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Bet on NCAA basketball at Cloudbet, the world’s leading bitcoin sportsbook

The NCAA men’s basketball season delivers one of the most electric sporting calendars in North America. It’s an intense showcase of emerging talent, regional pride, and buzzer-beating drama that fuels bracket mania when the legendary March Madness tournament comes around each year. 

For crypto-savvy bettors, NCAA basketball also offers a massive betting market full of opportunity. At Cloudbet, you can bet on college basketball with Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and more, gaining instant access to sharp lines, live betting, and high limits. 

Whether you're following blue-blood programs like Duke and Kansas or looking for an edge on under-the-radar teams from mid-major conferences, NCAA basketball delivers value for bettors who understand its rhythms. 

Before we get into strategy and odds, let’s step back and understand what NCAA basketball actually is and why it holds such a unique place in the American sports landscape.

What is NCAA basketball?

NCAA basketball refers to collegiate-level basketball organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the main governing body for college sports in the United States. 

The NCAA oversees three divisions of play, with Division I representing the highest level of competition. Division I men’s basketball features 350+ schools competing annually, culminating in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, better known as March Madness: A 68-team, single-elimination event that has become a cultural phenomenon in the U.S.

The NCAA men's basketball championship dates back to 1939, when the Oregon Ducks defeated Ohio State in the first-ever title game held in Evanston, Illinois. Over the decades, several programs have established themselves as perennial powerhouses. 

UCLA holds the record for the most championships with 11 titles, including a legendary run under coach John Wooden in the 1960s and 70s. Other dominant programs include Kentucky (8 titles), North Carolina (6), Connecticut (6), Duke (5), Indiana (5) and Kansas (4). 

These schools have also served as pipelines to the NBA, producing legends like Michael Jordan (UNC), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (UCLA), and Anthony Davis (Kentucky).

The league’s structure and competitive depth, combined with the passion of student fan bases, make NCAA basketball uniquely exciting. For bettors, its long season, variety of conferences, and statistical richness provide an edge to those willing to put in the work. And in crypto terms, it’s the perfect match: a decentralized, always-on market meeting the chaos and brilliance of college hoops.

At Cloudbet, new players looking to bet on NCAA basketball earn 10% rakeback and daily cash drops through the Welcome Package when betting with supported cryptos. Looking for more than college hoops to bet on? Cloudbet’s crypto sportsbook offers competitive odds on all the biggest sports, including NBA basketball, soccer, tennis, and more.

Who are the favorites for NCAA basketball in 2025-2026?

Leading basketball commentators have arrived at a consensus over the top seeds from each of the four regions:

  1. Purdue: Braden Smith, the nation’s best college point guard, leads one of the most efficient offenses in collegiate basketball. Last season alone, his two-man game with forward Trey Kaufman-Renn generated 236 points. Add sharpshooters like Fletcher Loyer, CJ Cox, and Gicarri Harris, and the Boilermakers once again bring a deadly perimeter attack. The arrival of Oscar Cluff and a healthy Daniel Jacobsen provides much-needed size and rim protection - two areas that cost them last year.
  2. Houston: The return of Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp, and Joseph Tugler gives the Cougars a nasty edge - quick hands at the point of attack, bruising wing defense, and rim protection that punishes soft drives. Add in the upside of five-star freshman Isiah Harwell, and this team can switch, press, and swarm with relentless energy. Houston has the physicality, depth and defensive bite to make a serious title run.
  3. Duke: Cooper Flagg has taken his game to the NBA, but Duke still enters the 2025-2026 season with a towering, versatile lineup and one of the most dynamic frontcourts in the country. Cameron Boozer, a projected top-three NBA pick, anchors an offense loaded with passing feel and scoring options. He’s joined by Patrick Ngongba II, a breakout candidate in the paint, and defensive ace Maliq Brown, giving head coach Jon Scheyer a trio of bigs who can read and react to defenses with maturity.
  4. Michigan: The Wolverines have the pieces to build an elite defense under head coach Dusty May. The frontcourt duo of Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. offers rim protection, while Yaxel Lendeborg adds versatility. On the perimeter, veterans Roddy Gayle Jr. and Nimari Burnett bring strength and experience, with Elliot Cadeau providing point-of-attack disruption when locked in. If May can leverage transition play, offensive boards, and a sharp scheme to bypass those limitations, Michigan could be one of the toughest teams to beat in the country.
  5. Florida: Last year’s March Madness champions have America’s most imposing college frontcourt. Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu and Micah Handlogten give head coach Todd Golden a versatile, physical core that can control the paint, clean the glass, and fuel a punishing transition game. Even with Walter Clayton Jr. now in the NBA, the Gators have enough firepower to replace his production collectively. Haugh is primed for a breakout and has NBA upside, while Condon continues to develop as a steady interior presence. 

At Cloudbet bitcoin sportsbook, players can wager on tournament matches risk-free with bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Besides these top-ranked teams, fans of NCAA basketball can also bet on other top favorites and traditional powerhouses, including the Alabama Crimson Tide, North Carolina Tarheels, and Kansas City Jayhawks.

Getting started: How to bet on NCAA basketball with bitcoin?

Betting on NCAA basketball with bitcoin is easy at Cloudbet. We offer the most competitive college hoops odds. Bet on NCAA basketball with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin and more, along with stablecoins like USDT and USDC.

Just follow these steps:

  1. Sign into your Cloudbet account and fund your wallet with BTC (or any of the 30+ cryptocurrencies we support on the platform.)
  2. Head over to the ‘basketball’ menu: The page covers ongoing and upcoming basketball matches in various countries. Find NCAA basketball under the USA section.
  3. Research players, trends, and available bet types before placing a bet. Cloudbet also offers insights on bets placed on select games from the sidebar of your chosen match.
  4. Place your bitcoin bets and watch the action unfold!

What to consider when betting on NCAA basketball with bitcoin

College basketball fans and sports bettors, rejoice. With bitcoin, you can wager on NCAA basketball matchups safely, privately, and from anywhere. But what should you consider when betting on NCAA college basketball with crypto?

  1. Team momentum: Look at a team's recent games. Be aware if a team is on a hot streak, or hasn’t been doing so well.
  2. Head-to-Head matchups: Study how potential opponents have fared against each other in previous meetings this season. Some teams match up better and have advantages over others.
  3. Injuries/absences: Key injuries to star players or suspensions can hinder a team's tournament hopes. Monitor injury reports leading up to tip-off.
  4. Home court: Teams playing in their home venue will have the advantage of more fan support.
  5. Coaching pedigree: Teams led by successful coaches who have led their teams to national championships like Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith and Roy Williams may have an edge.
  6. Experience: Squads with more upperclassmen and previous March Madness tournament  experience could have less nerves.

What NCAA basketball markets can you bet on with bitcoin?

Bet with bitcoin on NCAA basketball tournament games, from the first round through to the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, and the championship game. Our pre-game and live in-play markets include:

  1. Match winner
  2. Point spread
  3. Total points
  4. Second-half scores
  5. Winning margin

Why bet on NCAA basketball with bitcoin and crypto?

Why should fans bet on NCAA basketball with bitcoin and crypto at Cloudbet? Here are the top reasons:

  1. Privacy and security: Betting on college basketball with bitcoin and crypto offers enhanced privacy and security. Cryptocurrency transactions provide a layer of anonymity, allowing users to enjoy their betting activities without sharing sensitive personal information. 
  2. Fast and efficient transactions: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies offer fast and efficient transaction processing. Deposits and withdrawals can be completed on Cloudbet within minutes, allowing basketball fans to quickly fund their accounts or collect their winnings. 
  3. Transparency: Crypto users can see where their funds go on blockchain networks.
  4. Global accessibility: Bitcoin and crypto betting at Cloudbet opens up betting opportunities to a global audience. Regardless of geographical location, college basketball fans can easily access Cloudbet's platform and place bets on their favorite players. The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies removes barriers, making it convenient for fans from all over the world to participate.
  5. Competitive odds and betting options: Cloudbet offers competitive odds and a wide range of betting options for NCAA basketball. You'll find a variety of markets to choose from. Cloudbet's comprehensive sportsbook ensures that hoops fans have ample opportunities to place their desired bets and maximize their potential returns.
  6. 24/7 access: The bitcoin network never sleeps, so you can bet anytime. Plus, Cloudbet offers 24/7 multilingual support through Live Chat.

Join Cloudbet today and experience the excitement of betting on NCAA basketball with bitcoin and crypto.

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