Riding a Heater
All Strategy Guides

College Basketball Home Court Advantage Betting Strategy Guide

College Basketballintermediate 8 min read

Key Takeaways

  • Home court advantage is a significant factor in college basketball.
  • The value of home court advantage can vary from team to team.
  • Crowd size, travel, familiarity with the court, and rivalry are all factors that can affect home court advantage.
  • You can use home court advantage to find value in underdogs.

College Basketball Home Court Advantage Betting Strategy Guide

Understanding Home Court Advantage

Home court advantage is a well-known phenomenon in sports, and it is especially significant in college basketball. Teams tend to play better at home than they do on the road. This is due to a number of factors, including crowd noise, familiarity with the court, and the psychological boost of playing in front of a friendly crowd.

How Much is Home Court Advantage Worth?

The value of home court advantage can vary from team to team. Some teams have a much stronger home court advantage than others. The value of home court advantage can also vary depending on the opponent. A team may have a stronger home court advantage against a rival than they do against a non-conference opponent.

In general, home court advantage is worth about 3-5 points in college basketball. This means that a team is expected to score 3-5 more points at home than they would on a neutral court against the same opponent.

Factors to Consider When Evaluating Home Court Advantage

  • Crowd Size and Noise: A large and loud crowd can have a big impact on the game. The crowd can make it difficult for the visiting team to communicate and can create a hostile environment.
  • Travel: The visiting team may be at a disadvantage if they have to travel a long distance to the game. Travel can be tiring and can disrupt a team's routine.
  • Familiarity with the Court: The home team is familiar with the court and the rims, which can give them an advantage.
  • Rivalry: Home court advantage is often magnified in rivalry games. The crowd is more passionate and the players are more motivated.

How to Use Home Court Advantage in Your Betting

When you are betting on college basketball, it is important to factor home court advantage into your handicapping. You should not simply assume that the home team will win. However, you should give the home team a slight edge. You can also use home court advantage to find value in underdogs. If you believe that the public is overvaluing home court advantage, you may be able to find value in betting on the road underdog.

Put This Strategy to Work

The MIT Triple Stack uses Expected Value scanning, Kelly Criterion sizing, and Monte Carlo simulations to find your edge.

Get The Heater Now