We are fast approaching the most exciting tie of the year in college basketball, which means that it’s time to start thinking about the College Basketball Odds and how you are going to spend your bankroll. March Madness is right around the corner, so there are going to be plenty of games to wager on and the action is going to come thick and fast.

Depleting your bankroll quickly can happen if you wager irresponsibly during a tournament. Fortunately, there’s still time to practice betting on college basketball before the major games, so let’s examine wagering strategies for this sport.

College Basketball Odds: Understanding the Wagers

If you bet on sports at all, you will already know the basics of wagering on college basketball.

The simplest wager on the board is the moneyline wager, where all you are required to do is pick the straight-up winner of the game you are wagering on.

The problem here, though, is that the odds are not always great.

If you are putting money on a team at odds of -900 to win, you are not going to build your bankroll that quickly. Let’s look at some of the more profitable options:

Spread Bets

With this wager, you are trying to determine the margin of victory based on the number posted by the bookies.

For example, today you have Cincinnati in as a 6 ½ point favorite over Oklahoma State.

If you pick the favorite, they need to win by 7 points for you to cash your ticket, which would pay out at odds of -110.

On the flipside, if you believe that Oklahoma State can win, or lose by less than 6 ½ points, you would pick them, once again at odds of -110.

Point Total Bets

This wager is also known as the OVER/UNDER, as you are trying to determine whether the total points scored in a game goes over or under the total set by the bookies.

If we stick with the same game we discussed in the spread bets section, then you are looking at a total of 138 ½.

Both the over and under are at odds of -110, which is why these wagers are so popular.

Basically, if you have a hot rate of 55% or higher, you are going to be in profit.

Props and Future Bets

During March Madness, prop bets on individual and team performances—like points, assists, and rebounds—are popular, allowing fun wagers by quarter or half while watching games.

Future bets are about things like wagering on the National Championship, as well as things like picking which teams will go to the Final Four.

If you do still want to play straight up bets on heavy favorites, consider putting 2 or 3 of your picks on a single parlay ticket to score better odds.

Wagering on the College Basketball National Champion

March Madness is approaching, prompting thoughts on potential champions.

This piece will discuss current championship odds, but first, we aim to help you analyze the situation for more confident wagering.

Key Factors Influencing College Basketball Odds in the Championship

You might well imagine that the bookies look at the current rankings and set their odds based on that.

While that is certainly a factor, it is not the only thing that goes into setting the odds to win a National Championship.

Other factors come into play, and you need to be aware of them all before you dip into your bankroll and make a wager, so let’s try and break it all down.

Injuries and Player Availability

College sports are not that much different from professional sports in that teams tend to lean heavily on one or two key players.

These are the guys that rack up the points and serve as the leader of the team.

If those guys go down with an injury, it can have a major impact on the overall performance of the team.

That can have an impact on the odds, both in individual games, and for the National Championship.

Coaching and Team Strategy

With players leaving for the NBA Draft every year, college basketball teams are always in some state of turnover.

This is where the coach and their specific style of play becomes important.

Some coaches manage to recruit well and find players that fit their style. This explains why certain teams are always considered a threat, despite personnel changes.

The Bracket

Winning a National Championship is challenging, but some paths are easier. Once March Madness teams are chosen, National Championship odds may shift according to the bracket’s structure.

Keep an eye on the bracket during the tournament, especially during upsets, as they impact remaining teams’ odds.

Timing your wagers is crucial for successful sports betting.

Numerous factors influence National Championship winning odds, so it’s crucial to grasp their importance before risking any money from your bankroll.

Popular College Basketball Teams and Their Odds to Win

We still have a few days to go before the final 68 teams are revealed and March Madness begins.

The final bracket will have 64 teams, but before we get to that, we have the First Four, which is essentially a play-in to fill the final holes.

Even with all of that still to come, the bookies already have their National Championship odds on the board, so let’s take a quick peek at how things look:

College Basketball Odds: Top Contenders

Duke Blue Devils (+320)

Although the Coach K era is long gone, the legacy of the Duke Blue Devils lives on.

They are currently the highest ranked team and always stand out in the Tournament. They deserve attention.

Auburn Tigers (+370)

Auburn has held the top rankings this season and currently sits at #3.

They are expected to secure a #1 seed in the Tournament, which will include multiple SEC teams. Is Auburn the strongest contender?

Florida Gators (+790)

Yet another SEC team that has to be in the conversation given that they are sitting in the #4 spot in the country at the moment.

It si going to be interesting to see how the SEC Tournament plays out, as that too could have an impact on the final odds.

Houston Cougars (+760)

This is the #2 team in the nation at the moment, and with just 4 losses this season, they have to be seen as a major threat to make a deep run, if not win it all.

Cinderella Stories

Every year, we see one or two lower ranked teams make a deep run in the Tournament, knocking off some major contenders along the way.

We’ll hold off on naming potential Cinderella teams until the final bracket is set, as matchups will reveal opportunities for upsets that could create a Cinderella story. We can revisit this later.

Historical Performances

As we mentioned earlier, there are some teams that always seem to be in the National Championship conversation every single year.

With that in mind, we thought it might be fun to look at the top teams in the history of the tournament, with their current odds listed, so let’s get to it:

UCLA Bruins (+10000)

While the Bruins may have the most National Championships (11) in the history of March Madness, they are not considered to be among the favorites this season.

Kentucky Wildcats (+3600)

With 8 titles to their name, the Wildcats have a stellar history, but they are off the pace this season.

They are perhaps too iconic to be a Cinderella team, but I would not put it past them to make a run in 2025.

UNC Tar Heels (+42000)

The Tar Heels have managed to pick up 20 wins this season, but that is still considered underwhelming for a team that has been the National Champion 6 times.

UConn Huskies (+6200)

They have won the National Championship 6 times and are looking for a three-peat this season, but the odds suggest it might be a tough task.

Duke is the biggest favorite on the bookies board right now, who have won the title 5 times in their history, so might they be about to move up the historical leaderboard? Only time will tell.

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