Betting on NCAA Basketball
Licensed Michigan sportsbooks book everything from college basketball moneylines, point spreads, totals, futures, and parlays. They also run bracket contests for March Madness.
NCAAB futures are available year-round and single-game wagering is an option throughout the regular season, conference tournaments and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, otherwise known as March Madness.
Here’s a look at the best college basketball bets and the top sportsbooks willing to take them.
Best College Basketball Betting Sites
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College basketball betting apps
With Michigan’s online sports betting market, you can bet on NCAA basketball with one of many Michigan betting apps, provided you are 21 or over and inside state lines. No other method is more convenient for betting on college basketball lines because you can access these apps and place bets anywhere inside Michigan with internet access.
You will need to download an app, register for an account, and deposit before you can bet. However, the top Michigan sports betting apps on the market will make this an easy process.
Most apps are available for download to iPhone/iPad and Android devices through sports betting websites. Signing up for an account requires you to provide a minimal amount of personal and account information, including the following:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Email address
- Social Security number, or the last four digits
Of course, you’re also going to want to sign up using our exclusive promo code, ensuring you receive the best sign-up bonus available.
Finally, you can deposit money in your sports betting account using one of several convenient methods of deposit. These include online bank transfers, cash at certain retail locations, credit cards, debit cards, and popular third-party e-wallets like PayPal.
After that, you will be ready to browse through the betting markets on the app and tap on any bets you wish to make.
Is it legal to bet on college basketball in Michigan?
Yes! As long as you are 21, inside the state, and betting with a licensed Michigan sports betting operator, you can bet on college basketball in Michigan.
In December 2019, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a package of gambling expansion bills legalizing online casinos in Michigan, online poker, and sports betting.
Since no restrictions were placed on NCAA betting inside the state, these laws effectively allow licensed online and retail sportsbooks to offer moneyline, spread, and totals bets on every Division I college basketball game. There are also multi-game NCAA basketball parlays, futures allowing you to wager on the eventual winner of the NCAA Tournament, and traditional March Madness bracket contests. In Michigan, college basketball player props are also legal to wager on.
How college basketball betting works
Basic NCAA basketball betting is quite easy. Putting traditional March Madness bracket contests aside for a minute, here’s a list of the basic ways you can bet on college basketball:
Moneyline: A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the game. All other factors besides the final score are irrelevant to the bet. Moneylines are denoted by the three-digit number next to each team’s name. A negative number means that the team is the favorite, and the number listed is how much you’d have to bet in order to win $100. Conversely, a positive number denotes the underdog in the match, and the three-digit number is your payout for a successful $100 wager.
Spread: In this type of wager, you are betting on how accurately you believe the sportsbook has estimated the margin of victory. The book will set the spread before the game by assigning positive and negative versions of the same number to each team in a match. The team with the negative number is the favorite, and in order for your bet to win, the team must win the game by more points than the estimate. A positive-numbered team is the favorite, and a winning bet on this crew requires them to lose by fewer points than the spread.
Totals: A totals bet is better known as the “over-under” because you are wagering whether the combined point total in a game will be over or under the sportsbook’s estimate.
Parlays: In parlay betting, you fold multiple wagers into one single bet. Each constituent wager in a parlay is known as a leg. These bets are high-risk, high-reward situations because it is necessary for every single leg to be chosen correctly in order for the bet to pay out. The risk is so great that successful parlays with greater than 10 legs are often newsworthy, both for their unlikeliness and their resulting payout.
Live betting: Live betting, on in-play wagering, is a type of proposition wager on games that are already in progress. Thanks to the technology of the day, online sportsbooks in Michigan can offer bets on events as small as single plays. So, it’s not uncommon for a single NCAA game to have more than one hundred possible wagers.
Player Props: Wager on a single statistic for an individual player. That could be an over/under for points scores, rebounds, assists, or some combination of the statistics.
Best college basketball betting sites
Michigan has no shortage of sportsbooks. For college basketball fans looking to get in on the action, though, here are some of our favorites.
DraftKings Sportsbook: Best for NCAAB futures
Think you know who will win the Big Ten Tournament? Do you believe Michigan State will reach the Final Four? DraftKings is the best platform for locking in futures bets during the college basketball season. You’ll see some of the most competitive odds in the industry here, as well as lines that update regularly. DraftKings boasts one of the deepest markets for futures bets, too — great for basketball, but specifically NCAAB.
- Early lines and odds for college basketball futures keeps you ahead of the game.
- Futures markets update frequently.
- Bet on more outcomes than just championship winners.
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BetMGM Sportsbook: Best for NCAAB live betting
Many bettors like placing wagers after a college basketball game starts in order to get better odds. BetMGM provides the perfect platform to do so. It’s simple: BetMGM’s odds update instantly as a game flows, meaning you’re not delayed in placing your live bets. There’s no guessing involved, and you aren’t missing out on the perfect time to place your bet.
- Never miss an opportunity with real-time updates.
- Clean, user-friendly app interface provides bettors with easy navigation.
- Live bet various markets, such as point spreads, moneylines, player props, alternate lines, and more.
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BetRivers Sportsbook: Best for NCAAB prop bets
If you’re a fan of betting on player and team props, BetRivers is the sportsbook for you. A few years back, the operator launched what it calls “Prop Central.” It’s BetRivers way at reimagining the prop betting space and keeps things focused for bettors. You won’t need to go searching for prop bets, as they are laid out clearly.
- Prop bet odds update in real time.
- Save time instead of digging through an event’s page like you would with other sportsbooks.
- Plethora of college basketball prop bets, just in time for March Madness
- Up to $500 in Bet Credits
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Caesars Sportsbook: Best for NCAAB profit boosts
Caesars Sportsbook is one of the best platforms for players looking to cash in on profit boosts. Sportsbooks will offer these promotions as a way for you to earn more money on your bets. Caesars frequently utilizes these, especially for new customers. Even for current customers, Caesars will offer promotions using these profit boosts throughout the college basketball regular season and into March Madness.
- More bang for your buck with wagers.
- Profit boosts can be used on single-leg bets, parlays, futures, etc.
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FanDuel Sportsbook: Best for NCAAB same-game parlays
Think two or more wagers in a single game will both happen? FanDuel is one of the best in the biz when it comes to letting users crafter same-game parlays. The app makes it easy and keeps things simple by being crystal clear on which items can and can’t be combined into a parlay. You will get a full view of your betting slip as you add or remove legs of your parlay, letting you play around with your wager before officially submitting it.
- With a tap of your finger, you’ll know exactly what you can and can’t add to your parlay.
- FanDuel loves its parlays, so it frequently offers same-game parlay odds boosts.
- Combine just about anything, such as point spreads, team totals, player props, and even futures.
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How to bet on the NCAA Basketball Tournament
There are three ways to bet on conference tournaments and the NCAA’s March Madness, including:
- Brackets
- Futures
- Single game betting
Brackets
For the most part, bracket contests are how most people wager on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. You fill out a 68-team bracket prior to the start tournament, then submit it either into a paid pool or a free NCAA Tournament bracket contest. Many Michigan sportsbooks will run both.
Pick winners, enter one of the top brackets in the contest or pool, and you’ll pick up a share of the prize pool.
Futures
Michigan sportsbooks host futures markets which allow you to wager on teams to win a conference tournament or the National Championship. Futures markets are open year-round with odds that are adjusted throughout the season.
Single-game betting
Michigan sportsbooks allow you to bet on every single NCAA basketball game throughout the regular season, conference tournaments, and March Madness.
Betting on each game allows you the freedom to pick or choose your bets, whereas using a tournament bracket requires you to make picks for every game in the tournament.
Check out the best March Madness betting sites.
Where can you go to bet on College Basketball in Michigan?
Since you can now bet on College Hoops here in Michigan without issue, why not make a night of it? Here are some of the top retail outlets where you can watch and wager on NCAAB while browsing all of the latest odds and lines.
1. MGM Grand Detroit
- Name: BetMGM Sports Lounge
- Address: 1777 3rd Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
- Phone: (877) 888-2121
- Sportsbook hours: 7 days – 9 a.m – midnight
- Lounge hours: 7 days – 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.
- Online sportsbook: BetMGM in Michigan
You won’t miss a second of the action with 60 HDTVs on site. There are plenty of different seating options, six betting windows, 14 self-serve kiosks throughout the casino, as well as a full service bar for visitors to relax and enjoy.
2. MotorCity Casino Hotel / FanDuel Sportsbook
- Name: FanDuel Sportsbook
- Address: 2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
- Phone: (866) 782-9622
- Sportsbook hours: 7 days — 9 a.m. – midnight
- Online sportsbook: FanDuel Michigan
The launch of the FanDuel Sportsbook was met with much fanfare in March 2020. It’s easy to see why, with 67 HDTV’s, a sports ticker, six betting windows and 54 self-serve kiosks among the amenities waiting for visitors.
3. Hollywood Casino at Greektown / ESPN Bet
- Name: ESPN Bet
- Address: 555 E Lafayette St., Detroit, MI 48226
- Phone: (313) 223-2999
- Sportsbook hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (10 a.m. – midnight), Tuesday (2 p.m. – 9 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m. – 11 p.m.)
- Online sportsbook: ESPN Bet Michigan
ESPN Bet at Greektown offers up a total of 40 betting kiosks, 25 HDTVs and a 30’ video all for viewing all the daily sports action. Full dining options are included and its easily located at the top of the Grand Staircase inside Hollywood Casino at Greektown.
4. FireKeepers Casino / Dacey’s Sportsbook
- Name: Dacey’s Sportsbook
- Address: 11177 E Michigan Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49014
- Phone: (877) 352-8777
- Sportsbook hours: M-F: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. S/S: 9 a.m. – midnight
- Online sportsbook: FireKeepers Online Sportsbook
Dacey’s Sportsbook has received high marks from Casino Player magazine, and the praise is warranted. Beyond the standard betting windows and kiosks, there’s a bar and restaurant on site, as well as several large video screens to soak in all of the action.
These are four outstanding spots to watch and wager on the NFL, but there are several other stellar options to consider when looking for NFL lines in Michigan. Included on that list are Caesars Sportsbook at Turtle Creek Casino in Williamsburg, and the Four Winds Casino Sportsbook in New Buffalo.
Tips for betting on NCAA Basketball
NCAA basketball is fun to watch and even more fun to bet on. Of course, college basketball betting is infinitely more enjoyable when you’re winning.
These beginner betting tips should help:
- Focus: There are more than 350 DI basketball programs across the country. So, it’s almost impossible to closely follow everything happening in the world of NCAA basketball. It’s best to pick a team or two, possibly local schools. Follow and bet on them exclusively. Focusing your research can lead to improved win rates.
- Watch games: Observe as many NCAA basketball games as you can in order to turn your picks from random guesses into educated conjectures. Form betting opinions based on the data you uncover by watching teams play.
- Do some research: The internet is filled with college hoops information and you can use it to inform your picks. Check out CBS Sports, ESPN, FOX Sports, and/or local sports affiliates where you can study game summaries and statistics. Plus, use local resources, area newspapers, and local TV/radio stations to give yourself an edge.
- Make situational picks: Look for rivalry games, scheduling conflicts, and teams ripe for an upset because of the situation the schedule has put them in. You may find yourself a step ahead of oddsmakers by paying attention to more than just the current matchup.
- Look for movement: If a line moves significantly prior to game time, there is an opportunity to make money by “fading” the public. Stick to oddsmakers original predictions and take advantage of movements in the line forced by public money.
Michigan NCAAB teams
Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines represent the Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. The Wolverines have played in 31 NCAA Tournaments. From those 31 appearances, Michigan has made it to the Final Four eight times, the Elite Eight 15 times, and the Sweet 16 an impressive 18 times.
Michigan won the 1989 National Championship behind the play of the tournament’s most outstanding player Glen Rice and coaching from Steve Fisher. Michigan beat Seton Hall, 80–79, in overtime in the championship game.
The Wolverines’ latest Final Four appearance came in 2018 when the team beat Loyola-Chicago in the semifinals and lost to Villanova in the championship game, 79–62.
The Wolverines are now coached by Dusty May. May took over for former head coach Juwan Howard before the start of the 2024-2025 NCAAB season.
Check out Wolverines basketball betting sites.
Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans represent East Lansing’s Michigan State University in the NCAA’s Big Ten Conference.
The Spartans have appeared in 37 NCAA Tournaments, including a stretch of 22 straight from 1998 to 2019, with two National Championships and 10 Final Four appearances. The Spartans 1977 National Championship team was led by basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson. The 2000 National Championship team was led by seniors Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson and coached by Tom Izzo.
The Spartans beat the Florida Gators, 89–76 in the 2000 title game.
Izzo is already a Hall of Fame coach and has long sought his elusive second national title.
Check today’s Michigan St. basketball betting sites.
More Michigan NCAA Division I Basketball
Other Michigan-based NCAA Division I Basketball programs include:
- Detroit Mercy Titans (Horizon League)
- Oakland Golden Grizzlies (Horizon League)
- Central Michigan Chippewas (Mid-American Conference)
- Eastern Michigan Eagles (Mid-American Conference)
- Western Michigan Broncos (Mid-American Conference)
Get started betting on NCAA basketball in Michigan
Before the NCAA Tournament tips off, keep a close eye on how the conference tournaments play out and which teams look like they’re hitting their stride at the right time. And while you try to find that cinderalla or future national champion, monitor the sportsbooks for different March Madness and tournament promotions. That way, you’ll be all set for NCAA basketball betting in MI when the season reaches its peak.