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College Basketball Prop Bets

College basketball prop bets are betting markets that are unrelated to the final score in an NCAA basketball game.

Instead of betting on the outcome of the game, with a prop bet you wager on things like which team will score the first basket or how many rebounds a player might record in the game.

If you’re betting college hoops without focusing on props, you might be missing out on some extra profits.

Read on to learn how to place profitable NCAAB prop bets and add a new market to your college basketball handicapping repertoire.

NCAA Basketball Prop Bets Explained

Prop bets revolve around different aspects of the game or event, not on the point spread or total, but as far as odds, grading, and general betting rules, they work the same.

However, you should know that prop bets offer a much larger edge compared to sides and totals.

The odds when it comes to prop bets can be a lot softer compared to other types of bets where much larger amounts of money are wagered.

Oddsmakers have to pay a lot more attention to sides, totals or moneylines, due to the betting volume in college basketball and can’t focus nearly as much on props.

That is why props offer an interesting opportunity for high profits.

Popular College Basketball Prop Bets

There are several types of NCAA basketball prop bets. The most popular bets are team prop bets, but many sites offer also props on individual players.

Let’s take a deeper look at these types of bets.

College Basketball Team Prop Bets

Team props will be centered on the team and are usually much more readily available than player props, at least for college basketball.

Compared to player props, these take far less work and are much less matchup-focused.

Let’s look at an example:

First Team To Score 10 Points

Bet	Odds
Duke Blue Devils	-140
North Carolina Tar Heels	+120

This bet is simply a wager on which team will score 10 points first. It is as straightforward as they come.

The Duke Blue Devils are the favorite here at -140 and the Tar Heels are the underdog at +120.

If we choose the correct team that gets to 10 points first, then we win our bet, otherwise, it is graded as a loss. Like most team props, it is impossible to push here.

It is worth noting that unless otherwise stated, all props will include any overtime play in their grading.

College Basketball Player Prop Bets

Player props are betting markets centered around individual player performances. This will be a player’s points, rebounds, assists, or several categories, such as points-rebounds-assists.

Some sportsbooks will even have a prop builder that allows you to build your own props or pit players against each other in specific categories.

Let’s take a look at an example:

Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State) Points

Bet	Odds
Over 21.5 Points	-115
Under 21.5 Points	-115

These props function similarly to an over/under or total. We’re betting on the number of points scored by Cade Cunningham of Oklahoma State. We can bet over or under his points scored in the game at 21.5.

The vigorish is -115 for both sides, which will change based on the oddsmakers view of the game, but for now, but both sides are -115 or $115 to win $100.

Since there is a half-point or hook involved in the bet, there cannot be a push. If we place a bet on Cunningham to score over 21.5 points, and he scores 22 or more, then we win our bet. Otherwise, it will be graded as a loss.

If we place a bet on him to score under 21.5 points, then he must score 21 points or fewer for our bet to be graded as a winner. If he does not, then the wager will be graded as a loss.

NCAA Basketball Championship Prop Bets

These are bets specific to the NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness propositions.

Typically, these are centered around the tournament itself, rather than individual games. Most have to do with seeding and which teams will advance. 

Here are a few examples:

• Will a No. 1 Seed win the NCAA Championship?
• Will a No. 8 Seed make it to the Final Four?
• Will the NCAA Championship winner be from the East Region?

There are a lot more options here and more up to the oddsmakers at a particular sportsbook.

The NCAA Tournament is the largest betting event of the year and there are a lot of props surrounding the event.

Top Sportsbooks For NCAAB Prop Betting In 2024

Ready to bet on NCAA basketball propositions online? Choose one of the top sportsbooks and start having fun.

Rank	NCAAB Betting Sites	Deposit Bonus	Highlights	Get Started
1	Bovada	Deposit Bonus 50% Up To $250	Highlights US Bettors Only VIP Program Low Rollover	Bet Now
2	BetUS	Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $2,500	Highlights Lots of bonuses Offers VIP program Reliable software	Bet Now
3	Betonline	Deposit Bonus 50% Up To $250	Highlights One of the largest sportsbooks online Large betting limits Post odds earlier than others	Bet Now

College Basketball Prop Betting Strategy

There are a few strategies you can use to maximize your edge on proposition bets. These bets already have a large edge for bettors who take the time to learn the markets and the sports.

Let’s look at some basic and advanced strategies for college basketball prop betting.

Betting Strat #1Find Sportsbooks With College Player Props

Yes, you need to FIND sportsbooks with college player props. This is far from the standard at most sports betting sites. While NBA player props are standard at most sites, this is not the case for the college game.

If you want to wager on college basketball player props all season – you’re going to need to do work to find sites that offer them.

Bovada Sportsbook is one of few major sites that have in-house college basketball player props.

Betting Strat #2Line Shopping Is A Must

Line shopping and using multiple betting sites is a must for all bettors, but it’s especially crucial for betting props.

Propositions have a much higher chance of being off-market or incorrect than other bets, such as sides and totals. Simply put, there is a lot more variation in the lines.

That means you need to have bankroll at a variety of sportsbooks with props available. A half-point or full point here and there adds up in a big way when it comes to player props.

Utilize the fast-paced nature of online betting to always get yourself the best price on each prop you place.

Betting Strat #3Knowledge Of The Sport Is King

There simply isn’t going to be a sport where you can gain a bigger edge by being ahead of the bookmakers with knowledge and news than college basketball.

Study the teams and players, focus on specific conferences, stay ahead of news on Twitter, and there’s a good chance you can trim your edge on college basketball props.

Limits are not high for props, especially college player props, so it’s a must to find multiple betting sites if you ever want to bet over a few hundred bucks on a single bet.

The oddsmakers know these markets are vulnerable to bettors who put in the time and beat them to the punch on the news, that’s why wagering limits are so slow.

If you understand the sport and follow it closely enough, you may be able to spot value in the lines without anyone else’s help.

NCAA Basketball Prop Betting FAQ