One of the most popular college basketball bet types is spread bets or spread odds. College basketball spread bets are perfect for both beginners and expert sports bettors. If you’re looking to learn more about college basketball spread odds or sharpen your skills and expand your knowledge – then you’ve come to the right place.
Our expert guide here will walk you through how college basketball spread odds work, and how you can bet them, and plus, we’ll provide tips on how you can potentially win more NCAAB spread bets in the future.
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What is a College Basketball Spread Bet?
College basketball spread odds or NCAA point spread bets are wagers that incorporate point totals as part of the required winning or losing margin. Professional oddsmakers at sportsbooks carefully review each team and matchup to determine the point spread or point differential. After doing so, each team is assigned a spread – favored teams must win by the spread and underdogs can lose by the spread or win outright.
For favorites, the college basketball point spread refers to the number of points the favored team must win by or exceed to yield a winning bet for sports bettors. Conversely, underdogs can lose by the point spread or win outright and they would yield a winning bet for bettors who selected them. Favored teams will have a minus sign next to their odds and spread and underdog teams will have a positive sign next to theirs.
College Basketball Spread Bet Example
Below, let’s review an example of college basketball point spread odds and how you should interpret them.
| Team | Point Spread | Betting Odds |
| North Carolina | -5 | -110 |
| Duke | +5 | -110 |
In the above example, the favored team is North Carolina and the underdog team is Duke. If you were to bet the point spread for North Carolina they would need to beat Duke by 6 points or more in order for you to win your bet. If you were to bet Duke to cover the spread against North Carolina, they can lose the game by 4 or fewer or win outright to win your bet. If either team wins or loses by 5, the bet is a push and refunded.
College Basketball Picks Against the Spread Explained
When you bet against the spread it means you are betting on the underdog. Using the example in the table below you can see Houston is the favorite as they have a – sign before the point spread meaning they need to win by more than 6 points to cover the spread. If you bet on Houston you are betting with the spread.
Temple is the underdog in this game as they have the plus sign before the point spread meaning they either need to win the game outright or lose by less than 6 points. Betting on Temple means you are betting against the spread.
| Team | Point Spread | Betting Odds |
| Houston Cougars | -6 | -115 |
| Temple Owls | +6 | -115 |
How are College Basketball Spread Bets Paid Out?
College basketball spread bets are paid out just like a moneyline bet, total points bet, or any other sports bet for that matter. If you correctly select the winning outcome you will automatically receive your original wager plus your profits from the sportsbook. If the bet does not win, the sportsbook keeps your original wager amount. And if your bet is a push, your original bet is refunded by the sportsbook.
There is no difference in payout methods between favorites or underdogs. You just need to accurately predict the spread outcome in order for you to win your NCAAB point spread bet.
FAQs About NCAA Basketball Spread Bets
How does a sportsbook determine a college basketball spread price?
What is the line in college basketball?
What does a negative spread mean in college basketball?
What if the price changes after placing a college basketball spread bet?
How does a sportsbook earn money from college basketball spread bets?
What does +7.5 spread mean in college basketball?
How does the spread work in college basketball?
Why do college basketball spread odds change?
Are college spread bets good bets?
What does +3 spread mean in college basketball?
Can you put college basketball spread bets in parlays?
How to Place a College Basketball Spread Bet
Placing a college basketball spread bet is fairly simple and even novice sports bettors can get the hang of it within a few minutes. Below, we outlined a quick step-by-step process you can follow to bet college basketball spread odds on BetOnline, our number one sportsbook of choice.
- Step 1: First, visit the BetOnline homepage and click “Join Now” to begin the account creation process. Here, simply enter basic personal info.
- Step 2: After creating an account, click the cashier button to begin the deposit process. Here, choose the funding method that works for you, and remember to use any BetOnline promo codes you have in order to take advantage of their ongoing welcome bonuses.
- Step 3: After funding your account visit the sportsbook to browse the latest college basketball odds. Here, select the NCAAB point spread bet that you’d like to wager on.
- Step 4: Next, add the point spread bet to your bet slip and enter the amount you wish to wager. Then, confirm the bet with the sportsbook for it to be accepted.
- Step 5: The last thing you need to do is just watch the game you wagered on in order to see what the outcome is. If you win your bet, BetOnline, and other sportsbooks, will automatically send you your profits along with your original bet type.
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Advantages of NCAA Basketball Spread Bets
Betting the spread is a fun way to enjoy betting on college basketball and it has several advantages as well. Below are a few of the top advantages to betting the spread.
- Creates competition. As mentioned earlier, NCAA point spreads make betting on college basketball more competitive and even due to the required point spread differential. Whereas moneyline bets are less even and have greater odd disparity because there is no point spread required.
- Perfect for novices. Betting on the spread is really simple to comprehend and easy enough for new sports bettors to understand and bet from day one onward.
- Generates excitement. Spread bets will enhance your viewing experience and make games more exciting. Oddsmakers spend a lot of time creating point spreads because they expect the game to be within a certain range. Betting either side will surely have you entertained.
Our Top Tips On How To Win A College Basketball Spread Bet
Below, our team put together a list of top tips to consider before making your next college basketball spread bet.
1. Review Each Roster
First and foremost, before betting you should always do your research. If you are betting the spread review each roster thoroughly and get a sense of who holds the advantage on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Study individual matchups and become an expert on each team so that you can make a well-informed decision as it pertains to your spread bet.
2. Look for Line Changes
Point spread lines for NCAA basketball games may change before the game tips off. This may be due to injuries, suspensions, and/or betting trends that influence how oddsmakers tailor the spread odds. Look back to see if the betting line changed over time to understand what may have caused the line change as it likely changed for a good reason, which would likely impact your decision.
3. Browse Other Sportsbooks
It’s never a bad idea to shop around for the best college basketball spread odds. By doing so, you will giver yourself the best chance to earn more profits. Signing up for sportsbooks is fairly quick and easy so shopping around should be something you should consider before deciding on where to bet.
4. Consider Coaches
Before finalizing your next college basketball spread bet make sure you do some due diligence on each team’s coach. Look back at their performance history, study their schemes, understand if they are good at making adjustments, etc. Coaches may have an influence on a game due to their scheme of choice or overall experience.
5. Don’t Always Bet the Favorite
Be willing to carefully consider underdog bets from time to time. Favorites will not always win and if you invest enough time in research you will likely beging to identify what teams are poised to upset favorites. This could be due to individual matchups and/or certain strengths that outweigh weaknesses, etc.
Betting on the underdog is a bit more conservative within the context of point spread bets because you at least have a spread to help even the matchup.
The Sports Daily’s College Basketball Spread Picks
If you are looking for expert analysis and well-thought-out college basketball picks and predictions then we have you covered. Our team of experts carefully reviews each matchup, and team, and stays up-to-date with the latest news and trends in order to make well-informed college basketball picks each week.
Visit our NCAAB picks page to learn more about our process and follow along all season as we provide in-depth analysis on all of the major college basketball games this upcoming season. Moreover, we will also make sure to provide you with the latest futures odds as the season progresses.
How Do College Basketball Spread Bets Work With Live Betting?
Another great thing about NCAA against the spread bets is you can bet on the point spread as games are unfolding live in real-time. Below is a brief breakdown of how you can live bet NCAA against the spread odds.
- First, you must log in to your sportsbook account and then visit the live betting section of the sportsbook
- When you arrive at the live sportsbook find and select the point spread odds you’re interested in
- Click the odds and add them to your bet slip
- Confirm your wager amount in the bet slip and click accept to proceed with the bet
- Wait until the game concludes to see if you won your bet
The Best Sportsbooks For College Basketball Spread Odds
There are plenty of online sportsbooks and betting apps that offer college basketball spread odds but our top pick is BetOnline. BetOnline offers great prices, a wide selection of games, and also has live college basketball betting.
However, we put together a shortlist of the best offshore sportsbooks for college basketball spread betting should you choose to shop around and/or browse other sportsbooks. You can’t go wrong with any of our top picks.
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Check More of Our College Basketball Betting 2023 Guides
- College Basketball Betting Guide – Best NCAA Basketball Betting Sites Ranked & Reviewed.
- Best College Basketball Betting Picks – In-depth NCAAB Betting Picks Guide.
- The Latest NCAAB Odds – Compare the Best College Basketball Odds.
- NCAAB Moneyline Odds Explained – Learn How to Win College Basketball Moneyline Bets.
- College Basketball Futures Odds Explained – Guide on How to Win College Basketball Futures Bets.
- College Basketball Totals Odds Explained – Guide on How to Win College Basketball Totals Bets.
