With hundreds of teams to bet on, learning how to bet on college basketball can be extremely exciting but daunting for beginners.
College basketball betting lines explained
There are many ways to wager on college basketball. The most popular forms of NCAA betting are the moneyline, point spread, and Over/Under totals.
Moneyline
With college basketball moneylines, bettors pick the winner of the game. Each team has odds indicating their likelihood of winning the game outright, and bettors choose accordingly.
Point spread
NCAA basketball point spreads are a way to level the field of competition between two mismatched teams by setting a handicap in point differential. One team is the favorite – and has to win by more than the spread – while the other will be pegged as an underdog – having to win outright or lose by less than the spread.
Over/Under
College basketball Over/Under totals are the estimated total number of points scored by both teams in a game. Bettors wager on whether the final score will go Over or Under that expected tally.
Moneylines: Pick the winner of an NCAA basketball game
The moneyline is a basic betting market in college basketball that allows bettors to decide which team they think will win the game outright.
Oddsmakers create moneyline odds for games based on each team’s implied probability of winning. NCAA basketball teams are not always evenly matched, and some schools will be far superior to others. The moneyline odds will reflect those chances of victory.
Sportsbooks most often display moneyline odds in hundreds (American odds). American odds show one team set as the favorite (indicated by a negative value) and one team designated as the underdog (positive value).
You can use our odds converter and moneyline calculator to see a team’s implied probability based on their odds.
In the example below, oddsmakers favor the Michigan State Spartans on the moneyline at -145, meaning you would have to wager $145 to win $100. On the flip side, betting $100 on the underdog Butler Bulldogs at +125 would result in a $125 net return.
Team
Odds
Michigan State Spartans
-145
Butler Bulldogs
+125
Point spread: Evening the odds between two teams
Many college basketball bettors look for point spreads because they level the difference in skill between the two teams, which can be pretty extreme in the NCAA.
Oddsmakers analyze both teams in a matchup and consider their strengths, weaknesses, and other factors such as injuries and create a point spread for the game.
Point spread favorites have negative values assigned to them, and they must win the game by more than the spread for the bet to win.
Underdogs have positive values for their spreads and can either win outright or lose by less than that spread for the bets to win.
In the example below, the Spartans are the point spread favorites at -2. 5 versus the Bulldogs at +2.5. The Spartans would need to win by more than 2.5 points to cover their spread, while the Bulldogs need to lose by fewer than 2.5 points or win the game outright to cover their spread.
Point spreads have a second set of odds alongside them, indicating the cost of placing the bet, also known as the vig or the juice. Most point spreads have a vig of -110; to win $100, you need to risk $110. Vigs can be adjusted depending on betting action and can vary from book to book.
Team
Spread
Vig
Michigan State Spartans
-2.5
-110
Butler Bulldogs
+2.5
-110
Over/Under: Betting on college basketball point totals
Game totals, also known as Over/Unders, are popular among basketball bettors.
Sportsbooks examine college basketball matchups, looking at both offense and defense, and assign a total representing the total-combined points between both teams for the game. Bettors then wager on whether the result will go Over or Under that total.
In the example below, a sportsbook has assigned a 131.5 total for Michigan State and Butler. Bettors would have to decide if the game would go Over or Under 131.5 combined points. Since a game can’t end in a half-point, this bet has no possibility of pushing.
Michigan State Spartans Vs. Butler Bulldogs
Odds
131.5o
-110
131.5u
-110
As with point spreads, Over/Unders also have a vig, generally set at -110.
Parlays: Combine NCAA basketball bets for bigger payouts
Parlays are a betting method where bettors tie two or more bets together to boost the odds for a chance at a higher payout.
The more wagers bettors add to parlays, the bigger the potential payout and the bigger the risk because all bets in the parlay have to win for the entire parlay to cash out at all.
Each bet added to a parlay is known as a “leg.” Sportsbooks will allow anywhere from 2-12 games in a basketball parlay.
The bettor has picked Butler at +125 as a moneyline underdog against Michigan State in the example below. They also took the heavy favorite Florida State at -2,800.
By tying these two bets together, the bettor gets combined odds of +133 and a chance at more value on their bet on Florida State. But for this bet to pay out, both bets have to win, or the bettor will receive zero winnings.
Two-team parlay
Moneyline: Tulane @ Florida State (-2,800)
Moneyline: Michigan State @ Butler (+125)
Parlay
+133
Stake
$100
Total Return
$233.04
Using our parlay calculator, you can see the potential payout for tying bets together in a parlay.
Futures: Betting on teams' tournament hopes
Among the most popular bets in college basketball is betting who wins the National Championship, an example of a futures bet in which bettors wager on things in the near and far future. March Madness is one of the most significant betting events in sports. Many bettors have money on who they think will come out on top well before the tournament.
NCAA Basketball Championship lines are released immediately following the conclusion of the previous year's tournament. Picking a winner means you’re banking on the team successfully making the tournament and winning six straight do-or-die games on college basketball’s biggest stage.
In the example below, Gonzaga has the best odds to win March Madness at +700. Michigan (+1,000) and UCLA (+1,200) follow Gonzaga to round out the top three. These odds will shift around throughout the season and will be available right up until the end of March Madness.
Team
Odds
Gonzaga
+700
Michigan
+1,000
UCLA
+1,200
Villanova
+1,200
Texas
+1,400
Kentucky
+1,400
Duke
+1,400
Purdue
+1,500
Kansas
+1,500
Memphis
+1,600
How to bet on March Madness
March Madness betting works just like most basketball games. However, when you mix in the high-stakes tournament format and the top programs in the NCAA, betting takes on a completely different intensity.
Sift through the sleepers, contenders, and Cinderellas and learn how to bet on March Madness.
NCAA Basketball betting tips and strategies
Now that you know what kind of bets you can make on college basketball, here are some tips to sharpen your skills and help you make smart basketball bets.
Narrow down your options
There are more than 350 Division 1 college programs taking the court this season, and there’s no way you can stay on top of them all.
The best way to approach the season, especially in the first two months, is to focus on a few conferences you care about – whether that's a conference in your area or ones that house your alma mater.
Slimming down your focus allows you to really dig into a select number of teams, and truly understand them on a game-to-game basis.
Size matters
Unlike college football, which only has 11 conferences and groupings, college basketball has 32 different conferences and leagues, from Power 5 groups like the ACC and Big Ten, to small mid-majors like the Northeast Conference and Patriot League.
Because there are so many teams, oddsmakers dedicate themselves to the big-name conferences which draw the most betting action, leaving them exposed when it comes to small conference lines.
That means that if you can become an expert in one of these mid-majors, you give yourself an advantage over the bookies. But keep in mind that some small conference games don’t get betting odds, so research your wagering options.
Comb through this season's college basketball teams using our NCAA basketball teams page.
Take on totals
Ask any oddsmaker or bookie and they’ll tell you the one market they fear the most is college basketball totals. On top of setting spreads for more than 300 games a week, sportsbooks will offer totals on those contests as well.
These numbers are often attacked by sharp bettors the second they hit the board and adjust quickly, so if you can jump on the trend and get a good Over or Under number before it adjusts too far, you’re at least on the wise side of the total. Find the best totals odds by using our college basketball odds comparison tool to see odds from a huge variety of legal sportsbooks.
Find value in the futures
For the most part, the NCAA tournament futures odds look the same every season with perennial powerhouse programs like Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina near the top of the board. And even as the season plays out, those odds stay relatively unchanged from week to week.
If you can spot a March Madness sleeper beyond those college basketball blue bloods, you’ll likely get a number of 10 to 1 or higher and set yourself up for a solid payday once the tournament kicks off in mid-March.
How to make a college basketball bet
1
Research available games matchups on our scores and matchups page
Our NCAA basketball scores and matchup page lists the games of the day plus upcoming games, and you can also sort by spread, total size, and line movement.
Each game gives a snapshot of the opening odds, current odds, team records straight up and against the spread, as well as the percentage of picks calculated by our Covers Consensus.
From there, you can dive deep into our detailed matchup pages for each game. Track line history, view the most popular spread and total picks and analyze unique betting trends for every team.
2
Find the best college basketball odds using our odds comparison tool
Making intelligent bets on NCAA basketball isn't always about betting the best team, but betting the best odds.
Find current spreads, totals, and moneylines for many college basketball games from the top legal sportsbooks in your area using our college basketball odds comparison tool. Compare across the industry and shop for the best odds for your NCAA bets.
3
Login/Sign up for a sportsbook in your area
Signing up for a new sportsbook is simply a few clicks away. Once you find a legal sportsbook in your area, sign up for an account and quickly deposit using various banking methods, such as credit cards and e-transfers. Most sportsbooks also offer great bonuses and sign-up promotions to new users.
4
Make your bet
After researching your best college basketball picks, you can place those bets at the sportsbook by selecting NCAA basketball from their menu and searching for the game or market you want to bet.
From there, select the wager to add it to your bet card and enter the amount of money you wish to risk. After that, click submit, and you'll get a receipt or e-ticket for that bet, showing you the odds you bet and the amount you can win.
Today's college basketball odds
Here are the current college basketball odds for a selection of today's games:
To see the odds for more of today's college basketball matchups, visit our NCAA basketball odds page.
College basketball betting contest
Want to try before you buy? Our King of Covers NCAA basketball contest is perfect for that. Make real college basketball bets for free without having to deposit at a sportsbook. Bet the spread and Over/Under totals on the 2021-22 NCAA season for the chance to win cash and prizes.
Best basketball sportsbooks for beginners
Covers’ team of betting experts have thoroughly researched the internet’s vast collection of online sportsbooks so you don’t have to. Here are the best basketball betting sites so you can get your college basketball betting underway.
These sportsbooks are licensed and trusted sites and offer great sign-up bonuses, plenty of convenient and quick banking options, and great odds for rookie bettors.
NCAA basketball betting forum
Want to learn more about college basketball betting and meet a large, knowledgeable community? Check out Covers’ NCAA basketball betting forum to get picks, ask questions, and learn from experienced sports bettors.
College basketball betting FAQs
A: You can bet on college basketball by picking the winner of the game (moneyline), which team will cover the spread (point spread), or combined points scored in the match (Over/Under).
You pick if the favorite covers a certain winning margin or if the underdog will lose by less than that gap.
College basketball moneyline bets include overtime. Betting the second half also includes overtime.
College games tend to be shorter than NBA matches, lasting just over two hours.
Overtime in college basketball games is five minutes.
There are two halves, consisting of 20 minutes each.
You can watch college basketball on ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS, TBS, and TNT. You can also stream games online on several platforms.
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Learn How to Bet on College Basketball and Win
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How to Bet on College Basketball: 12 Tips for 2022
There are three different answers you may want when asking a question like how to bet on college basketball.
“I’m looking at Florida State -9. 5 vs. UNC, and I have no idea what that means. Help.”
“I have a good idea of who I want to bet on, but I don’t know where to do it.”
“I understand sports betting and have a sportsbook to bet at, but I want to sharpen my handicapping skills.”
Below, we’ll answer all three and much more.
How to Bet on College Basketball
Click on a section to skip ahead.
1. Sports Betting Terms
2. Where to Place CBB Bets
3. Handicapping College Hoops
4. How to Start With So Many Games
5. Mistakes to Avoid
6. Additional Resources + Sites
What Does Any Of This Mean?
Let’s use an example.
Florida State is a 9.5-point favorite over North Carolina.
PointsBet lists each bet type from left to right — spread, total, moneyline.
Via PointsBet
Florida State -9.5 (Point Spread): A point spread is the great equalizer in sports betting. It’s a bet on the margin of victory in a game, adjusted for each team’s ability.
Florida State was a -9.5 favorite over UNC, meaning FSU needs to win by 10 points or more for you to win your bet if you backed the Seminoles. That minus sign indicates FSU is favored.
If you bet UNC +9.5, you need the Tar Heels to lose by fewer than nine points or win the game to win your bet. The plus sign means Carolina is an underdog.
Over/Under 144.5 (Total): Outside the point spread, the next most popular betting option for college basketball is the total, also known as an over/under.
Here, you’re simply wagering on how many points the teams will combine to score.
Based on each team’s offensive and defensive efficiency, pace and more, the betting market expects about 144-145 points in this game.
North Carolina +380, FSU -500 (Moneyline): The point spread is a great equalizer, but the moneyline judges the teams in a similar way. But only winning the game straight-up matters, and it’s priced accordingly.
If you think North Carolina can win this game outright, you’ll get paid $3.80 for every $1 risked because the Tar Heels were listed at +380 (since they were far worse than FSU at this time).
A $10 bet would pay $38, plus the original $10 back.
If you want to back Florida State to just win straight-up at -500, you need to risk $5 for every $1. So a $50 bet will pay $10 (plus your $50 back).
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Finding a Place to Bet
Full online sports betting is available in almost 20 states now.
Full list of states with online betting
Our favorite sportsbooks
Tracking the status of states without legal betting
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Handicapping College Basketball
OK, here’s the fun part. You’ve bet on college basketball before, but you want to get better.
Let’s first break down how point spreads are created in college hoops.
Offensive and Defensive Efficiency
The easiest place to start is with points per 100 possessions, both on offense and defense. It gives us a better picture of a team’s ability in a vacuum. Raw stats like points per game are influenced too much by pace.
Once they have a baseline for efficiency, sites like KenPom.com or BartTorvik.com will calculate adjusted efficiency numbers that account for both pace and opponent ability.
Those sites will also project every final score for every game using those efficiency metrics.
Oddsmakers and the betting market have been using these statistical projections for a long time, though, and usually aren’t too far off (unless there’s an injury or some new information, which those sites don’t account for).
Efficiency numbers need building blocks, though. That leads us to the Four Factors.
If you’re using your own models, you can weigh statistics differently, put more or less emphasis on recent form, bake in shooting regression and more.
The Four Factors
How do basketball teams win games? There are four key contributors. First coined by Dean Oliver, the Four Factors and their weights are:
Shooting (40%)
Turnovers (25%)
Rebounding (20%)
Free Throws (15%)
KenPom.com popularized the Four Factors in college basketball, which evolved to:
Effective Field Goal% (same as FG%, but 3-pointers are worth 50% more)
Turnover Rate (turnovers/possessions)
Offensive Rebounding Rate (OR / (OR + DR chances)
Free Throw Rate (FT Attempts/FG Attempts)
I’m partial to teams that can shoot in modern basketball, so I tend to weigh effective field goal percentage more than the other factors.
Finding Mismatches
Using the Four Factors above, you can find mismatches within a game.
Let’s take a look at this game between Texas A&M and Missouri.
There are mismatches all over the place, but two stand out:
The ability of each defense to force turnovers against a turnover-prone offense.
Missouri’s shot suppression on defense vs. A&M’s anemic shooting offense.
Via KenPom.com
KenPom’s projected total for this game was just 121 — a 61-60 Missouri win — so the fact that these are two turnover-prone teams on offense isn’t some secret. But there are still situations where mismatches can help a bettor, or where the market is underestimating their impact.
Recent Form
BartTorvik.com is my favorite place to find a team’s current form. And it’s free!
Using filters at the top, you can view all efficiency stats for every team over your set time frame. Comparing recent form to full-season statistical profiles can be a good way to find undervalued and overvalued teams in the betting market.
The time ranges also allow you to back-test easily.
Within the team pages, you can see charts that show statistics for each team over time. The blue line is the moving average, the dashed line is the 5-game moving average, while the red and green plot points are individual games.
This is Boise State’s offensive efficiency over time in 2019-20. The Broncos have been great in the last few weeks, indicated by the above-average plot points and rising 5-game moving average.
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With So Many Games, Where Do You Start?Pick a Niche
It’s impossible to handicap and follow all 353 Division I teams, so specializing in a few conferences is a good idea for both your bankroll and sanity.
Limits might be smaller on the “extra games” offered by sportsbooks, but you can still get several hundred dollars down per game. Don’t worry about hitting limits until you’re winning consistently.
It’s not easy to find information on Southland Conference injuries, for example. If you can follow the right people on Twitter and truly know a conference, it’s incredibly valuable.
Rely on Tools
Again, you can’t follow every team. You just can’t. So using data is imperative.
The first type of data you should use is the projection systems I mentioned above. They’ll give you a baseline for a team’s true ability.
The second type of data is our public betting data, PRO Report and Bet Labs systems. The public betting data will give you insights into sharp money and overvalued teams, while Bet Labs has thousands of historical college basketball games that you can use to create profitable betting systems.
Our PRO Report highlights games that are standing out according to our systems, expert picks, projections and sharp action.
Track Your Progress
You’ll never refine your handicapping without tracking it. You can use the Action Network app to log all your bets.
I’d also suggest tracking Closing Line Value in an Excel doc or Google Sheet. The more often you’re getting the best of the number, the more likely you’ll be successful, and you can get CLV in small-conference college basketball if you’re betting early.
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Mistakes to AvoidThinking You Know Everything
If a betting line is way off from your projection, don’t blindly assume you’re right and the rest of the market is wrong. A lot of other smart people have looked at the price, and decided it was right.
Dig in and try to find some answers as to why things are so different.
Short-Term, Small-Sample Trends
This applies to all sports. Any trend not rooted in a large sample is probably just noise. Kansas being 4-1 ATS in its last five games is not predictive.
Don’t Overextend Yourself
There are more than 150 games on a loaded college basketball Saturday, and it’s easy to lose big if you’re betting too many games. By specializing in a few conferences, it’s much more manageable and you won’t end up losing your bankroll on a bad day.
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Resources and Links
Here are some more sites to check out.
Action PRO: Highlights proven signals from our projections, expert picks, systems and sharp action.
KenPom.com. The original college basketball analytics resource. It costs $20 per year, but is well worth it.
BartTorvik.com. Similar to KenPom, but free.
Hoop-Math.com. They have a free and paid plan, but the free version has some interesting statistics on transition style and efficiency, shot selection and more.
Massey Composite. Compiles more than 40 ratings systems.
Haslametrics. Automated team capsules highlight mismatches that can be useful for betting.
Sports Insights Injuries: Finding and tracking injuries in college basketball is difficult, so we’ve tried to make it a little easier.
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Can I bet on college basketball?
For countries and states where gambling is legal, college basketball is big business, and following changes to the federal sports betting law, it is becoming more accessible in the United States.
With the season in full swing and the March madness fast approaching, here's how you can bet on college basketball.
Find a bookmaker
Before delving into the different types of betting markets, the first thing to do is to find a bookmaker available in your area.
If you are in the United States then bookmakers such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and PointsBet have expanded to many different states, while there will be others specifically designed for your region.
For international bettors, do your research online to find out which sports betting companies are available in your country. For countries like the UK, where betting is widely available, there is a wide range of options, so take the time to find out which operators offer the best services for college basketball.
It is important to only use bookmakers that are legally available in your country or state, because this prevents any problems related to registration and money transactions (deposits and withdrawals).
Now that you've found and registered with a bookmaker in your area, let's go through the top markets you'll want to look out for when betting on college basketball.
Money line
Starting with the easiest market to understand, the money line is when you bet on one team to win over another team. Since there are no draws in college basketball like there are in football, rugby, or any other "non-American" sport, there is always a guaranteed winner, and thus the money line market is always on.
Moneyline is a good market to play when two equal teams and bookmakers provide the same odds or when betting on an outsider with higher odds than their opponents.
For example, in a game between the state of Florida and Clemson, the bookmakers gave the state of Florida odds of -138 and Clemson -105. This means that a $100 bet on Florida is worth $173 if the Seminoles win the game ($73 in winnings plus a $100 bet). Conversely, the same $100 bet on Clemson would make a $195 profit ($95 win + $100 bet) if the Tigers win the game. Thus, for games that are expected to be close, such as Florida State vs. Clemson, the money line is an attractive betting market because a successful determination of the winner will result in good profits. As it turned out, the bookies were right to create such a close market - Florida won by just one point.
The money line is also an attractive market with underdog support, although it carries much more risk even if the potential reward is greater. For example, Chicago State is valued at +850 to beat Stephen Austin, so that same $100 bet will return a whopping $950 if the Cougars pull off a surprise win. However, backing Stephen Austin on the money line gives odds of -2500, so a $100 bet would only make a profit of $104.
While betting on the state of Chicago might seem tempting given the amount of money you can win, there's a reason the odds are so great - they don't expect to win!
Points Spread
If you want to bet money on a game as predictably one-sided as Stephen Austin vs. Chicago State, the best way to make the odds more competitive is to enter the points spread market.
Point spread is the estimated number of points with which the bookmaker expects the team to win or lose. In the case of Stephen Austin vs. Chicago State, the points difference was set at 18. 5, with both teams given odds of -120 to beat the difference.
This means you are either betting that Stephen Austin will beat Chicago State by more than 18.5 points, or that Chicago State will not lose by more than 18.5 points. If you back the Lumberjacks with $100 and they win by 19 points or more, you will make a profit of $183; Similarly, if you pick the Cougars and they lose by less than 18 points, you will also win $183.
totals
While the money line and point spread markets depend on teams winning and losing, you can end up excluding the outcome by focusing on the totals of the markets.
Totals, also called over/under, are simply bets on the total of something, most commonly in basketball, which is the total number of points in a game.
Let's take another look at Stephen Austin vs. Chicago State: the bookmakers set the total points market at 137.5, so a bettor can bet that the game will be over or under 137.5 - no matter who wins or by what margin .
Total markets may also be available in other areas of the basketball game - total points scored by an individual player, total number of three-point shots made, total points by a quarter-time difference and other similar areas where totals can be applied.
Futures
Money line, points distribution and totals are the three main college basketball betting markets when focusing on a specific game. However, for players interested in longer-term bets, the futures markets are worth checking out.
Futures markets are exactly what they say they are: they allow you to bet on what will happen in the future.
These include bets on which team will win the NCAA championship, which teams will win their conference titles, which players can be the MVP at March Madness, and more. You can check here the best March Madness markets: https://www.bovada.lv/march-madness
Futures markets are very attractive because of the longer term investment they represent for players and often higher odds.
For example, the 2022 NCAA championship futures market is currently led by the Gonzaga Bulldogs at +450 followed by the Auburn Tigers at +800. If you bet $100 on the Bulldogs and win the title, you will make a profit of $550, while the same bet on the Tigers will net you $900.
If you made such a bet now, it would keep your interest in the season well beyond one game. At least until the Bulldogs, Tigers, or whatever team you support wins a title or is relegated.
Basketball betting tips
You can figure out any sport if you want to. The main thing is desire and free time. Basketball is a dynamic discipline that is considered easy to perceive and understand. If you do not take into account football, then basketball betting is fighting for the second line in popularity among bettors. Far from everyone succeeds in this direction, so let's form the main useful tips on basketball betting. They will help to understand the category more deeply and make the game in the bookmaker more efficient.
Current trends and current trends in basketball
To be successful in any area, you need to be aware of everything related to the direction: the market, competitors, development vector, financial side and more. In basketball betting, you need to know the current patterns for today, because they can constantly change. Let's consider a number of patterns inherent in modern basketball:
Universalism .
Basketball is progressing and changing. If earlier there was a clear section on positions, now all this is conditional. A high-quality professional player must be reliable in defense, have good possession of the ball, make accurate passes to partners and be able to accurately throw the ball into the basket. A team with versatile athletes has an advantage over its opponent.
Effective throws .
In serious leagues and tournaments, teams try to score maximum points in each attack. There are fewer mid-range shots in modern basketball. Many people have found that it is more efficient to make a 3-point attempt, which in theory is worth more points, than to make an open middle throw. True, this trend is not typical for all teams.
Athletics.
In basketball, not only height is important, but also physical condition. Look at American basketball. It's not just about the NBA. Take a look at student leagues. There are strong players with an athletic physique. Nobody needs thin and slow performers. Clubs are looking for tall athletes with elements of universalism, so that a person can play both in defense and in attack to be useful. Athleticism is a trend that appears as a result of the two previous patterns. The concept of athleticism in basketball is discussed in more detail in the video - “Four main components of athleticism in basketball”.
NBA and other competitions
When considering basketball as a sport that every second user bets on, the focus is primarily on the National Basketball Association. The NBA is a good example of how competitions should be organized and what level of play should be demonstrated throughout the season. The rest of the leagues and divisions are equal to the American championship. Perhaps someone does not know, but the NBA has a number of features:
The 3-point arc is half a meter further than the FIBA rules (7.25 vs. 6.75).
In the NBA, timeouts are recorded more often: short ones of 20 seconds and long ones of 100 seconds.
A quarter lasts not 10 minutes, as in Europe, but 12.
The foul limit for an athlete is one more than in domestic basketball (6 instead of 5).
The level of arbitrators overseas is much higher. They are focused on the game, they control the course of the fight, they carefully watch video replays when there is such a need.
These are the most obvious features that a bookmaker's client must know. Tune in to a FIBA basketball match live and watch an NBA match later. I am sure you will add to the above list of differences.
Sources of valuable information
In sports betting, any information will be useful, since every little thing can play an important role in betting. When betting on basketball matches, we recommend that you study the match protocol and statistical indicators. Separately, it is worth paying attention to the following parameters:
The average number of scored and missed points.
This item reveals the degree of effectiveness of both parties. This is standard information that needs to be analyzed when making a prediction for a basketball match.
Efficiency in attack and defense.
The average number of points scored / missed by the team during one throw or possession is taken into account. Thus, it is possible to determine the quality of attack and reliability in defensive actions. This indicator is sometimes more useful than the average performance.
Temp .
It plays an important role how long the team has the orange ball and how many shots it makes. If the pace is high, as a rule, you can see a swing: the team often throws a game projectile into the ring, but at the same time concedes a lot. A certain balance and effectiveness in defense / attack is needed.
Sales percentage.
Another important parameter. You can throw in the basket as much as you like. The main thing is to do it accurately, having a high percentage of attempts.
These are just the main pronounced parameters that must be taken into account when betting on basketball. It is worth mentioning the structure of shots and the percentage of implementation of free kicks. Understanding the style of teams, the dynamics of the game, the individual characteristics of basketball players, statistics, tactics and decisions of the coach - all this allows you to make the right choice when analyzing the line and a particular match.
Basketball value bets
Many people wonder how to find inflated odds? Value is not easy to find. There are two possible situations here:
Use scanners.
Understanding value will come with experience.
In most cases, free cheese is only in a mousetrap, and for a paid subscription, as a rule, no one wants to put money on the table.
Self-searching for value is complicated by the variety of line and depth of painting. True, those who live by sports betting suggest to pay attention to Asian leagues, unpopular competitions, women's basketball and small markets. As for the last element, the capper recommends looking at the individual performance of the players. Bookmakers have little information about the lower divisions and sometimes make inaccuracies in the line.
Basketball betting tips and tricks in general
What to look for when betting on basketball matches:
Statistics . Useful tool in basketball betting. Helps with pre-match analysis and final decision making.
Compounds . It is important to know not only the main five, but also the possibilities of substitute players. Given the constant pauses in the game and the stoppage of time, which leads to an increase in the period when basketball players are on the floor, rotation cannot be avoided, and it must be of high quality in order not to miss a victory.
Leaders. In important fights, they come to the fore. The role of strong performers increases when it comes to the result. Take, for example, the Golden State Warriors. Look at how the team performs when Stephen Curry is healthy and shows a stable game, and compare the results with the segment when the point guard is absent for some reason. The team loses points due to the lack of a leader.
Infirmary . The following fact emerges from the previous paragraph - an analysis of the list of players who miss the match for various reasons: injury, disqualification, illness, family circumstances, etc.
The NBA is not the only league in the world . Don't get hung up on the American championship. Analyze domestic basketball, the Euroleague and other equally interesting competitions.
Choice of model or strategy . Decide on basic and advanced approaches. This can be a flat game, a catch-up strategy or live betting while watching live broadcasts of matches. Organize information, select a game model and partially automate the betting process.
Conclusion
It is unrealistic to fit all the secrets of basketball betting, as well as useful tips and tricks into one article. This is due to the fact that new trends and patterns appear, rules change, restrictions are introduced, etc. There is only one recommendation - constantly research the basketball direction, analyze matches and statistics, study the compositions and style of teams, monitor the line and coefficients.
On the flip side, betting $100 on the underdog Butler Bulldogs at +125 would result in a $125 net return. 
5 versus the Bulldogs at +2.5. The Spartans would need to win by more than 2.5 points to cover their spread, while the Bulldogs need to lose by fewer than 2.5 points or win the game outright to cover their spread.
Bettors then wager on whether the result will go Over or Under that total.
However, when you mix in the high-stakes tournament format and the top programs in the NCAA, betting takes on a completely different intensity.
Find the best totals odds by using our college basketball odds comparison tool to see odds from a huge variety of legal sportsbooks.
5 vs. UNC, and I have no idea what that means. Help.”
Don’t worry about hitting limits until you’re winning consistently.
You can use the Action Network app to log all your bets.
Since there are no draws in college basketball like there are in football, rugby, or any other "non-American" sport, there is always a guaranteed winner, and thus the money line market is always on. 
5, with both teams given odds of -120 to beat the difference. 
Many people have found that it is more efficient to make a 3-point attempt, which in theory is worth more points, than to make an open middle throw. True, this trend is not typical for all teams. 
The NBA is a good example of how competitions should be organized and what level of play should be demonstrated throughout the season. The rest of the leagues and divisions are equal to the American championship. Perhaps someone does not know, but the NBA has a number of features: 
I am sure you will add to the above list of differences. 
Useful tool in basketball betting. Helps with pre-match analysis and final decision making. 
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