College Basketball Lines Legend
What Are College Basketball Futures?
College basketball futures are essentially wagers on the outcome of NCAA basketball events that are still a ways away like NCAA Championship odds. NCAAB futures open prior to the start of the regular season, and before any schedule is released. College basketball futures run right through the March Madness Tournament until a team is crowned as National Champions and the “One Shining Moment” song is played.
Sports betting on this season-long college basketball futures market can be boat loads of fun, but beware that NCAA futures odds fluctuate for all teams throughout the duration of the season. Oddsmakers adjust their NCAA basketball futures to reflect the latest results, injuries, and any other basketball betting news that impact betting odds. However, the odds you place your college basketball futures wager at are the same odds at which it will pay out, even if those odds move after your basketball bets were placed.
College Basketball National Championship Betting
Which team will cut down the mesh at the end of March Madness and win the next national championship? Oddsmakers offer college basketball futures lines on almost every team during the season.
A top-five ranked team might have +300 odds to win the NCAA Tournament, while a lousy team might be at +6000. Let’s say the Gonzaga Bulldogs are favored to win the NCAAB Championship with odds of +300. You would have to bet $100 to win $300 for a $400 payout if the Zags win the NCAA basketball national championship. You would get your $100 back, plus your winnings of $300.
College Basketball Championship Odds
If a long-shot like Louisville had +6000 odds to win the NCAA Tournament, a $100 bet on the Cardinals would win you $6,000 for a payout of $6,100 if they wound up victorious. You would get your $100 back plus your winnings of $6,000. Not too shabby right? It’s risk versus reward when betting on NCAA basketball futures underdogs as opposed to favorites to win.
NCAAB Conference Tournament Betting
With college basketball futures, you can wager on conference winners. Online sportsbooks release odds to win each of the high major conferences. With over 30 conferences in total, the Power 6 conferences include:
- • ACC
- • Big 12
- • Big East
- • Big 10
- • Pac-12
- • SEC
College Basketball Player Awards Betting
NCAA futures odds also allow you to bet on the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year as the country’s top player. The Duke Blue Devils have produced the most Naismith winners followed by the UCLA Bruins, and the North Carolina Tar Heels.
When wagering on the Naismith Player of the Year Award, it’s important to know that seniors have won this award more often than freshman, sophomores or juniors, and with more schools adopting small ball lineups, forwards and guards typically have a better chance of coming away with this honor.
If you fancy the Final Four, you can also bet on the Most Outstanding Player for the NCAA basketball tournament. Most often than not, the MOP is awarded to the winning team’s best player.