Henry V. Porter coined the phrase "March Madness" back in 1939 in an essay he wrote for the Illinois High School Association. It was picked up again by CBS reporter Brent Musburger in 1982 and later copyrighted by the NCAA and IHSA. Every year since then it has been used to describe the excitement of the 65 college basketball teams fighting their way to the Final Four and a chance championship title.



Betting on college basketball can be overwhelming. It's important to understand how college basketball odds work. Keeping up with the events that take place during the regular season can also be helpful. When setting college basketball odds, most experts go with point spreads and money lines.









Point spreads level the playing field between 2 teams. When it comes to wagering, the point spread is the handicap or the head start that the favorite team gives to the underdog. Another way to look at it is the number in which one team is favored to win over another.



The spread is set so that there is an equal number of money on both sides of the game. If line makers see that there is an large number of bets that favor one side, they move the spread up or down accordingly to level things out and keep it interesting. A money line is another way to set college basketball odds. A minus sign means you have to lay that amount to win, for example $100. A plus sign means you get that amount for every $100 wagered.



There are too many college basketball games happening during the regular season for anyone to follow carefully. When figuring college basketball odds, the bettor who chooses which games to play has the advantage, which is where handicapping skills are helpful.



It's better to focus on one particular conference and learn everything there is to know about those teams. NCAA basketball teams only play about 30 games in a season, unlike the NBA. This means traveling isn't as big of a deal. However, home court advantages are something to take into consideration. It's always good to consider a team's level of motivation and attitude when looking at the odds.



If you get a head start on the odds during round one of the tournament, you will have an advantage over people who set their odds a days in advance. Then for the rest of the tournament, watch the teams carefully as they make their way to the Final Four.

By: Ken Johnson

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