College Basketball Betting Sites in the US
Want to find out more about college basketball betting? NCAA has always been extremely popular in the US and now you can legally place wagers on it.
We will show you the best sites to bet on college basketball at, the main NCAAB betting markets, and how to place bets at online sportsbooks.
Best College Basketball Betting Sites

# | Sportsbook | Bonus | Visit Site | T&Cs | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.
|
Caesars Sportsbook |
Up to 1100$ free bet Cashback |
![]() |
Play |
Use bonus code: CZR
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus |
||
2.
|
BetMGM review |
Up to 1000$ free bet Free bet |
![]() |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus |
||
3.
|
Unibet |
Up to 250$ free bet Cashback |
![]() |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required; Register to claim
Qualifying bet: $10 or more Wagering requirement: 1x bonus |
||
4.
|
FanDuel Sportsbook |
Up to $1,000 risk-free bet Free bet |
![]() |
Play |
Use bonus code: No bonus code required; Register to claim
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount Wagering requirement: 1x bonus |
||
5.
|
PointsBet |
2 risk free bets up to 2000$ Cashback |
![]() |
Play |
Use bonus code: WELCOME
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus |
||
6.
|
BetRivers |
100% up to 250$ Match deposit bonus |
![]() |
Play |
Use bonus code: 250MATCH
Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus |

Category Winners
Most college basketball bettors have different needs and so no NCAAB sportsbook is going to suit everyone, with each one strong in particular areas.
Some bettors prefer having a wide variety of college basketball markets whilst others like utilizing bonuses, so all you need to do is decide which aspect is most important to you and click on the sportsbook to find out more.
|
College Basketball Betting Sites to Avoid
One of the key things for new college basketball bettors to know is to always use a licensed and legal US betting site, as this ensures safety and security when placing wagers.
There are some sportsbooks based offshore that can accept US bettors but they usually have limited options for withdrawing and depositing, with some sites even known for withholding payments from bigger wins.
Every college basketball sportsbook we recommend is legal, licensed, and safe, so there is no need to worry if you stick with us.
Bovada
BetOnline
MyBookie
Top 3 College Basketball Betting Sites in Detail
BetMGM
|
Caesars Sportsbook
|
FanDuel Sportsbook
|
How to Find the Best College Basketball Betting Sites
You’re probably wondering how our team of experts decide which are the best college basketball betting sites. The answer is that every sportsbook is thoroughly tested and scored on a range of aspects.
Each NCAAB betting site is examined on set criteria, including safety, promotions, odds quality, and whether mobile betting on college basketball is available.
If you decide to sign up to one of our recommended college basketball sportsbooks, you can do so in the knowledge that it will be a top quality betting site.
-
Security
Every betting site you use should always be licensed and fully legal in the US. This means it will be safe for you to use as they have to follow state and federal laws.
-
College basketball odds
This is the most important thing for many bettors because sites with the best college basketball odds will generate the biggest returns on winning bets.
-
Promotions
You should always be on the lookout for college basketball promotions and bonuses, as these will give rewards such as free bets and odds boosts that you can use on future bets.
-
Mobile betting
Being able to bet from a mobile app or at least on a mobile site allows you to place wagers from anywhere, provided you are in a legal state where that sportsbook operates.
-
Customer support
Since some college basketball betting sites can use confusing terminology, it is vital that support can give you correct information in good time so that you can place your bets in confidence.
-
Payment methods
There’s no point signing up to a new NCAAB sportsbook to find that they don’t have your preferred deposit method, so our recommended betting sites all have a variety of ways to fund your account.
Which States is College Basketball Betting Legal in?
College basketball betting is available in every state that has legalized online sports wagering. However, the majority of those US states restrict the markets can be offered by betting sites.
These limitations mean that some CBB bets you can place in one state may not be able to be placed in another.
State | College basketball betting restrictions |
---|---|
Arizona | No live betting; No player props |
Arkansas | None |
Colorado | No prop bets |
Connecticut | No betting on CT college teams |
Illinois | No mobile betting on IL college teams (in-person allowed). |
Indiana | No in-play player props |
Iowa | No player props |
Louisiana | None |
Michigan | None |
Nevada | None |
New Hampshire | No betting on NH college teams |
New Jersey | No betting on NJ college teams; No betting on college games played in NJ. |
New York | No betting on NY college teams, including futures; No player props on any game; No live betting |
Oregon | No mobile betting on OR college teams (in-person at tribal casinos allowed) |
Pennsylvania | None |
Rhode Island | No betting on RI college teams; No betting on college games played in RI. |
Tennessee | No player props; No in-play betting |
Virginia | No betting on VA college teams; No player props |
Washington DC | No betting on DC college teams; No betting on college games played in DC. |
West Virginia | None |
Wyoming | None |
How to Bet on College Basketball
Starting your college basketball betting journey can be quite an intimidating experience because of all the different markets and the way that odds are displayed. Fear not, though – we at USBetting are here to help you out.
The next few parts will tell you everything you need to know to bet on college basketball, including how to read odds and what NCAAB betting markets are available.
You can also use the links below to jump straight to the section you want.
How to Place a College Basketball Bet
Putting on a bet on college basketball is pretty easy. All you have to do is follow our short guide below and you’ll be well on your way!
How to Read College Basketball Odds
Many college basketball sportsbooks use the American format to display odds, which is not ideal for novice bettors as they are not user-friendly compared to other formats. However, American odds are not actually difficult to understand.
If odds have a plus (+) in front of them, that shows the amount you would theoretically win with a $100 wager. This is used to signify the underdog in a market.
On the flip side, odds that begin with a minus (-) show how much you need to bet to win $100. This tells you which side of the market is the favorite.
Some bettors like to use decimal odds because it simply shows you how much your total returns will be including stake. For instance, +120 in American odds is the same as 2.20 in decimal.
-110 | Wager $110 to win $100 profit |
+200 | Wager $100 to win $200 profit |
1.91 | Wager $1 to win $1.91 |
3.0 | Wager $1 to win $3 |
The standard betting line for college basketball spreads and totals is -110 – or 1.91 in decimal – so you’ll likely see that around quite a lot. You can find out more about spreads and totals further down.
Bet Types
There are a few different types of wagers available to consider when betting on college basketball, with most sportsbooks only offering a handful of markets due to state restrictions.
As with other major US sports leagues, the most popular NCAAB betting markets include spreads, totals, moneyline, and player props, and all these give you the chance to make profit if used correctly.
Spread
Spread betting levels up the odds by including a handicap to the team you bet on. The favorite starts on a negative number and the underdog on a positive, which creates even college basketball betting lines.
The handicap is applied to the team you bet on after the game is finished and if they win the game as a result, then your bet will be successful. This gives you a way to bet on a strong favorite and still get decent returns if they beat the handicap mark.
Duke Blue Devils are -5.5 to beat Virginia Cavaliers. To cover the spread, Duke will need to win by six points or more. Virginia will cover if they win the game or lose by fewer than six points.
Totals (over/under)
If you’re not sure which team will win, you can bet on the total number of points scored in the game.
The NCAAB betting site offers a projection of how many points will be scored by both teams combined and you simply need to select whether the actual total will be over or under it.
Duke vs Virginia has an over/under line of 130.5 points. A bet on the overs would require 131 points or more to be scored.
Moneyline
Moneyline is a straight bet on which team will win. There are no other conditions attached to this, so it doesn’t matter whether the college basketball team you bet on covers the spread or not.
NCAA basketball games often have one team that is a heavy favorite due to the disparity between programs, so you might struggle to make much profit from betting on the moneyline.
Duke Blue Devils are -245 favorites to beat Virginia Cavaliers straight up. A $20 wager on Duke will return a total of $28.16 including stake if they win.
Player Props
A player prop is a bet on how well a specific player performs in a game, with markets usually available on basic stats like points, rebounds, and assists.
Not all states allow betting on college basketball props so check the table on this page to see if yours does.
Wendell Moore’s points line vs Virginia is set at 10.5. You can bet on whether he will actually score more or fewer points than that, with both sides of the line set at -110.
Parlays
Parlays allow you to combine selections from multiple games into a single bet, giving you potentially higher winnings from a small stake. Each leg you add increases the return but decreases the chance of success.
Each selection must win for the parlay to land and these bets are popular amongst casual bettors because of how much can be won from a small risk amount.
A parlay of Virginia moneyline (+245), UNC -3.5 (-110), and Syracuse moneyline (+300) would pay out at odds of +12670, with just $5 on that winning over $131 including stake.
College Basketball Futures Betting
Unlike normal game bets, futures take the entire season into account so you can bet on which team will win a particular conference or the NCAA Basketball Championship.
The main college basketball futures that people like to bet on are:
- NCAA Champion
- Conference winner
College Basketball Betting Tips and Advice
It’s important to develop a strategy when betting on college basketball because whilst there is no guaranteed way to make profit, there is some advice you should heed to help you out.
Remember that losing is a part of betting and even if you use statistics to find the best college basketball bets, anything can happen in a game and there are no assurances in gambling.
Our college basketball betting guide gives you general hints and tips to consider for your NCAAB betting, including the key things to look out for.
Top College Basketball Apps
Most sportsbooks have native iOS and Android apps that enable you to bet on college basketball on your mobile or tablet – removing the need for you to be sat at a computer.
The best NCAA basketball mobile betting apps make it easy to deposit, view markets, place wagers, and track your bets whilst on the go.
Each college basketball betting app has been tried and tested by our team of experts on a range of criteria to determine which ones are the best by categories such as live betting and bonuses.
|
College Basketball Live Betting
Live betting allows you to wager whilst a college basketball game is going on and every NCAA sportsbook has in-play capabilities for you to enjoy.
Betting during a game presents opportunities that don’t exist pre-game because you can see things like how well a team is playing or how they tactically approach their defense.
Odds change quickly and often so if you want to live bet college basketball, you have to be prepared and ready to find value as those prices could be gone in the blink of an eye. There is also a delay when you hit ‘place bet’ which could lead to your wager being rejected.
Some states do not allow for live college basketball betting so make sure to check whether your state has any rules that could stop you from wagering in-play.
BetMGM
DraftKings Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook
Pros and Cons of In-Play Basketball Betting
As with everything in the world of online sports betting there are pros and cons, so for the sake of balance, you should read about both sides of the coin.
- React to the game as it happens
- Hedge wagers
- Get better value on pre-game favorite if they go down early
- Easy to get carried away and spend too much
- Odds can lock and prevent you from betting
College Basketball Betting Bonuses
Most legal US sportsbooks have college basketball bonuses and promotions you can utilize, both as a new bettor and after you have registered. The most popular NCAA basketball bonuses are free bets and matched deposits.
Amounts for these bonuses can vary between sportsbooks, with some worth only $20 whilst others can go up to $5,000. Be wary, though; just because a betting site offers a high welcome bonus does not mean that the terms are friendly. They could have high wagering requirements or require a much higher deposit than you’re comfortable with.
You should be aware that free bet and bonus fund stakes aren’t included in returns, so a $10 free bet wager on a +200 market would return $20 in total.
# | Sportsbook | Bonus | Visit Site | T&Cs | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7.
|
PointsBet |
2.000 $ BONUS Up to $2,000 risk free bet |
![]() |
Play |
Array
|
||
8.
|
BetMGM review |
1.000 $ BONUS Up to $1,000 risk free bet |
![]() |
Play |
Array
|
||
9.
|
Barstool Sportsbook |
1.000 $ BONUS 100% Risk-Free first bet up to $1,000 |
![]() |
Play |
Array
|
College Basketball Promotions for Registered Bettors
Because college basketball is so popular, US betting sites run a range of promotions for existing bettors that reward you for placing wagers. These promotions can include things like odds boosts, free bets, and parlay insurance.
|
FAQs
How to bet on college basketball?
Choose a legal college basketball sportsbook from our recommended list and register with them, following the steps to sign up and claim the welcome bonus. Navigate to the NCAA basketball game you want to bet on, decide how much to risk, and hit the ‘place bet’ button.
Where to bet on NCAA basketball online?
Many online sportsbooks offer NCAA basketball betting, with the likes of BetMGM, FanDuel Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook and PointsBet amongst the best available. You can find our list of recommended legal college basketball betting sites at the top of this page.
What to look for when betting college basketball?
You should look for value bets when you betting on college basketball as these give you the best chance of securing long-term profit. Value bets are wagers that you perceive to have a higher chance of coming in than the odds suggest.
How to bet on the NCAA basketball tournament?
The NCAA basketball tournament is available to bet on at all our recommended US sportsbooks. Also known as March Madness, the NCAA basketball tournament runs through March and April with sportsbooks offering betting on each individual match as well as on the overall winner.
Where can I bet on women’s college basketball?
The majority of legal online sportsbooks offer women’s college basketball. FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, FOX Bet, and BetMGM are some of the best ones. Our recommended legal college basketball betting sites can be found at the top of this page.