The college basketball season begins in November and runs until March Madness takes center stage in the betting community for a month. College basketball generates significant betting handle over these five months, and there are so many games to choose between it’s easy to get action and attempt to find sharp bets.
Texas has several quality college basketball teams. If you live in Texas and are interested in betting on college basketball online then you’re in the right place. Below I will touch on the regulatory climate of betting in Texas, explain the three most popular college basketball bets and explain where you can bet.
Where To Bet
Sports betting is not legal in Texas. Legalizing it would require a constitutional amendment approved by lawmakers and voters. Licensed sportsbooks in neighboring states are an option if you travel there, since you must be physically located in a legal state to place a bet.
Other options include prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, daily fantasy sports apps where they are available, and offshore sportsbooks, which accept US customers but are not licensed or regulated by any state. Our guide to sports betting in the USA breaks down every option.
College Basketball Betting in Texas
It is not legal to operate a sportsbook within the State of Texas. Sports betting bills gained traction during the 2023 legislative session, but no bills advanced to the finish line. This year (2025) the Texas Legislative met again, but several prominent politicians stated early on in the session they would oppose any expansion of sports betting regulation, so no progress was made. The Texas Legislature only meets every two years, so 2027 is now the earliest sports betting can be legalized in the state.
That said, Texas residents can still place bets on college basketball through offshore betting sites that are licensed and regulated outside of the US, while accepting American bettors.
Check out our Texas sports betting section for more details about the regulatory climate for sports betting in the state.
Popular College Basketball Betting Options
There are three common college basketball bets that are featured for each game. These are the point spread, money line (to win), and total (over/under) betting markets. Below I will use a game from early this season between Texas and Duke as an example to explain each of these three popular college basketball bets.
- Point Spread – Duke is a 9.5 point favorite in the example (-9.5). A point spread bet on Duke -9.5 would win if Duke wins the game by 10 or more points. Texas is a 9.5 point underdog (+9.5). A spread bet on Texas +9.5 would win if Texas wins the game outright or loses by 9 or fewer points.
- Money Line (To Win) – Duke is a -480 favorite to win the game outright. This means every $480 risked on Duke money line would win $100 if they earned the victory. Texas is a +350 underdog, which means every $100 risked on Texas would win $350 if they pulled off the upset.
- Total (Over/Under) – The total is set at 152.5 points. Over bets would win if 153 or more points are scored in the game by both teams combined. Under bets would win if 152 or fewer points are scored.
Check out our understanding betting odds page if you don’t understand the American odds format used above.
How To Bet On College Basketball in Texas – 3 Step Guide
Whichever option fits you, getting set up only takes a few minutes. Here’s how it works.
Step 1. Choose Where To Bet
From Texas, where there are no licensed sportsbooks, prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket and daily fantasy apps are the main options for college basketball games. If you travel, licensed sportsbooks in nearby Louisiana and Arkansas take bets while you are inside those states.
Step 2. Create and Verify Your Account
Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Licensed sportsbooks require you to be 21 or older in most states, while most prediction markets and DFS apps accept players from 18. Regulated platforms verify your identity and check your location, so have your ID handy.
Step 3. Bet On College Basketball
Head to the college basketball (NCAAB) section, choose the market you want, such as the point spread, money line or total, and enter your stake. Check the potential payout on the bet slip before you confirm. Most regulated platforms let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Tagged With : College Basketball betting • Texas betting