Betting on NCAA sports in Ohio: what should bettors look for to get best value

Sports betting is live in the Buckeye State, and bettors all around Ohio can wager on all manner of events from around the world.

You want to place a bet on the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 games which start in February, right after Super Bowl LVII? You can do that. Maybe you want to place a futures bet on the NASCAR or World Series winners?

Of course you can.

Bet on College Football Online in Ohio

But the thing that makes most sports fans excited at the start of the new year is college sports: the College Football Playoff Championship starts off the action, then college basketball is in full swing heading into March Madness and the title game in April.

Unlike in other states, where there are some (or total) restrictions on wagering when college sports are involved, Ohio does not have these rules: you can bet on all manner of college games with the various sports books. You can bet on NCAA college sports in Ohio via BetRvers, bet365, BetMGM, Wynnbet and other sportsbook app.

Most of the action, and the lines, are going to be on college football and basketball, but you can also find baseball during the tournament and College World Series, and also some other events during the various seasons.

While the markets for proposition (prop) bets are much more limited (and in some cases, non-existent) than for professional sports, the fact that you can wager on events like March Madness is massive for Buckeye State bettors. 

But it is not just the main tournaments, like Championship Week in late February and early March, and of course March Madness, that makes it worthwhile for bettors: you can wager on any game. That means 150+ games every Saturday on the schedule in January and February, plus action every other day of the week.

In the last summer and fall, NCAA football games have started to spread out to various nights as well: it is not just Thursday and Saturday anymore. The “Maction” games in late October and November, which see so many of the Buckeye State’s Division 1 teams playing, have proved to be some of the most successful for sports books and fans over the last few years.

What to look for in a sports betting app when betting on college sports

When you go to the App Store or Google Play store on your mobile device, there are so many sports betting apps for Ohio bettors to use. How do you know which one to get?

Well, you should definitely use this site to help shop around, as certain books will have better offers for new users, returning users, and even during the season with bet boosts. Really, you should have more than one sports book on your phone or iPad, because you might be able to get better lines and value on the college game you are trying to bet. Always check back here to get the newest bonuses and promo codes to maximize your value. 

Here are some of the most important dates for 2023 NCAA sports betting for Ohio bettors to watch for:

NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship

Monday, January 9, 2023, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

NCAA College Basketball Men’s Tournament

Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 12

First Four: March 14-15

First round: March 16-17

Second round: March 18-19

Sweet 16: March 23-24

Elite Eight: March 25-26

Final Four: April 1

NCAA championship game: April 3 

NCAA College Basketball Women’s Tournament 

Selections Sunday, March 12

The First Four games are Wednesday and Thursday, March 15-16

The first round is Friday and Saturday, March 17-18

The second round is Sunday and Monday, March 19-20

The Sweet 16 is Friday and Saturday, March 24-25

The Elite 8 is Sunday and Monday, March 26-27

The Final Four is at 7 and 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 31 on ESPN.

The national championship game is at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 2 

2023 College World Series 

The Best Ohio Sportsbooks to Bet on NCAA Sports and Free Bet Promos