By Staff
Basketball is among the most popular sports around the world. Actually, FIBA claims that basketball has over 3.3 billion fans globally. However, rather than focusing on the whole sport, we are going to focus on a portion of it, college basketball. This is among the most popular leagues in the US and in recent years, globally. And actually, it is a favorite of a particular group of people we call punters.
But the question is, why is this college sport so popular among bettors that when the season starts, everyone is ‘eyes on the screens?’ You see, during the college basketball season, betting odds are just being discussed everywhere, and sportsbooks are offering bonuses, left, right and center, in order to attract punters to their side. Sites like casinobonusca.com are busy showcasing the best offers for bonuses given by punters.
But again, we ask the question, what makes college basketball so popular among sports bettors?
A deep pool of teams and games
One of the reasons behind college basketball being attractive to sports bettors is the fact that there are so many teams and games played throughout the season. In the 2024-25 season, there were 364 Division 1 teams participating. This means that the NCAA calendar was packed almost every day from November to April. This high frequency gives bettors an opportunity to identify value bets and take advantage of any discrepancies in betting lines.
During the season, a team might play between 35 and 40 games if it makes the NCAA tournament. If it doesn’t, it might play between 30 and 32 games. Now, putting that into perspective, there are over 5800 games played in each season. In fact, in the 2018/2019 season, David Worlock stated that there were 5,826 games played.
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Compare that with the NBA, which only has 30 teams, each playing 82 games per season. This means that in total, there are 1,230 games played.
Now, if you compare the two, which is a bigger feast for sports bettors?
Again, since there are many lesser-known matchups that remain unscrutinized by oddsmakers, there is more room for bettors to maximize on value bets when they do their homework.
March Madness
If you are a basketball bettor and have not experienced March Madness, then you probably are mad! This is the pinnacle of all basketball, better than the NBA playoffs. In fact, when you look at the viewership per game, you’d really be amazed.
In the 2024 NBA playoffs, the viewership dropped drastically to an average of 4.53 million viewers. On the other hand, the March Madness viewership was just going higher, averaging 9 million viewers. In fact, in 2025, there was a spike after the first 48 games to average 9.4 million viewers. To add insult to injury, where the 2024 NBA finals had 11.3 million viewers, there was an average of 16.4 million viewers for the last three games of the 2024 March Madness.
But why is March Madness so popular? This tournament is one of the most wagered-on sporting events in the US, rivaling even the Super Bowl in terms of betting action. The brackets challenges, single-elimination format and the stories that are always emerging add layers and layers of excitement and unpredictability. For sportsbooks, it’s a gold mine. For bettors, it is a challenge and an opportunity.
The good thing about the structure of the March Madness is that it is sustainable for both seasoned and casual bettors. The brackets challenge, especially, brings together many people who would otherwise not be betting. And, another thing, the fact that every game is a knock-out, the tension is all over.
Heart in the plays
College basketball games are usually intense, as college players are playing for the love of the game. They have all their heart in it. Unlike basketball on the professional level, there is no money involved, no agents looking out for your interests and no endorsement deals. The players just want to win the championship for themselves, their schools and the fans. What this does is ensure a level playing field for the players.
One problem with the NBA is that, despite the players being talented, there are other factors that are also in play in their game. You might end up being more conservative than you are supposed to be. However, with college basketball, the young athletes are not afraid of new stuff and risk. There is virtually nothing at stake, not any endorsement or money. There is nothing more fun than watching an 18-year-old shoot a 3-pointer from the half-court at the buzzer to ensure a win.
Additionally, there is always rivalry in every game. This is what makes the games so exciting to watch. Rivalries that have been carried on for years bring out the best in every player from both sides. Some of the biggest college basketball rivalries include:
- Duke-North Carolina
- Louisville-Kentucky
- Indiana-Purdue
- Xavier-Cincinnati
- UCLA-USC
- BYU-Utah
- New Mexico-New Mexico State
Now, since these rivals know what works against the other team, anything is possible. The history makes the intensity of the matches even hotter.
Wrapping up
In conclusion, college basketball has proven to be one of the most entertaining and exciting tournaments. This is the reason behind sportsbooks and punters being heavily invested in the tournaments. Whether it is the number of games played, the heart of the players or the March Madness, college basketball remains unmatched.
