Bracket Challenge

College Basketball Daily Fantasy: How to get started with college basketball daily fantasy sports

All you need to know about NCAAB DFS

Last Updated on Mar 13, 2025
Fact checked by: Sadonna Price

March Madness and NCAAB are already exciting enough as it is. But you can still take things up an extra notch by playing college basketball daily fantasy tournaments against other big fans.

In this article, we’ll take a look at how you can get started, how best to draft your team, and provide you with some other top tips. And of course, you can also check out the best college basketball DFS operators recommended by us below.

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Compare the best DFS providers for NCAAB - March 2025

Underdog Fantasy
Top Pick
4.6/5
Underdog Fantasy Offer
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
T&Cs Apply / 18+
Available Payment Options
PayPal
Mastercard
Visa
+
Withdrawal
1 – 3 Days
Apps
Show less
ParlayPlay
Hot Offer
4.6/5
ParlayPlay Offer
100% up to $100
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
T&Cs Apply / 18+
Available Payment Options
Visa
Mastercard
Discover
Withdrawal
3 – 5 Days
Apps
Show less
OwnersBox
Hot Offer
4.3/5
OwnersBox Offer
100% up to $500
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
T&Cs Apply / 18+
Available Payment Options
Visa
Mastercard
Discover
+
Show less
DraftKings Fantasy
4.
4.2/5
DraftKings Fantasy Offer
20% up to $500 + free $3 ticket
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
Available Payment Options
PayPal
VIP Preferred
Play+
+
Withdrawal
0 – 5 Days
Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Award
EGR - Operator of the year (2023)
18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.
Show More
Sleeper
5.
4.0/5
Sleeper Offer
Play $5, Get $55
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
T&Cs Apply / 18+
Available Payment Options
Bank Transfer
Venmo
Visa
+
Apps
Show More

NCAAB DFS - In a nutshell

As is the case with all daily fantasy sports, there are many different contests and game types that you can play when it comes to college fantasy basketball. At the end of the day though, there is a basic concept that is always at the core of each contest.

The first step involves drafting your team, usually around eight players in total. Each contest has a total salary cap, and each player comes with a price - the better the player, the higher the salary.

Once your team has been drafted, you can score points for the actions that your players make on the court. Things such as points scored, free throws, blocks and rebounds will see your total points tally increase.

Be warned though, as some contests also have a negative points system. This means that you could be deducted points if your player fumbles, is dispossessed or commits a foul.

On most DFS platforms, such as FanDuel and DraftKings, scoring points can ultimately mean winning cash prizes in a paid contest. Usually, you don’t even have to finish at the top of the leaderboard to win a share of the prize pool - you just have to place highly.

Getting started with fantasy college basketball

If you are interested in NCAAB DFS, the good news is that getting started is simple - just follow the steps provided for you below.

Choose an operator

First of all, you need to find a DFS platform, and you can do that by using the top-rated reviews right here on our website. If you are a first time player or are looking for a wider range of contests, we recommend using either FanDuel or DraftKings.

Create your account

Once you have used our reviews to find your ideal DFS platform, you will need to register an account. This can be done either online via the website or by downloading the mobile app.

Enter your promo code

Most DFS platforms have a welcome offer for new players. While some offers are triggered automatically, others may require you to enter a valid promo code or to manually opt in for the bonus.

Make your deposit

A lot of sites will give you at least one free contest entry for new players. However, most contests going forward will have an entry fee - and cash prizes to be won. When making your first deposit, make sure to meet the conditions to trigger your welcome bonus.

Draft your team

You can now pick a contest to enter and start drafting your team - this is where the real fun begins. Remember to pick a balanced team that you have to work within the salary cap.

Start scoring

Once the games begin, you will hopefully see your players start notching up some points. If you have enough points at the end of the contest, you might win a share of the cash prize.

Our top DFS picks

Underdog Fantasy
1.
4.6/5
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
PayPal
Mastercard
Visa
ParlayPlay
2.
4.6/5
100% up to $100
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
Visa
Mastercard
Discover
OwnersBox
3.
4.3/5
100% up to $500
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
Visa
Mastercard
Discover
DraftKings Fantasy
4.
4.2/5
20% up to $500 + free $3 ticket
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
PayPal
VIP Preferred
Play+
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Sleeper
5.
4.0/5
Play $5, Get $55
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
Bank Transfer
Venmo
Visa

Top tips for drafting your NCAAB fantasy team

If you want to increase the chance of winning a DFS college basketball contest, preparation is key. We therefore strongly recommend following the five top tips that our experts have put together for you below.

Make use of stats and analytical tools

Studying the stats can be quite a tedious affair, but there are a ton of helpful sites and tools out there to help you out.

Look for versatile players

You always want to have at least one player on your team that will put up points all over the court. Naturally, such a player will usually take up a chunk of your salary cap, but it’s worthwhile if you pull it off.

Go bargain hunting in poor teams

One of the most common mistakes that most college basketball DFS players make is overlooking the teams that suck. Someone still has to put points on the board and the best player in a bad team will often come cheap.

Total value vs per-game value

As with all sports, injuries do happen, and so you need to look at the bigger picture. Players that are more likely to play the majority of the games in a season will usually have a better per-game value than total value, which tends to mean more points in DFS.

Make use of features

If you are playing in a contest that has special features, such as late swaps, then make use of them.

College basketball daily fantasy - Conclusion

So there you have it folks, a full-bodied introduction to NCAAB DFS. The next step for you now is to use the reviews on our site to find your ideal operator. As we said before, FanDuel and DraftKings are always top of the pile, but other platforms, such as Monkey Knife Fight and JockMKT also have plenty to offer the right type of player.

Also, remember to bookmark this page so that you can refer back to our top tips while playing. Good luck folks!

Awesome offers from top DFS sites

Underdog Fantasy
1.
4.6/5
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
ParlayPlay
2.
4.6/5
100% up to $100
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
OwnersBox
3.
4.3/5
100% up to $500
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
Min. Deposit: $10
DraftKings Fantasy
4.
4.2/5
20% up to $500 + free $3 ticket
Virginia
Virginia Allowed
Wagering Requirements: 25x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $5
Sleeper
5.
4.0/5
Play $5, Get $55
Virginia
Virginia Allowed

College basketball daily fantasy FAQ

🤔 Does DFS exists for NCAAB?

NBA DFS is popular, but many players have asked us if the same sort of thing exists for college basketball. We sent out our experts to investigate, and the answers can be found in this article.

🏀 What is the best site for college basketball fantasy?

All of the top operators for NCAAB DFS are listed on our website. We keep this information up-to-date and you can find expert reviews for each operator.

❓ How do I play NCAAB DFS?

Wondering how you can get started with NCAAB DFS? A step-by-step guide to playing college fantasy basketball has been provided in this article here at ballislife.com.

Our Team
Sara Jane Gamelli
Sara Jane Gamelli
Writer | Bettor
Sadonna Price
Sadonna Price
Editor | Writer
Kenny Ducey
Kenny Ducey
Sports Reporter | Capper
Ronnie Flores
Ronnie Flores
Editor | Senior Writer
David Astramskas (Redapples)
David Astramskas (Redapples)
Editor | Senior Writer
Top Brands
Top Bonuses
Underdog Fantasy
Underdog Fantasy
Underdog Fantasy Review
4.6/5
ParlayPlay
ParlayPlay
ParlayPlay Review
4.6/5
OwnersBox
OwnersBox
OwnersBox Review
4.3/5
DraftKings Fantasy
DraftKings Fantasy
DraftKings Fantasy Review
4.2/5
Sleeper
4.0/5
Underdog Fantasy
Underdog Fantasy Offer
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
ParlayPlay
ParlayPlay Offer
100% up to $100
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
OwnersBox
OwnersBox Offer
100% up to $500
T&Cs apply
4.3/5
DraftKings Fantasy
DraftKings Fantasy Offer
20% up to $500
18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.
4.2/5
Sleeper
Sleeper Offer
Play $5, Get $55
T&Cs apply
4.0/5

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