the game. There is a lot of depth to prop bet markets, but as the details you are predicting are more specific, there is a greater chance that you could lose. 

Parlays 

College basketball parlays see you put multiple wagers on the same betting slip. For example, you might bundle together a moneyline bet, a point spread bet, and an over/under bet bet. These become known as ‘legs’, and if they all come good, the combined odds will result in a sizable profit. But if just one leg loses, you lose the entire bet. Most betting sites offer multi-game parlays, but some also offer same game parlays.

Teasers

These are similar to parlays, but with point spreads applied to enhance your likelihood of winning. In other words, it’s a lower risk twist on parlay betting. It’s very common to include two teams in a teaser – for example, you could bet on the Kentucky Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels to win their respective games, adjusting the spread four points in your favor. 

Live Betting 

The start of the game doesn’t necessarily mean your basketball betting opportunities have ended. Depending on your state, you may well be able to place wagers on events as they unfold, potentially capitalizing on more lucrative odds as they’re made available. For example, if a favorite starts to falter, the odds of them winning may lengthen mid-game, giving you a better return if they do bounce back and win.

Sports Betting by State

Click on your state in the map below to see whether it’s possible for you to bet on college basketball.

College Basketball Betting Bonuses

US online sportsbooks are always keen to sign up new bettors, which is why these sites usually lay out attractive welcome bonuses. There are, however, plenty of promotions for existing players too. Here are some of the NCAAB bonuses and promotions you can claim to give your bankroll a boost.

No Deposit Bonuses

Betting sites may hand you a bonus just for signing up. This might, for example, be a $25 free bet you can place on a college basketball game. No deposit bonuses may be particularly lucrative at sites that are gearing up to launch in a state and are keen to catch your attention. 

Matched Deposit Bonuses

A matched deposit bonus allows you to claim bonus funds in return for making your first real money deposit at a site. These bonuses work by matching your deposit up to a certain percentage and value. For example, a ‘100% up to $100’ matched deposit bonus offer would double your first deposit up to a maximum of $1,000. Larger matched deposit bonuses, such as 100% up to $1000 will often be split into smaller bonuses, such as 100% up $200, that can be claimed at regular intervals. 

Free Bets

The best NCAAB betting sites serve up plenty of ways for customers to earn a free bet. Free bet promotions may be offered as part of a welcome bonus, but are also frequently gifted to existing customers. They’re often given as a reward for a particular action. So, for example, you might have to place a $25 on the NBA to earn a $10 free bet on college basketball. 

Existing Bettor Bonuses

The promo pages at the college basketball betting sites typically come loaded with all kinds of ongoing bonuses to keep existing customers sweet. Here are some of the most popular:

• Free Bets – Free bets are often dished out for popular college basketball betting lines. They allow you to place a wager at no cost to yourself and keep the profit if it lands;

• Odds Boosts – Odds boosts slash the original price of a particular market and boost the potential payout;

• Reload Bonuses – An NCAA basketball betting site may ‘reload’ your account with bonus funds after you make a qualifying deposit;

• Cashback Offers – Some sportsbooks offer cashback on your net losses, usually somewhere between 1% and 10%. It’s a great way to recoup a slice of any unsuccessful wagers;

• Parlay Insurance – With parlay insurance, you’ll receive your stake back either as cash or a free bet if one selection lets you down;

• Profit Boosts – Very similar to an odds boost in that if your bet is a winner, you’ll receive an increased profit. Profit boosts tend to be more exclusive and offer bigger rewards than odds boosts;

• Loyalty Programs – Bettors can earn points and pick up rewards with every bet they place. A great example is BetMGM Rewards – members are automatically signed up and can work their way up to rewards like bonus credit for sports, casino or poker. Alternatively, points can be converted and redeemed for complimentary food, entertainment, hotel stays and more.

Bonus Terms and Conditions

With so many different bonuses up for grabs at college basketball betting sites, it’s important to be aware of the various terms and conditions that may apply. Here are the main T&Cs to familiarize yourself with so you can easily spot them when browsing different NCAA bonus offers.

Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements are the most restrictive stipulation bettors will come across. They require you to wager a certain amount of your own money before you can convert any winnings from bonuses into withdrawable cash. For example, 30x wagering on $100 of bonus cash would require you to bet a further $3,000 in order to withdraw your bonus. It’s easy to see why these requirements are often out of reach for regular bettors, who may seek out no wagering bonuses instead.

Time Limits

Time limits tend to apply to several stages of the bonus process. When you pick up a free bet as part of a welcome offer, there’ll often be a limited time to use it – seven days, for example. Time limits also apply to the wagering requirements process, making it even harder to convert your bonus to cash. If you don’t fulfill them within the time frame, your bonus will be automatically forfeited.

Market Restrictions

When you pick up a free bet or a helping of bonus credit, there’ll usually be a limited range of markets you can bet on. If you’re only interested in betting on college basketball betting lines, be sure to check the market restrictions in the T&Cs before opting into the offer.

Maximum Winning Caps

When you make your college basketball picks using a bonus offer, there’ll often be a maximum amount you can win from the bet. It’s well worth knowing this in advance to avoid any disappointment down the line, while it may also influence your selection if you know there’s an upper limit on your payout.

NCAAB Mobile Betting

Virtually all NCAA basketball betting sites boast a mobile version of their online sportsbook, allowing you to bet on college basketball online whenever and wherever you fancy. The best college basketball betting sites also offer native mobile betting apps to make your online sports betting experience even more convenient and enjoyable. 

There are several advantages to using a native app rather than betting from your mobile browser:

• Push notifications – When you have an NCAA basketball betting app downloaded, you can enable push notifications to hear about the site’s latest promos, like college basketball odds boosts and free bets for selected markets;
• Faster loading times – Having the app downloaded not only means you’re just a click away from your favorite sportsbook, but you’ll also find the navigation is smoother and pages load quicker compared to using the browser;
• Slicker interface – There’s no need to have the browser search bar getting in the way when you have an app, plus you may also be able to customize your home screen with your favorite college basketball betting lines.

Best College Basketball Betting Apps

The majority of NCAA basketball betting sites offer a native app available for download for iOS and Android users. Here’s a selection of the best:

• BetMGM – Founded in 2018, BetMGM has quickly become one of the slickest sportsbooks around;
• DraftKings – Originally best known as a daily fantasy sports site, DraftKings is now a sportsbook and online casino powerhouse;
• Caesars Sportsbook – Known for its hotels and land-based casinos, Caesars Entertainment’s sportsbook app lives up the hype and is one of the easiest to use;
• FanDuel – Alongside DraftKings, FanDuel is the other major daily fantasy sports site in the US. Its mobile app is a great option for all types of betting though, including college basketball;
• PointsBet – The PointsBet is packed full of sports markets and bonuses, including up to $500 in free bets for new bettors;
• Unibet – Founded in 1997, Unibet has plenty of credibility. Its mobile app is a great option for everything from college basketball betting lines to slots and bingo.

How to Deposit and Withdraw at Online Betting Sites

The best college basketball betting sites make it easy to manage your funds. Here’s how to go about it.

Where Can I Bet on NCAA Basketball?

Want to bet on NCAA basketball? We’ve listed all the states where you can place real money bets on college sports below. 

From the regular season through to the electric atmosphere of March Madness, college basketball brings a bounty of betting options for sports fans. While not every wager will be a slam dunk, you can still back your top teams at our recommended sportsbooks. Compare the options available in your state and sign up whenever you like!

References

1. espn.co.uk—’Bracketology: Where we’d rank all 358 Division I men’s college basketball programs to start 2021-22’
2. ncca.com — ‘Here are the remaining undefeated women’s basketball teams in the 2021-22 season