When it comes to betting on sports, there are some players who stick to one or two sports, while others like to spread their wagers across a number of different sports, such as NBA and College Basketball.
If you have been mostly playing the NBA, you might imagine that the next logical step is to focus on NCAAB.
Betting on NBA and NCAA Basketball
You would imagine that success in one sport would lead to success in the other given that it’s all just basketball, but it’s not as straightforward as that.
There are some differences between betting on the NBA and college basketball and we are going to get into all of that right now.
Hopefully, the information we provide here will allow you to cash in on winning tickets with both sports.
Table of Contents
Key Differences
Betting Strategies
Understanding Differences
Market Differences
Sportsbooks Adjust Lines
NBA Spread vs NCAAB Spread
Best Strategies
Adjusting Your Approach
Mastering the Differences
Key Differences Between NBA and College Basketball Betting
While some of these differences are going to seem obvious, there might also be a couple that you hadn’t thought of. Especially in regards how those differences might impact how you wager.
Betting Lines and Spreads
The gap in talent from top to bottom is not as disparate in the NBA as it is in the college game.
That is one of the reasons why the points spread in NBA games are not as big as they are in college basketball.
A mismatch in the NBA might see one team favored by 10 points over the other, but in college, you might see spreads of 20-30 points.
In short, blowouts are more common in the college game than they are in the pros.
Point Totals
There are several factors that play a part in the differences in point total wagers in both sports.
Again, you have to talk about the overall quality of the players on the court, but you also have to consider that NBA games are longer than college games, so there is more time to score points.
Generally speaking, the difference in point totals in the NBA and college basketball could range from 50-80 points, or even higher.
Home Court Advantage
Fans and pundits tend to make a big deal about home court advantage, and while it can play a role, it is much more of a factor in the college game, especially for the schools who have a large, raucous fan base.
Differences in Playoffs
You could make an argument that March Madness, the college basketball playoff tournament, is more popular than the NBA playoffs, but both get a lot of action from bettors.
There is a bigger chance of surprises in the college game, as the tournament is one and done, whereas the playoffs in the NBA are in a best-of-7 format.
How Betting Strategies Change Across These Two Levels
No matter which of the two sports you choose to focus on, you still need to put in the work to find value bets on any given night.
You have to look at trends, current form, injuries, and other factors to try and identify the games that look like a solid bet.
This is much easier in the NBA, as you have access to all sorts of data to help you make an informed wager.
This is not often the case in college basketball, as you often get matchups where you will see teams that you know nothing about and whose data is tough to come by.
In terms of betting strategy, it may not be a bad idea to focus on ranked teams, simply because of all the information you can find that will help you make better wagers.
Why Understanding These Differences Can Improve Your Wagering Success
There is an old adage that suggests knowledge is power, and it is one that is very relevant to wagering on sports.
Even with all the tools and information at your disposal, you should still expect to lose regularly when wagering on sports, as there are just so many things that can happen in a game that send it in one direction over the other.
If you want to wager on both the NBA and college basketball, you need to be aware of the differences in order to find the value bets that are available on any given night.
Betting Market Differences (NBA Betting Markets College Basketball Betting)
As we mentioned earlier in this piece, one of the biggest differences in betting on the NBA and college basketball is the size of the spreads and totals.
While the principles of both games are the same, it is the differences, such as length of game, quality of opponent, and location that can have an impact on both sets of odds.
How Sportsbooks Adjust Lines Differently for Each
We have already discussed how the odds for the NBA and college basketball tend to be very different due to a number of factors.
We will specifically get into spread bets in a moment, but let’s quickly talk about some of the differences in setting and adjusting the odds for each sport.
One major thing that is a factor in the NBA when compared to college basketball is the frequency of games.
Even the best teams get worn out during a busy week on the road, where they might have 3 or 4 games.
College teams play twice a week at most and have a less hectic schedule, which bookies definitely take into account.
Injuries are always impactful, but perhaps more so in college, where benches might not be as strong.
Smaller NBA Spreads Versus Huge College Basketball Spreads
While we do get mismatches in the NBA, the difference in quality between most of the teams in the league is negligible.
That is definitely not the case in college basketball, where there can often be a huge gulf between teams in terms of talent.
Thise huge spreads can seem a little daunting, but it just requires some extra research on your part to get in the habit of working with those big spreads.
There is a ton of data out there where you can get trends that are specific to spread bets. You need to look at the top teams and what they tend to do against lesser opposition.
Do they tend to run up the score, or do they rest their key players and go to the bench once the score starts to get out of hand?
Injuries are also a key factor when handicapping, and while bookies tend to account for that in their odds, you can have late injuries or lineup changes that you can take advantage of when it comes time to wager.
Best Betting Strategies for NBA vs. NCAA Basketball
Now that you know there are differences between betting on the NBA and college basketball, you need to decide on a strategy for each.
I would suggest that you narrow things down rather dramatically for the NCAAB games, which could mean focusing on one conference or maybe the top 25 teams.
I would also avoid matchups where you have one or more teams that are less well known, simply because the data available to you is not going to be enough to make an informed bet an option.
There will also be a different approach for the playoffs in each sport.
Why Adjusting Your Approach Is Key to Maximizing Profits
The basics of betting across all major sports are essentially the same, as you are looking to pick a straight up winner, the margin of victory, and the number of points or goals scored.
It is how you get to those picks that matters, which is where understanding the subtle differences in wagering on each sport comes into play.
It may take some time to understand the differences and find value bets, so it is never a bad idea to run some practice bets until you are comfortable with adjusting your approach for each sport.
Mastering the Differences Between NBA and College Basketball Betting Gives You an Edge
There are almost certainly people out there who look at the NBA and college basketball as the same sport.
While they are basically correct, it is the subtle differences between each that makes them a very different challenge for bettors.
The sooner you understand those differences and how they impact the odds set by the bookies, the sooner you will be able to start cashing more winning tickets in both sports.
Sports betting is a marathon, not a sprint, so take the time to understand the differences between both sports so that you have a better grasp on why the bookies have set the odds the way they did on any specific night.
A little bit of research time goes a long way toward boosting your bankroll.
Table of Contents
Key Differences
Betting Strategies
Understanding Differences
Market Differences
Sportsbooks Adjust Lines
NBA Spread vs NCAAB Spread
Best Strategies
Adjusting Your Approach
Mastering the Differences
MyBookie’s Sportsbook Betting Guide | Betting on Sports
Check out our Sports Betting Guide to increase those winning when betting on any sports.
Don’t miss out the Sports Betting Guide that MyBookie has for your NBA betting:
- How To Bet The NBA Championship Series
- Optimal Strategy For Betting The NBA Playoffs
- Basketball Betting Strategy Playing Favorites
- Handicapping NBA Injuries
- Differences Between Betting On NBA & NCAA Basketball
- Tips For Making The Most Of Basketball Halftime Betting
- How to Bet Home Teams In Championship Final Series
- NBA Betting on the 33% System
- How To Make Cash From Momentum Swings
- NBA Back-To-Back Sports Betting System
Another Tips to Consider
Other Useful Differences Between Betting On NBA And College Basketball
In theory, betting on the NBA and betting on college basketball shouldn’t be that different, as both involve talented players, more-or-less the same courts and similar rules.
But in reality, there are many differences in these two disciplines, especially for basketball betting enthusiasts. In this article, we will be taking a look at some of the top differences and how you can use them to guide your basketball wagers in the NBA and NCAAB.
Structural Differences
The NBA is constituted of just 30 teams that play repeatedly against each in the course of an 82-game regular season. Playing more games against the same teams often creates some ‘evenness in the league’ where upsets can happen even to the best of teams, so a careful study of the lines is required when handicapping NBA games.
In the NCAAB, latest estimates puts the number of Division I college basketball teams at around 347 with typically 30–35 games during the regular season and a handful more matchups in the NCAA tournament.
The less physicality in playing fewer games in college basketball and rarely having to go against the same opponent more than twice means more clear-cut competition in the NCAAB, no wonder the betting trends and lines in college basketball tend to be stricter and truer.
Betting On NBA And College Basketball: Scheduling Differences
The rigorous NBA schedule usually has teams playing as many as four or five games in a week with travels all over the country, sometimes even on back-to-back nights.
The fatigue and lapses that come with this packed schedule can easily lead to mismatches, injuries and plenty of suspensions that alter the course of games in a challenging way.
For college basketball, it is usually the exact opposite, as teams play once or twice a week, and that gives a lot of room for rest and better game plans to make up for issues such as injuries and suspensions.
Resultantly, handicapping NCAAB games is often easier as opposed to the frenzied NBA.
Talent Differences
In the NBA, most—if not all—players are professionals and that means competitiveness in the league even in games involving ‘weak’ vs. ‘strong’ teams.
This, in essence, is the reason why even the worst teams can beat or even cover the spread against the best teams.
In NCAA basketball, you will rarely find upsets involving weak vs. strong teams.
This is why teams like Duke and Kentucky often win and cover the spread rather easily and consistently against weak teams.
Of course, this disparity is usually accounted for in the basketball lines, where superior NBA teams are favored by 15–25 points at most while superior NCAAB teams can be favored by as many as 40–50 points.
Home Court Advantage
There is arguably no sports discipline where home court advantage is as strong and more profound than in college basketball.
Elite NCAAB teams will always have a very strong chance of winning games at home based on their ability to feed off the support from their fans.
A good example of this solid advantage is the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team that has ridiculous a 206–9 (.958) record at Allen Fieldhouse under head coach Bill Self, which includes win streaks of 69, 33, and an active streak of 40 entering 2016-17 NCAAB season.
In the NBA, teams like Cleveland and Golden State have recently established themselves as strong home court teams, though any team is pretty much beatable on any given night at home provided the opponent is able to rise to the occasion.
In the 2015-16 NBA season, for example, the Golden State Warriors had a historic 73-9 season that included a 39-2 record at home, but those two home defeats came against two of the worst teams in the year in Boston and Minnesota.
Caution must therefore be observed when betting on home teams in the NBA, even when the odds are looking perfect in their favor.
Betting On NBA And College Basketball: OVER/UNDER Total Betting
NBA games usually last for 48 minutes (excluding overtimes) which is divided into 12 minutes per quarter.
Conversely, college basketball games last for 40 minutes, divided into two 20-minute halves. As a result, NBA games tend to deliver higher-scoring totals, especially with the pros going against each other professionally.
The NCAAB games, on the other hand, are relatively low-scoring with plenty of time wastage in games due to the 30-second college basketball shot clock as opposed to NBA’s 24-second shot clock.
About the Styles
You should, however, note that different teams play different styles in both the NBA and the NCAAB, and these styles vary on a game-to-game basis depending on the opponent faced.
In the NBA, for instance, the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors are typically high-scoring team while the Memphis Grizzlies and the San Antonio Spurs tend to play better defense.
When two high-scoring teams are pitted against each other, like the Warriors and T-Wolves, you will most likely get a big-scoring game.
But when you have a team like Golden State and San Antonio playing against each other, anything can always happen due to the contrasting styles and the tempo established in the game.
More factors, such as home vs. away splits, historical trends and momentum must therefore be factored if you are to have a true betting assessment of a game, be it in college basketball or the NBA.
Betting On NBA And College Basketball: Final Remarks
As has been glimpsed above, betting on college basketball games is generally easier compared to the NBA.
That ease doesn’t, however, always translate into profits, as some lines have too much juice to get you any meaningful returns.
If you are a basketball bettor, your focus should therefore be on trying to find value bets in both the NBA and NCAAB while using the sports betting tips highlighted above to guide your basketball wagers.
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