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Learn How To Bet On College Basketball And Win
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 explainedThere are many ways to wager on college basketball. The most popular forms of NCAA betting are the moneyline, point spread, and Over/Under totals.
Moneylines: Pick the winner of an NCAA basketball gameThe 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 Michigan Wolverines at +125 would result in a $125 net return.
Point spread: Evening the odds between two teamsMany 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.
Over/Under: Betting on college basketball point totalsGame 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 Michigan. 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. Michigan Wolverines Odds 131.5o -110 131.5u -110As with point spreads, Over/Unders also have a vig, generally set at -110.
Parlays: Combine NCAA basketball bets for bigger payoutsParlays 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 Michigan 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 @ Michigan (+125) Parlay +133 Stake $100 Total Return $233.04Using our parlay calculator, you can see the potential payout for tying bets together in a parlay.
Futures: Betting on teams' tournament hopesAmong 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, Kansas opened with the best odds to win March Madness at +1,000. Duke (+1,200) and Kentucky (+1,600) rounded out the Top 3. Odds shift throughout the season and are available until the end of March Madness.
How to bet on March MadnessMarch 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 strategiesNow 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 bet1
Research available games matchups on our scores and matchups pageOur 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.
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Find the best college basketball odds using our odds comparison toolMaking 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.
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Login/Sign up for a sportsbook in your areaSigning 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.
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Make your betAfter 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 oddsHere 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 contestWant 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 beginnersCovers' 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 forumWant 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 FAQsHow do you bet on college basketball?
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).
How do you bet on the point spread for college basketball?
You pick if the favorite covers a certain winning margin or if the underdog will lose by less than that gap.
Is overtime included in college basketball bets?
College basketball moneyline bets include overtime. Betting the second half also includes overtime.
How long are college basketball games?
College games tend to be shorter than NBA matches, lasting just over two hours.
How long is overtime in college basketball?
Overtime in college basketball games is five minutes.
How many periods in college basketball?
There are two halves, consisting of 20 minutes each.
What channel is college basketball on?
You can watch college basketball on ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS, TBS, and TNT. You can also stream games online on several platforms.
Pages related to this topic40 Players, Coaches Who Will Shape The 2023-24 Men's College Basketball Season
John Fanta
College Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter
We are officially 40 days away from tipping off the 2023-24 men's college basketball season.
With practices revving up this week, and conference media days and preseason polls looming, it won't be long until the road to crowning a champion in April begins.
The state of the sport is healthy and far from predictable. Just look at the collection of teams at the Final Four this past year, with UConn coming out with the title in Houston after outlasting San Diego State, Florida Atlantic and Miami.
Name, image and likeness has made an impact and produced offseason bidding wars for players. But if anything, college basketball's offseason chaos has given the sport more storylines during downtimes on the calendar. And the financial component for college athletes has led the reigning national player of the year to elect to return to school in back-to-back seasons. Before last year, when Kentucky star Oscar Tshiebwe returned to Lexington, that had not occurred since Tyler Hansbrough did so in Chapel Hill in 2008.
The defending national player of the year heading into this season is Purdue's Zach Edey, and he's a fitting candidate to kick off a new preseason feature to our coverage this year: The FOX Sports College Hoops A-List.
This is a collection of 40 figures — listed in no particular order — who will mold the 2023-24 season. We certainly couldn't hit everyone, but here's our crack at it. Agree or disagree? Tweet @CBBONFOX and @John_Fanta to let us know what you think.
1. Zach Edey, Purdue
The 7-foot-4, 300-pound center is the face of college basketball. To think that Edey averaged 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 61% from the field and is still in college basketball is wild. His return is a total gain for everyone in West Lafayette and casual followers, and it's a complete nightmare for the rest of the Big Ten. After sweeping all six major national player of the year honors last season, Edey's last college goal is clear: avenge last year's shocking loss to 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson and charge the program on a deep NCAA Tournament run.
2. Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
If I had told you 10 years ago that a three-time All-Big Ten selection and a 2021 All-American was still in college after averaging 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, you may have been a little surprised. Part of that, of course, is the current age of the NBA, as traditional post players are less coveted. Hunter Dickinson left Michigan for the transfer portal instead of the pros, eventually picking Bill Self and the Jayhawks. The splash addition of Dickinson in Lawrence combined with the returns of point guard Dajuan Harris, wing Kevin McCullar and forward K.J. Adams, and the addition of sharpshooter Nick Timberlake, are all reasons Kansas could very well be the preseason No. 1 team in the country.
3. Kyle Filipowski, Duke
The Blue Devils have an argument to be the No. 1 team in the country because Jon Scheyer enters his second year as head coach with an incredible sophomore class highlighted by Filipowski. The 7-footer, who won ACC Freshman of the Year, was the only first-year player to average at least 15 points and nine rebounds per game. Many draft experts had the big man going somewhere around the 15-20 range in the NBA Draft, if not higher. It's not common for a player of that status to return to school. With Filipowski and a loaded core, the Blue Devils have a strong chance to win the program's first national championship since 2015.
4. Armando Bacot, North Carolina
In the last two seasons, no player has been more important to his team than Bacot. North Carolina went from being an 8-seed to reaching the national championship game, then went from being the preseason No. 1 team … to missing the Big Dance altogether. Bacot has seen it all, while at the same time achieving history of his own. It's wild to think Bacot is already North Carolina's all-time leading rebounder with 1,335 boards and 68 double-doubles.
Can UNC bounce back? That starts with Bacot's leadership.
5. Tyson Walker, Michigan State
Over the final eight games of Michigan State's 2022-23 season, Walker averaged 18.6 points and 3.8 assists per game. He powered the Spartans to the Sweet 16 with his 23-point performance in the win over a Big East champion Marquette team. In essence, he is the closer for Tom Izzo.
It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Spartans playing in Arizona this April, as they also return A.J. Hoggard, Jaden Akins and Malik Hall, and bring in star recruit Xavier Booker.
6. Tyler Kolek, Marquette
The reigning Big East Player of the Year is back at Marquette, and the Golden Eagles have championship expectations again with him at the point guard spot. All Kolek did last season was tally 270 assists to just 90 turnovers while leading Shaka Smart's team to the conference regular season and tournament crowns. In the Big East Tournament, he averaged 18.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists en route to the Most Outstanding Player honor at Madison Square Garden. The senior point guard fits Smart's system and program well and plays mistake-free basketball.
7. Isaiah Collier, USC (and a note on Bronny James)...
The No. 1 ranked freshman in college basketball is a USC Trojan. It's going to be fascinating to see just how good Collier, the 6-5 guard, three-time Georgia Mr. Basketball honoree and Naismith High School Player of the Year, ends up being in his one-and-done season in Los Angeles. He joins veteran guard Boogie Ellis in a backcourt that is filled with options, with one hovering storyline over the Trojans as well: the status of Bronny James. Will we see the 4-star freshman guard step on the hardwood in a college basketball game following his cardiac arrest incident in July? Regardless, Collier will impact this USC team, and it's an interesting wrinkle that the top freshman in the country doesn't reside at a blue-blood institution this time around.
8. Donovan Clingan, UConn
The pride of Bristol, Connecticut, Clingan is a dream for UConn to have on its side.
The 7-2 center looks poised to take over as the main option on the interior after Adama Sanogo held that role on Connecticut's fifth national title team last season. In just 13 minutes per game, Clingan averaged seven points and six rebounds. He blocked a shot for right around every seven minutes he played. He could very well be a contender for Big East Player of the Year, All-American status and everything in between.
9. Max Abmas, Texas
His numbers are downright amazing, and he's already made history, having helped Oral Roberts reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in the school's history back in 2021. Abmas is the active leading scorer in the country with 2,562 career points in 4,280 minutes of college basketball. He is a great get for first-year Texas head coach Rodney Terry, and it's going to be fascinating to see what the fifth-year guard's final chapter entails in Austin.
10. Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois
The Big Ten has two all-conference first-team honorees from last year back for this season: Edey and Shannon. If Brad Underwood's team is going to be a consistent top-20 squad it's because of Shannon, who averaged 17.2 points per game last season. Yes, Coleman Hawkins and Dain Dainja will control the frontcourt and Quincy Guerrier was a nice add, but Illinois has backcourt questions beyond Shannon. He will have to put this team on his back.
11. Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
Last season, Gonzaga went 31-6 and reached the Elite Eight. As incredible as Drew Timme was, though, Mark Few just didn't have enough consistency from Rasir Bolton, Nolan Hickman and the Zags' guards. Enter Nembhard, who was also in the Elite Eight with Creighton. He's following in the footsteps of his older brother Andrew, who was the WCC Sixth Man of the Year during the Zags' national runner-up season in 2020-21. The Zags will go as far as Nembhard takes them this upcoming year. He averaged 12.1 points, 4.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game and could very well be leading a top-15 team.
12. Caleb Love, Arizona
This is the most fascinating transfer storyline of the season. Love, an All-ACC Honorable Mention selection who ranks eighth all-time in UNC history with 200 made 3-pointers, essentially had a mutual parting of ways from Chapel Hill after a disastrous season. He was going to head to Michigan, but didn't have a sufficient number of credits to transfer from Chapel Hill.
Two weeks following the Wolverines saga, Love announced he was off to Arizona to play for Tommy Lloyd. He joins a program that has gone 61-11 over the last two seasons. That being said, he joins a core on the perimeter that includes Kylan Boswell, Jaden Bradley and Pelle Larsson. There is competition present for Love. Will he play under control? He's combined to turn the ball over 277 times in three years of college basketball. That has to change, and he's relying on Lloyd's coaching and a change of scenery to help.
13. Justin Moore, Villanova
Once he returned to the swing of things after an Achilles injury suffered the previous year, Moore showed just how much he means to Villanova. The Wildcats finished the season 7-3 in their final 10 games. Moore averaged 15 points per game, was clutch in key situations and more than anything, settled Villanova down. Now, the fifth-year guard charges a Villanova team that is stacked with Eric Dixon, transfers Tyler Burton, TJ Bamba, Hakim Hart and Lance Ware, along with sophomore point guard Mark Armstrong.
14. Kerr Kriisa, West Virginia
What a wild offseason in Morgantown with Bob Huggins' disastrous end to his Hall of Fame tenure. Interim head coach Josh Eilert gets an opportunity to run WVU, and he will rely on the Arizona transfer to lead the Mountaineers backcourt. Kriisa is a veteran guard, having averaged 9.9 points and 5.1 assists per game this past season. The bad news: turnovers. He totaled 91 giveaways this past season, close to three per game. Can Kriisa put his best basketball together as a senior and find his mojo in the Big 12?
15. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
You can't overstate how much the 7-1, 270-pound center means for Greg McDermott's Bluejays. A two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Kalkbrenner is an elite rim protector with 199 blocks in his three seasons. On the offensive end, he averaged 15.9 points and 6.1 rebounds this past season and is currently sixth in NCAA history with a 67% field goal percentage. Here's the thing about Creighton: The Jays are always known for being offensively efficient and having terrific guards. Kalkbrenner makes them elite defensively.
16. Tristan Da Silva, Colorado
Deion Sanders isn't the only superstar in Boulder, as Da Silva is one of the most skilled players in college basketball. With a 6-9 frame and an ability to knock down perimeter shots consistently, having made over 39% of his looks from beyond the arc this past season, Da Silva's return automatically makes Tad Boyle's team a Pac-12 title contender.
17. Xavier Johnson, Indiana
Coming off a broken foot that ended his season this past December, the Indiana point guard enters his sixth season of college basketball as the clear leader of Mike Woodson's Hoosiers. With Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino gone, Indiana needs Johnson to lead the new-look backcourt. He should be one of the best in the Big Ten in assists and is the big certainty for an IU team that has some other questions to answer.
18. Nijel Pack, Miami
It feels weird stating this about a team that followed up an Elite Eight appearance in 2022 with the school's first Final Four appearance in program history: The Miami Hurricanes are going to be a national contender yet again, and it doesn't feel like that's getting discussed enough. Pack is the headliner guard for the Canes. The 6-footer enters his senior year as a quick, explosive guard who's coming off winning NCAA Midwest Region Most Outstanding Player after he combined for 41 points in wins over Houston and Texas en route to the Final Four.
19. Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
After taking a major sophomore leap with the Aggies this past year and being named a consensus first-team All-SEC selection, Taylor enters his junior season as a star guard to lead Buzz Williams' squad in College Station. Taylor was one of three D-I players with 500-plus points, 125-plus assists and 50-plus steals while making 85% or better on free throw attempts.
20. Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
A two-time SEC All-Defensive Team selection, Zeigler fits Rick Barnes' system incredibly well and is great at making plays for others, having averaged 5.4 assists with 10.7 points per game this past year. The issue: the tough, 5-9 guard's status is up in the air as he is working his way back from an ACL tear suffered last February against Arkansas. If Zeigler is healthy, he can elevate Tennessee to being an SEC title team and a Final Four dark horse contender.
21. Lamont Butler, San Diego State
He made the buzzer-beater of the college basketball season last year, lifting the Aztecs to their first-ever national championship game appearance.
Well, Butler is back and will help lead SDSU's backcourt on a team that still has three of their top four scorers back from a year ago and added rising junior guard Reese Dixon-Waters from USC. Look for Butler to be a double-digit scorer in his senior season and one of the faces that comes up when next March rolls around for his heroics on college basketball's biggest stage last April.
22. Jahmir Young, Maryland
Young transferred from Charlotte to the Terrapins in 2022 to help head coach Kevin Willard put Maryland basketball back on the map and taste the NCAA Tournament. Young not only experienced March Madness, but he helped guide the Terps to a first-round win over West Virginia. The fifth-year guard will be one of the best in his conference and has the burst-ability to get buckets in bunches with nine 20-plus point performances this past year.
23. Jon Scheyer, Duke
While reeling in a combined seven five-star recruits in his first two years at the helm has been impressive, Scheyer stands out even more for the high-impact returning stars on his roster. After a 27-win season and an early first-weekend exit in the NCAA Tournament, there's unfinished business for Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, Mark Mitchell, Filipowski & Co. There's a lot in place that would suggest Scheyer could lead the Blue Devils to a Final Four. We'll see how he handles the critical situations of the season with a year under his belt now.
24. Rick Pitino, St. John's
There was not a more interesting offseason coaching move in the country than Pitino returning to Madison Square Garden and taking the St. John's job. Everywhere the 71-year-old Hall of Famer has gone, he's won. That's what makes this so intriguing, because the Big East-based Red Storm have been irrelevant for the better part of the last two decades and are without an NCAA Tournament win since 2000. Pitino has overhauled the roster with high-impact transfers Jordan Dingle, Chris Ledlum and Daniss Jenkins, among others. He's elevated the game count at Madison Square Garden this year to eight contests, the most for the Johnnies since the 2014-15 campaign. Pitino could very well snap that March Madness drought with a top-25 caliber team.
25. Eric Musselman, Arkansas
It's really incredible what the 58-year-old has done in four years with the Razorbacks. I love this stat: Before 2021, Arkansas had not appeared in a Sweet 16 since 1996. Musselman has led the program to three consecutive appearances and two Elite Eight slots in the last three years. He consistently wins the transfer portal season, and this year was no different, not to mention Devo Davis and Trevon Brazile are back.
26. John Calipari, Kentucky
Calipari has the No. 1 recruiting class in the country with Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw and DJ Wagner highlighting the group. Bradshaw has a foot injury that remains concerning, which will be a situation to monitor. Having veterans Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell certainly helps, but here's the fact of the matter: In a world where being old is what wins in March, Calipari is still mostly relying on youth. The Wildcats haven't reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in five seasons. Can Cal break that drought? The pressure is on.
27. Bill Self, Kansas
He's the complete package and will have the No. 1 team in the country heading into the season. If the Jayhawks can win it all in April, Self will join Roy Williams, Jim Calhoun, Bob Knight, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski and John Wooden as the only coaches in men's college basketball history with three or more titles.
28. Dan Hurley, UConn
The head coach of the defending national champions has a reloaded Huskies team with Clingan, Alex Karaban and Tristen Newton back, sharpshooter transfer Cam Spencer added to the fold, and the nation's No. 5 recruiting class.
29. Dusty May, FAU
What an interesting and refreshing case Dusty May is in college hoops. From serving under Bob Knight as an undergraduate manager at Indiana, to 13 years as an assistant, to getting his head coaching chance in 2018, May's journey is remarkable. The fact he kept FAU's Final Four roster together is extraordinary in the transfer portal age. He and the Owls will be firmly in the spotlight now, playing one of the best non-conference slates in the country.
30. Kyle Neptune, Villanova
It's a massive Year 2 for Neptune, who struggled in his first season at the helm of the Wildcats as they missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012. There's no shortage of talent. Can he get all the pieces to come together?
31. Adrian Autry, Syracuse
When you search Adrian Autry's name on Google, one of the automated questions that comes up is: "Will he play zone defense?"
That sums up what it's like to follow Jim Boeheim, whose 47-year run as Syracuse's head coach ended in March. Autry has said he will go to much more man-to-man defense and that the Orange will look different under him. Autry finally gets his chance to show that he can be a head coach in college hoops, and he has two high-level guards to work with in Judah Mintz and Notre Dame transfer JJ Starling.
32. Tom Izzo, Michigan State
The Hall of Famer has something serious cooking in East Lansing. The Spartans are coming off a really strong finish, making a 15th appearance in the Sweet 16 under Izzo. They've got all of their major pieces back and a top-tier recruiting class. Could Izzo be the one to snap the Big Ten's title curse? It's certainly possible, and the storybook feels like it still has another big chapter in store for Izzo.
33. Matt Painter, Purdue
He's one of the best coaches in the sport, but nationally, the narratives don't reflect that right now because of the loss last March to 16-seed FDU. That's what makes this year the most fascinating of his head coaching career. How much did he learn from that historic NCAA Tournament defeat? Can he shut up the critics and lead Edey and the Boilers on a Final Four run? He'll be under the microscope entering March Madness next year — fair or not.
34. Mick Cronin, UCLA
Cronin has done a great job in Westwood in his four years leading the Bruins, with three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances and a Final Four run in 2021, but the 2023-24 season will be his biggest challenge yet as Jaime Jaquez and Tyger Campbell are gone. Sophomore guard Dylan Andrews, big man Adem Bona and 7-3 freshman Aday Mara, who is ranked 15th in the 247 Sports recruiting rankings, will be tasked with keeping things moving.
35. Scott Drew, Baylor
There are some unknowns with the Bears heading into this season, but with the No. 4 recruiting class in the country this season, including highly touted guard Ja'Kobe Walter, plus transfers RayJ Dennis and Jayden Nunn — not to mention Jonathan Tchamwa-Tchatchoua returning — you can't count out Drew and his Bears.
36. Mike Woodson, Indiana
The upcoming season, his third at the helm in Bloomington, will be Woodson's most challenging. He has his point guard, Johnson, back in the fold and brought in big men Kel'el Ware from Oregon and highly touted freshman Mackenzie Mgbakpo. Will the Hoosiers have enough perimeter shooting?
37. Hubert Davis, North Carolina
His first season saw the highest of highs seemingly out of nowhere, as he led the Tar Heels to the national championship game. His second year featured the lowest of lows with dysfunction and disappointment. So, Davis has seen it all in a short period, but he did a nice job bringing in transfers that I believe will fit in well. If all the pieces connect correctly, this could be a team that contends at the top of the ACC and is in the top 20-25.
38. Kim English, Providence
He is regarded as one of college basketball's rising stars and takes over a Providence program that has an expectation to contend in the Big East and make the NCAA Tournament. He has Bryce Hopkins, a Big East Player of the Year candidate, as well as Swiss Army knife guard Devin Carter back, along with a nice set of additions to the roster. We'll see how English handles the gauntlet of the Big East.
39. Ed Cooley, Georgetown
January 27, 2024 will be the wildest atmosphere in college basketball when Cooley has to return to Providence after being the first coach to leave one Big East school for another this past March. Cooley was synonymous with Providence, and Friars followers feel betrayed.
As for Cooley and his new stop, it's been a while since we've talked about the Hoyas in a positive light because they've been in the darkness for years. This doesn't look like an NCAA Tournament team this upcoming season, as size is a concern. But the backcourt carries upside and Cooley has proven an ability to grind out wins in the Big East. Regardless, Georgetown is no longer irrelevant.
40. Kelvin Sampson, Houston
The Big 12 has already been college basketball's best conference in recent years. Add in a program that prides itself on toughness and physicality, and it only adds to the rich competitive nature of the league. It's going to be fascinating to see how the Cougars, who look like a top-10 team, fare in their inaugural year in the Big 12. Life without Marcus Sasser presents challenges, but Sampson made additions with Baylor transfer LJ Cryer and Temple transfer Damian Dunn to join Jamal Shead in the backcourt.
John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him on Twitter @John_Fanta.
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Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and moreHow To Bet On College Basketball – NCAAB Betting Guide And Tips
Whether you're just into March Madness, follow your local state team religiously, or have just watched your first NCAA game, our guide on how to bet on college basketball will help you find that all-important edge.
Our experts provide the latest college basketball betting tips and will outline the best way to learn how to bet on NCAAB games. We'll teach you the finer points of NCAAB betting strategies and reveal the 10 best sportsbooks for betting on college basketball in the US.
You can learn how to bet on college basketball on two different platforms: retail sportsbooks and online US sports betting apps. Retail sportsbooks are located all over the country and are typically found within licensed casinos. Online sportsbooks can be accessed via desktop, mobile browser, or a native app.
The college season begins in November and culminates with the March Madness tournament which determines the national champion and is well-known for its notable upsets where the underdog has overcome the favorite.
How College Basketball Odds WorkYou'll need a basic understanding of odds to fully understand how to bet on a college basketball game. For each market, there will be a favorite and an underdog. The favorite will have the shortest odds providing the lowest payout, while the underdog will have long odds and the higher payout.
For example, looking at this Final Four Futures market, we can see that Kansas is the favorite at +350 while Duke is the underdog at +400.
Let's look at the math. Positive American odds depict how much you can win from a $100 bet. So, +350 means a $100 bet would net a $350 profit while +400 odds would see a $400 profit from a $100 bet.
Let's take a look at the futures market ahead of the NCAA basketball season. This market allows you to pick a team and bet on whether they will win the entire championship.
BetMGM has provided odds for each team with Kansas State the current favorite at +1,000. You would need Kansas to win for the bet to be successful.
Next, we'll take a look at a simple moneyline bet for a game between Michigan State and Houston.
Michigan State Houston -480 +335To bet on this market, you would simply need to pick which team you think will win the game. For example, if you were to bet $100 on the favorite (Michigan State), you would win $120.83 which is a profit of only $20.83. However, if you bet on the underdog (Houston) and they manage to pull off an upset, a $100 bet would stand to win $435 – a profit of $335.
How to Bet on A College Basketball GameBetting on any NCAAB game is remarkably simple if you choose to bet at any of our recommended sportsbooks. The sign-up process is quick, and placing a bet is highly intuitive.
BetMGM is one of our most trusted partners, so we'll use the top mobile sports betting app in our example below.
1. Register at BetMGMUse one of our provided links to go to the BetMGM homepage. Click on the gold "Register" button that can be found at the top of the screen. Enter your personal details, including your social security number (SSN).
You can also download the BetMGM mobile betting app if you prefer. Simply head to either the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and search for BetMGM sportsbook. Click "Get" or "Install" to download and install the platform to your home screen.