Live Betting on College Sports: What to Consider Before Diving In

It’s well known that college sports draws a lot of betting money from fans around the United States. March Madness alone is said to rake in around $3 billion in betting revenue, whereas bowl games and the football playoffs also take in billions of dollars in wagers. Estimates vary on just how much college sports betting represents of the entire $150 billion spent on gambling in the US annually, but it’s a significant slice.

As with the rest of sports, college sports betting has evolved in recent years. There is the legal element, with the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision on sports betting opening up legal wagering across many more states. But there is also the technological aspect, with the majority of us placing wagers via an app or website. The latter has opened up many new possibilities – more competition, more markets, and more innovative ways to bet.

The rise of live betting over the last ten years has been fairly significant. It required a lot of tech innovation to deliver real-time betting lines as the action takes place on the field or court, but the sportsbooks have managed to build out a network to sustain it. Live betting on college sports is an attractive option, but there are some drawbacks. Below, we break down some of the things you should be thinking about:

Live betting is reactive

Placing a pre-game sports bet is proactive; live betting is reactive. You are responding to what’s happening in the game in front of you. You could be watching the Longhorns playing their way into a game that they are losing and decide that a Texas comeback is on the cards. It’s about adapting to the live game, placing your bets based on what you see rather than how you felt before the game.

Research remains important

At the risk of contradicting what we said above, live betting should be combined with statistical research to back up what you see in the game and even go against it. For example, if a team is losing but you know they have the roster depth to finish a game strongly, you can use that knowledge in the live betting arena.

The platform is crucial

All live betting platforms are not created equal. The last thing you’ll want is clunky software or blackouts during parts of the game. Thankfully, most sportsbooks do a good job now as software partners are adept at keeping all the info flowing seamlessly in real time. However, be aware that some sportsbooks will excel with their live statistical updates, which can be an important tool for bettors. Also, many platforms will offer live streaming so you can watch the games you are betting on.

Getting to grips with the fast-paced action

In pre-game betting, you are going to place your wagers and wait to see what happens. Live betting means you’re going to watch the odds rise and fall. It’s important to keep a cool head and not overreact to plays that are part of the natural ebb and flow of the game.

Use the cash out tools provided

One of the advantages of live betting is the option to cash out. Of course, you can cash out a standard bet too in most cases, but the point remains that you can decide to bank some winnings or cut your losses as the game unfolds before your eyes. It might take some nerve, but try and weigh up the pros and cons of your decision before doing it.

Don’t let the betting ruin the game You might think you can multitask by betting on the Longhorns live while watching the game, but you should remember that the betting element should be fun. If you are more worried about counting the number of sacks achieved by a player rather than seeing your team win, then you are going about it the wrong way. Betting (responsibly) on college sports can be enjoyable, but it should not get in the way of your overall enjoyment of sports.