College basketball is an ideal market for sports bettors because you get to enjoy an exciting game, plus there is no shortage of action to satisfy your needs. Targeting moneylines is a terrific way to find value in college basketball. We’ll break it down for you in this article.
What Are NCAAB Moneyline Odds & How Do They Work?
Moneylines require you to simply choose the winner of the game. There is a favorite (minus odds) and underdog (plus odds). If you take the favorite, your stake will be greater than your potential payout. Underdog wagers will pay out more than your allotted risk.
The moneyline is determined by the implied probability of each team winning the game. A team with +100 odds has about 50% implied probability to win. The lower the number, the greater chance they have at winning. For example, Duke (-350) is more likely to win than North Carolina (-145), according to projections.
Here’s an example:
Air Force (+105) vs Bowling Green (-125)
If you wager $100 on Air Force, you’ll receive $105 in profit if they win the game. If you take Bowling Green, you’d be risking $125 to win $100. If you prefer to stake $100, your payout would be $80.
How to Read College Basketball Moneyline Odds
Moneyline odds can be shown in American, Decimal, and Fractional format. You’ll mostly see American odds with college basketball moneylines, but we’ll explain each style for you.
How American Odds Work
American odds are shown as positive or negative numbers. The favorite has a negative number while the underdog has a positive number.
Here are a few examples:
Risk $100 Tennessee (-145)
- Divide 145 / 100 = 1.45
- Divide 100 / 1.45 = 68.97
- Your payout is $68.97.
Win $100 Florida State (-120)
- Divide 120 / 100 = 1.2
- Multiply 100 x 1.2 = 120
- You would need to put $120 to win $100 at -120 odds.
Stake $100 Texas A&M (+130)
- Divide 130 / 100 = 1.3
- Multiply 1.3 x 100 = 130
- You would win $130 on this bet.
How Decimal Odds Work
You may also find odds displayed in decimals. This is represented by a $1 wager, showing both your allotted risk and potential return.
Here’s an example:
If I took North Carolina at 2.75 odds, think of it as if I’d get $2.75 back on a $1 bet ($1 stake plus $1.75 profit).
Remember, larger decimals mean greater payouts and the opposite for smaller decimals.
How Fractional Odds Work
You may be familiar with fractional odds with horse racing. It’s not commonly used in regards to college basketball betting, but here’s a breakdown on how they work:
Let’s say I took an underdog at 3/1 odds. I can multiply my stake by the numerator (top number of the fraction) to find my payout. In this case, a $100 wager would pay $300 (100 x 3 = 300).
It’s a bit more challenging to calculate when the denominator (bottom number of fraction) is not 1. In this case, simply divide the numerator by the denominator, then multiply the result by your stake.
For example:
- 7/2 odds
- Divide 7 / 2 = 3.5
- Multiply your risk by 3.5
- This is what the bet will pay
What to Look for When Placing an NCAAB Moneyline Bet
Remember the following tips when placing your NCAAB moneyline bet:
- Check to see if the line has moved as we get closer to game time.
- Examine how the sharp and public money has been distributed on this game.
- Look at each team’s strengths and weaknesses to find potential mismatches.
- Be sure to consider any impactful player injuries.
- Analyze each team’s strength of schedule to project how good they are.
- Look at any home/away splits.
- Check out the best college basketball odds to find the top moneyline bets.
Best Sportsbooks to Place College Basketball Moneyline Bets
Here are some of the best sportsbooks to use when betting on college basketball moneylines:
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars is a major player in the iGaming space, boasting a reputable brand that helps you feel safe and secure when depositing funds into your account. You’ll enjoy a helpful customer support team along with numerous banking methods to suit your needs.
The moneyline odds are in line with the rest of the market, so you won’t have to worry about paying any inflated prices. This site has a terrific welcome bonus, which can help you get off to a great start in your sports betting venture.
In addition to this, their VIP rewards system is robust, as you can redeem points for cool perks like hotel accommodations and fine dining reservations at Caesars properties.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel has one of the most high-functioning platforms in the sports betting industry. You won’t have to worry about any lagging or crashing and the organized layout makes finding your preferred market as easy as ever.
Whether you want to bet on moneylines in the full game or halves, FanDuel has you covered. There are live bets and cash-out options available as well. They offer competitive odds in comparison with other betting sites.
It can be tough to find player props for college basketball, but that’s not the case at FanDuel, which is one of the better sportsbooks for this market as well. Be sure to try FanDuel for your college basketball betting needs.
DraftKings Sportsbook
Those familiar with daily fantasy sports will know DraftKings, which is one of the pioneers in that space, along with FanDuel. Users who played on DraftKings will enjoy a seamless transition to their sportsbook.
The app is easy to use due to its sleek interface and organized layout, allowing you to find whatever market suits your needs. The moneylines include full and half bets along with live betting.
If you want to place your wagers early and take advantage of softer opening lines, DraftKings gives you the chance to do so, as you’ll find the moneylines available faster than most other platforms.
BetMGM Sportsbook
You may recognize BetMGM because MGM Resorts is an industry giant with decades of experience. It’s great to use a sportsbook that has such a reputable name in this space.
What really stands out about BetMGM is their odds boosts, which enhance the moneylines on select games to give you a higher potential payout. Take advantage of these because they add more value to your wagers.
There are also useful promotions that will cater towards college basketball throughout the season. Be sure to check out BetMGM for your college basketball moneyline wagers.
PointsBet Sportsbook
PointsBet started out in Australia, but has been able to become popular in this market because it offers an innovative experience that helps set it apart from its competitors.
Users will enjoy their “PointsBetting" feature, which pays out more if your side has a greater winning margin, but also requires you to pay more if the opposite is true.
Their college basketball moneylines market is robust, so you’ll feel satisfied with the experience at PointsBet. Join today to try out one of the most unique platforms in the industry.
How to Pick College Basketball Moneyline Betting Sites
Make sure to keep the following factors in mind when choosing your college basketball moneyline sportsbook:
- There needs to be a good welcome bonus that also has minimal wagering requirements.
- You want competitive odds that are posted sooner rather than later.
- Promotions such as parlay insurance or others that focus on college basketball are ideal.
- The customer support should include a live chat that is easily accessible.
- You should have numerous payment options to make it convenient for you.
- The platform should be easy to navigate.
Why Should I Bet College Basketball Moneylines?
Here are some reasons why you should wager on college basketball moneylines:
- You’re able to find nice value with good payouts on underdogs.
- You only need your team to win, as the margin of victory doesn’t matter.
- There’s no need to worry about your team losing the spread with meaningless points at the end of the game.
- You can sometimes find mispriced moneylines, giving you an edge on your wager.
Why Shouldn’t I Bet College Basketball Moneylines?
There are a few negative aspects of moneyline betting, such as:
- You have to pay heavy prices on favorites (-200, -300, etc.)
- Underdogs need to win the game for your bet to hit.
- Upsets happen frequently, so picking a winner can be unpredictable.
College Basketball Moneyline Betting for Beginners
Beginners to college basketball moneyline betting should consider these tips:
- Record your wins and losses to monitor your progress.
- Practice responsible money management.
- Monitor any line movement and research why the line has moved (player injury, sharp money, etc.)
- Carefully consider each of your wagers based on logical reasoning and pertinent data.
- Look at different sportsbooks to find the best price on your moneyline.
Additional Types of NCAAB Bets Available
There are multiple types of betting odds available for wagering in college basketball:
Over/Unders (Totals)
This is where you select Over or Under on the combined score of a given event. It can apply to the full game or first/second half.
Example: Under 133 Points in Baylor/Tennessee
Here we need both teams to combine for fewer than 133 points for the full game.
Props
Props focus on specific stats related to the team or player. It can be total points, rebounds, assists, and more. Most props require you to bet Over or Under.
Example: Drew Timme Under 18.5 Points
Here I need the Gonzaga star to score 18 points or fewer.
Futures
These are wagers that pertain to team or player achievements, such as National Champions or Leading Scorer. They will be settled at the end of the season.
Example: Villanova to win the National Championship (+5000)
Here I need Villanova to become National Champions once again.
Parlays
Parlays are combinations of two or more bets. You need to hit each wager to win. They offer a greater return on your investment but at an enhanced difficulty, since even one miss is a counted as a loss.
Example: Baylor & Tennessee on the moneyline
I would need each team to win their game to hit this parlay.
