College Basketball Parlays
A college basketball parlay is a single wager that combines two or more bets on one ticket.
For the parlay bet to be successful, each individual bet must be a win. If one of the bets is unsuccessful, then the whole NCAA basketball parlay is graded as a loss.
Parlay strategy is different compared to solely betting straight wagers and from bets such as teasers, which alter the numbers in point spreads and totals.
Read our in-depth guide and learn everything you need to know about NCAA basketball parlays.
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How Do NCAA Basketball Parlays Work?
The core strategies or rules of parlays do not change when wagering on college basketball parlays. Like all other parlay bets, all selections or legs of the parlay must win for the bet to be graded as a winner.
Of course, this is why payouts on parlays are much higher than payouts on straight bets.
Two Straight Wagers Vs. Two-Team Parlay
Let’s take a look at the difference in payouts between placing two straight wagers in college basketball versus putting them in a two-team parlay.
Two Straight Wagers
- Duke -7.5 (-110)
- Gonzaga -2.5 (-110)
Let’s place two $110 to win $100 wagers on both of these CBB sides. These bets would look like this:
- Duke -7.5 $110 to win $100
- Gonzaga -2.5 $110 to win $100
If we win both of these bets, our net profit would be $200, as we would win $100 from each bet and see our $110 stakes returned.
If we win one of these bets and lose the other, we would end up losing $10. As our winning bet would return $100 and the losing bet would cost us -110 (100-110= -10).
Finally, losing both of these bets would leave us losing a total of $220.
Two-Team Parlay
Okay, now let’s look at the same bets, but in a two-team parlay. Most sites offer two-parlays at +260 or 2.6/1. Here is an example of a $200 two-team parlay using those odds with the same two bets.
- Duke -7.5 (-110)
- Gonzaga -2.5 (-110)
A $200 bet on this parlay would return $520 (200*2.6 = 520).
However, both bets must win for us to profit.
If either bet loses, either Duke -7.5 or Gonzaga -2.5, then we are out $200. Unlike our two straight wagers, it is all or nothing with the parlay. We can’t almost breakeven and lose just $10. Instead, we will win $520 or lose our $200 stake.
When it comes to pushes in parlays, if one leg of the parlay is a push, the parlay reverts to a lower number of NCAAB teams.
If one bet pushes in a 3-team parlay, it goes to a 2-team parlay. If one bet pushes in a two-team parlay and the other wager is a winner, it is graded as a single wager.
College Basketball Parlay Betting Strategies
Aside from the basics, there are a few ways to optimize your college basketball parlay bets.
Ultimately, it will come down to picking winners, but knowing the ins and outs of parlays and how to use them to maximize your profits will come in handy for anyone who bets NCAA basketball.
#1Parlay StrategyUse Parlays To Circumvent Betting Limits
This is always an excellent strategy when betting parlays but is especially valuable when betting college basketball.
Due to low betting limits in college basketball, parlays allow you to get more money down on numbers you like. For instance, if you max bet a side or total on a straight wager, you can always parlay it with another bet to get more money down on a bet that you love.
However, the one factor to consider when doing this is that it may draw red flags for risk management on your account.
#2Parlay StrategyLook For Correlation
Correlated parlays are far more popular when betting football, but this can be a strategy used when betting NCAA basketball, as well.
A correlated event means that when one outcome occurs, another is likely to happen. For instance, if it is gloomy outside, then it is expected to rain.
When it comes to college basketball, we can look to use this when one team might be defensive-minded and is likely to keep the game close, but also keep the game under the total.
For this subset to work, ideally, you would want a larger point spread number that separates the two teams.
#3Parlay StrategyAlways Get the Best Odds
Parlays already have a larger-than-normal advantage for the sportsbooks, so it’s important to be sure you’re getting the best price on your bets.
You should always be sure you’re getting the best parlay odds, but these don’t differ too much between sites. However, when placing parlays at multiple sportsbooks, be sure to line shop each bet.
Parlay payouts won’t change, but the odds available on each selection will vary between sportsbooks.
Safely Bet On NCAA Basketball Parlays At These Top Sites
Every online betting site offers NCAA Basketball parlays, but if this will be one of the markets you’re betting the most – choosing the right betting site will be vital.
Not only do you want an online sportsbook you can trust, but it will be essential to check the wagering limits for college basketball parlays and the odds.
Most betting sites will have the same odds on 2-3 team parlays, but there are exceptions. Seek those sites out and bet your parlays there.
| Rank | NCAAB Betting Sites | Deposit Bonus | Highlights | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Bovada |
Deposit Bonus 50% Up To $250 |
Highlights
|
Bet Now |
| 2 |
BetUS |
Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $2,500 |
Highlights
|
Bet Now |
| 3 |
Betonline |
Deposit Bonus 50% Up To $250 |
Highlights
|
Bet Now |
See Our Full List Of The Best College Basketball Betting Sites
Tips To Get Better At Picking NCAA Basketball Parlays
Betting and winning at college basketball parlay bets first takes the ability to pick winners when it comes to sides, totals, and moneylines.
From there, it’s about understanding the basics of parlay betting and putting them into practice.
If you can win by placing straight bets, you should do well in betting parlays on college hoops.
Stick To 2-3 Team Parlays
Parlays are not ideal when it comes to extracting maximum value from your bets and, in most cases, it is better to wager on the games individually, rather than tie them into a parlay.
With that said, there are some uses to betting parlays, but never more than 2-3 teams.
After this point, the advantage that the sportsbooks have is just too significant to overcome. As a general rule, regardless of the sport, never bet more than 2-3 teams in a parlay.
Use Parlays To Clear Bonuses
NCAA Bonuses are typically issued in the form of freeplay. Freeplay does not work the same way as a cash bonus or cash in your betting account, as it does not return the staked amount whether the wager is won or lost.
Since that is the case, it is best to get multiple wagers out of your freeplay funds. If you parlay them, instead of using them on straight wagers, this will increase your upside on bonuses that do not work the same way as bankroll funds.
Bet On Your NCAA Basketball Parlays At Offshore Sportsbooks
Offshore parlay odds are generally better than those in Las Vegas sportsbooks and those offered by NCAAB local bookies. For instance, with two-team parlays, Vegas sportsbooks payout +260 or 13/5 in fractional format.
You will find that most offshore online sportsbooks have payouts on two-team parlays at +264.
This may seem like only a small difference, but it adds up massively over hundreds or thousands of college basketball parlay bets.
