College Basketball Point Spread Betting Strategy Guide
Understanding the Basics: What is a Point Spread?
The point spread is one of the most popular ways to bet on college basketball. It is a handicap that is given to the underdog team to level the playing field. The favorite team must win by a certain number of points (the spread) for a bet on them to win. The underdog team can either win the game outright or lose by less than the spread for a bet on them to win.
For example, if the point spread is Duke -7.5 vs. North Carolina +7.5, Duke is the favorite and must win by 8 or more points for a bet on them to win. North Carolina is the underdog and can either win the game or lose by 7 or fewer points for a bet on them to win.
Point spreads are typically listed with a negative number for the favorite and a positive number for the underdog. The odds for both sides of the bet are usually -110, which means you have to bet $110 to win $100.
How to Read College Basketball Point Spreads
Reading college basketball point spreads is easy once you understand the basics. Here is a typical example of how a point spread will be displayed at a sportsbook:
- Date: March 15, 2025
- Matchup: #5 Duke vs. #12 North Carolina
- Point Spread: Duke -7.5 (-110) / North Carolina +7.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Duke -350 / North Carolina +280
- Total (Over/Under): 145.5 (-110)
In this example, Duke is the 7.5-point favorite. This means that for a bet on Duke to win, they must win the game by 8 or more points. North Carolina is the 7.5-point underdog. For a bet on North Carolina to win, they can either win the game outright or lose by 7 or fewer points.
The odds for both sides of the point spread bet are -110. This means that you have to bet $110 to win $100. The total for the game is 145.5 points. You can bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under this number.
Key Factors to Consider When Betting College Basketball Point Spreads
There are a number of factors to consider when betting college basketball point spreads. These include:
- Team Form: How have the two teams been playing recently? Have they been winning or losing? Have they been covering the spread?
- Injuries: Are there any key players who are injured for either team? This can have a big impact on the outcome of the game.
- Schedule: How has the schedule been for both teams? Have they been playing a lot of games recently? Have they had to travel a lot?
- Matchup: How do the two teams match up against each other? Do they have similar styles of play? Do they have any common opponents?
- Public Betting: Where is the public betting money going? The public tends to bet on favorites and overs, so there can be value in betting against the public.
Advanced Strategies for Betting College Basketball Point Spreads
Once you have a good understanding of the basics, you can start to use more advanced strategies for betting college basketball point spreads. These include:
- Fading the Public: This is a popular strategy that involves betting against the public. The public tends to bet on favorites and overs, so there can be value in betting on underdogs and unders.
- Reverse Line Movement: This is when the betting line moves in the opposite direction of the public betting. For example, if the public is betting heavily on the favorite, but the line moves in favor of the underdog, this could be a sign that the sharp money is on the underdog.
- KenPom Ratings: KenPom is a popular college basketball analytics website that provides detailed ratings for every team. These ratings can be used to identify undervalued and overvalued teams.
- Situational Betting: This involves looking for specific situations where teams are likely to be overvalued or undervalued. For example, a team might be overvalued after a big win or undervalued after a bad loss.
Bankroll Management
Bankroll management is essential for long-term success in sports betting. It is important to set a budget for your betting and to only bet what you can afford to lose. A good rule of thumb is to only bet 1-2% of your bankroll on any single game.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are a number of common mistakes that bettors make when betting college basketball point spreads. These include:
- Chasing Losses: This is when you try to win back money that you have lost by betting more money. This is a surefire way to lose your entire bankroll.
- Betting with Your Heart: It is important to bet with your head, not your heart. Don't bet on your favorite team just because you want them to win.
- Not Shopping for the Best Lines: It is important to have accounts at multiple sportsbooks so that you can shop for the best lines. A half-point can be the difference between winning and losing a bet.
By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success when betting college basketball point spreads.