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NCAA betting is as prominent as professional sports betting, with all major sportsbooks carrying competitive NCAA odds for the major sports, leagues, and conferences.
In Ohio, you can bet on the Buckeyes, Bearcats, and Bobcats as they compete in NCAA D1 leagues, while accessing incredible odds and top-tier offers.
Read on as we reveal your NCAA betting options in Ohio and learn which wagers you can place on the state’s top-performing collegiate teams.
Is NCAA Betting Legal in Ohio?
NCAA betting is 100% legal in Ohio. You can sign up for any licensed online sportsbook to bet on professional and collegiate sports in the Buckeye State.
Online sports betting has been legal in Ohio since the passing of House Bill 29 in December 2021, and top books like FanDuel and BetMGM have been active in the state since January 2023.
While some states restrict collegiate sports betting, Ohio doesn’t, meaning you can bet on all NCAA sports, including football, basketball, and baseball.
An Introduction to NCAA Sports (D1) in Ohio
Collegiate sports are organized and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The top tier of college sports is Division 1 (D1), contested by 350 universities nationwide. Popular D1 NCAA sports in the US include football, basketball, and baseball.
NCAA Football
NCAA D1 football is perhaps the most popular among fans and bettors alike. The main leagues, known as the “Power Five” within the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), are as follows:
- Southeastern Conference (SEC)
- Big Ten
- ACC
- Big 12
- PAC 12 (Dissolving)
🏈Ohio’s Top NCAA Football Teams
Ohio’s premier NCAA football team is the Ohio State Buckeyes, who compete in the Big Ten Conference of the FBS. The Buckeyes have won 42 major Conference titles (39 Big Ten & 2 OAC), alongside 10 Division titles (8 East & 2 Leaders). They have also won eight national titles, with the most recent coming in 2024.
The University of Cincinnati Bearcats is another of the top Ohio NCAA football teams. They compete in the Big 12 Conference of the FBS and have an all-time record of over .500, securing their 600th program victory in 2017. Other top NCAA football teams in Ohio include:
- Miami University RedHawks (Mid-American Conference)
- University of Toledo Rockets (Mid-American Conference)
- Ohio University Bobcats (Mid-American Conference)
NCAA Basketball
NCAA D1 basketball is also a big draw, with the top teams organized into conferences. The Power 6 Conferences are the biggest in collegiate basketball:
- ACC (Atlantic Coast)
- Big Ten
- Big 12
- SEC (Southeastern)
- Pac 12 Conference (Dissolving)
- Big East
Several mid-major conferences, such as the Atlantic 10, Mountain West, and American Athletic, feature big teams and seasonal drama.
🏀Ohio’s Top NCAA Basketball Teams
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the top NCAA D1 basketball team in Ohio, competing in the Big Ten Conference. They won one national championship in 1960 and have appeared in 27 NCAA Tournaments over the years.
The University of Cincinnati Bearcats joined the Big 12 Conference in 2023 and are another of Ohio’s top NCAA basketball teams. Notably, 42 All-American honors have been issued to the Bearcats, while 36 of these have progressed to the NBA.
As in football, the RedHawks, Rockets, and Bobcats are all notable Mid-American Conference sides, while the University of Dayton Flyers are a success story in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
NCAA Baseball
The powerhouse baseball conferences, responsible for the most MLB draft picks and College World Series Contenders, include:
- Southeastern Conference (SEC)
- Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
- Big Ten Conference
- Big 12 Conference
- Pac 12 Conference (Dissolving)
⚾️Ohio’s Top NCAA Baseball Teams
Again, the Buckeyes are Ohio’s leading NCAA baseball team, competing in the Big Ten Conference. The Ohio University Bobcats won the 2025 Mid-American Conference and are another of the top baseball schools in Ohio.
Other betting options for NCAA odds & markets at US Sportsbooks
While football, basketball, and baseball are the main NCAA betting options in Ohio, you can also bet on the following collegiate sports at selected betting sites:
- Softball
- Soccer
- Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Track & field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
- Tennis
- Golf
NCAA Betting Sites and Options in Ohio
Now that you know Ohio’s top NCAA sports and teams, we want to introduce you to your NCAA betting options. The top online sportsbooks offer NCAA odds across the following markets:
Futures
Futures betting is a great way to bet on Ohio college teams winning their conferences or leagues at the end of the season. You can also bet on individual markets, such as the Heisman Trophy winner in football.
🏈Futures Example (NCAA Football): Ohio State Buckeyes to be crowned the Big Ten Conference Champion.
Moneyline
Rather than looking to the future, bet on each game week throughout the college season with a moneyline wager. Here, you’re betting on a team to win a match. The margin of victory doesn’t matter; only the winning team is important.
🏀Moneyline Example (NCAA Basketball): Cincinnati Bearcats to beat the Baylor Bears in the Big 12 Conference.
Totals (Over/Under)
NCAA betting also involves placing wagers on the total points scored in a basketball or football match. You can also bet on the number of runs scored in a baseball fixture. In a totals bet, it doesn’t matter which teams score the runs; only the total is on the board at the end of the game.
⚾️Totals Example (NCAA Baseball): Ohio Bobcats v Kent State over 8.5 runs.
Props (Proposition Bets)
Prop bets are another popular NCAA betting option, as they let you place wagers on outcomes that aren’t tied to the result. There are player and team NCAA prop bets, including the number of points a team scores or the individual scoring accomplishments of a team’s star player.
🏈Team Prop Example (NCAA Football): Ohio State Buckeyes over 180.5 rushing yards in a match against the Indiana Hoosiers.
Parlays
Parlays let you bet on multiple outcomes in the same wager. You can bet on several teams to win in the same game week or build a same-game parlay involving multiple outcomes from the same matchup.
Parlays are great because they increase your potential payouts, but are also riskier. All legs of a parlay must win for you to receive a payout, so bear this in mind before getting overly excited about the NCAA odds available to you!
🏀Same-Game Parlay Example (NCAA Basketball): Cincinnati to win, over 140.5 points scored in the game, and Jizzle James to score over 20.5 points.
TOP US Sportsbooks with the Best NCAA Odds & Bonus Bets
Ohio Sportsbook Deals for 2025
All BonusesMany top US sportsbooks, including Bet365, BetMGM, and FanDuel, offer competitive NCAA odds for basketball, football, baseball, and other sports.
Each betting site is legal in Ohio so that you can bet on the Buckeyes and other major teams.
If you’re ready to get involved in NCAA betting this season, the table below shows the top licensed sportsbooks in Ohio, with details of the welcome package for new punters:
Sportsbook | Promotions | Bonus code | NCAA odds? |
Bet365 Ohio | Bet $5 for $150 free bet credits or $1,000 safety net bet | USB365 | ✅ |
BetMGM | Up to $1,500 for new customers | SDOTBET | ✅ |
FanDuel | Receive up to $150 in bonus bets | N/A | ✅ |
BetRivers Ohio | Second-chance wager up to $100 | USBTRV | ✅ |
Caesars | Up to $1,000 in bonus bets for new sign-ups | CZR1000 | ✅ |
Bally Bet | Bet $25 for $150 in bonus bets | N/A | ✅ |
ESPN BET | $1,500 first bet reset bonus | N/A | ✅ |
Access the Best NCAA Odds at Top Ohio Sportsbooks Today
Browse the latest Ohio sportsbook promo codes and sign up for one of our recommended sites for a bankroll boost when participating in NCAA betting this season. Bag free bets and money-back specials as you bet on the Buckeyes and other top teams in Ohio.
If you prefer on-the-go betting, discover the top Ohio sports betting apps with NCAA odds and markets.