Betting on college basketball has grown by leaps and bounds over the last number of years, thanks to the juggernaut that is March Madness. The Super Bowl in considered by most sportsbooks to be the busiest day of the year, but stretch that excitement and wagering over an entire month and you’ve got March Madness.

If you’re one of the March Madness pool junkies who wants to get into some real cash by betting on college basketball games, don’t just dive right in. Stop and prepare yourself first. Betting on games throughout the season isn’t the same as filling out a bracket during your afternoon lunch break. Making a profit while betting throughout the college basketball season takes research, knowledge and timing.

One thing you’ll want to remember is that there are over 200 Division IA college basketball teams. There are tons of games for you on which to make a little extra cash. Your job is to pick the right ones.

You may want to start with one conference and research the crap out of every team. Now make a few weekly bets on games you think will have value. Look at how a team plays at home, on the road, their defensive statistics and rankings, and don’t neglect their free throw percentage – it could be the difference between covering the spread or not.

Once you’ve got your chosen conference down pat, move to another, or maybe a couple of smaller conferences. Don’t get too bogged down in minute details, though. Keep your focus on identifying strong trends or patterns. And don’t bet just for the sake of betting. Make a plan, pick solid games, and be a winner.

Here are some great sports books:

Bodog Sportsbook

Caribsports.com