NCAAM Specials Betting Odds and Lines

NCAAM (NCAA men’s basketball) Specials are a type of futures bet that run at certain times during the season or when a specific event prompts them, giving bettors the chance to predict the outcome of those said events.

How do NCAAM Specials Work?

NCAAM Specials are similar to typical futures bets, which are longer-term bets that cash out following the event or season rather than following one game.

A specials bet may have two or more betting options, depending on the type of special given.

In the case of an event taking place, the sportsbook will likely represent each option with positive or negative odds. A favored outcome will be indicated with negative odds while the underdog is represented by positive odds, with the higher the number indicating the greater the favorite.

When there are more than two possible outcomes for a special, such as who the next coach for a team may be, college basketball odds are more likely to be all positive, unless one outcome is much more likely, which would then get negative odds. In the case of all positive odds, the lower the positive number, the greater the favorite.

Betting Strategy

When betting on NCAAM Specials, there are a few strategies one can use to get the most out of their bet.

Of course, what strategy a bettor uses also depends on what type of special they are betting on, as to whether a team winning a certain number of games is different from who will be the next head coach of a college team.

When betting on the former, doing research on the team you’re betting on is key. A bettor should know what players are returning to the team, how it did in the prior season, and what kind of schedule it will face in the upcoming season to help inform their bet, as they are all major components of a successful season.

For more rumor-based bets, such as the next coaching hire, bettors should look into who is being interviewed and what basketball insiders are saying. Researching who is the best fit for the school is another solid strategy to help bettors with their wager.

Prop Bets

Prop bets are also available when betting on NCAAM Specials, particularly player props. Bettors can make predictions on what kind of statistics a player will record during a full season of play and are another way to get involved in the game.

The main option to betting on NCAAM Specials is through futures bets, as most NCAAM Specials bets are predictions on season outcomes or specific events during the season.

Futures bets are represented through positive and negative odds, with negative odds indicating a favored outcome and positive odds representing an underdog.

For example, if a person were to bet on Kansas winning 30 games this season, college basketball lines would have two options. The Jayhawks may be set to win under 30 games, with -200 odds, while the over bet would get +300 odds. This means a bettor would have to wager $200 on Kansas winning less than 30 games to win $100 while they would win $300 on a $100 bet if the Jayhawks won less than 30 games.

A different kind of NCAAM Special can have more than two outcomes and is usually represented with all positive odds, with the lower the number indicating the greater the favorite.

For example, with West Virginia’s Bob Huggins now out, the Mountaineers now have Josh Eilert as the interim coach. Eilert may be favored to earn the full-time head coaching position, but others could get consideration as well. Hypothetically, Eilert could be favored at +250 odds, but UAB’s Andy Kennedy could get consideration after the season as well at hypothetical +400 odds. A $100 bet on Eilert would win $250 while a bettor would win $400 on Kennedy with the same bet if either were to be correct.