College Hockey Betting

While college hockey betting is not as popular as NHL betting, you can still get the most out of it if you know the game. If you are wagering on the NHL, college hockey betting will not be a challenge to understand, even if the players and teams are not the same.

Betting on NCAA hockey is easy, and it works the same way as pro hockey and other sports. However, before you start wagering your hard-earned money on college hockey, you should know how it works. 

You should begin by understanding the different betting markets and options that online sportsbooks offer for college hockey. Besides that, you need to identify the factors that influence the outcome of games so that you can make accurate predictions.

How to Bet on NCAA Hockey

The first step to betting on college hockey is to create an account with an online sportsbook licensed under US law. When you play at the best sports betting sites, you'll not only enjoy a wide range of betting markets, but you can also claim different kinds of lucrative bonuses. 

In addition, these betting operators offer competitive odds, so you get a better return on your stakes. You can take a look at our recommended sportsbooks above, which provide players with the best betting experience for college hockey betting, 

After registering your betting account, it's time to fund your account. Once that is done, head over to the sports section of the sportsbook and click on hockey. Next, select NCAA or college hockey and click on the particular event you want to bet on. 

Finally, make your selection of the betting market and odds. This will be shown in your betslip, and then you can enter the amount you want to wager and place your bet.

So far, we've explained how college hockey betting works from an execution standpoint. Now, let's talk about the different kinds of bets you can place.

Moneyline Bet

The moneyline bet is a popular betting option in college hockey. When you place this type of bet, you're simply predicting which team will win a game. You can bet on the home team or away team to win in a game, with this market usually including overtime in the collegiate game.

Puckline Bet

As with most sports, you can also bet against the spread in college hockey. The sportsbook gives a team a positive or negative advantage, called the puckline in hockey. Usually, favorites lay 1.5 goals in a game, while underdogs have a goal and a half added to their score. But those puckline values can fluctuate depending on the perceived mismatch between opponents.

Under/Over Bet

Many online sportsbooks also accept totals or under/over wagers for college hockey. In this kind of bet, you predict how many goals will be scored in a college hockey game and whether that total will be under or over the value specified by the sportsbook. For instance, you can bet on the score of a game to be over five goals. This means that both teams have to combine to score a total of at least six goals for your bet to win.

Below, we list the top 3 sportsbooks for college hockey betting. Please check our NCAA hockey promotions page for more offers. 

DraftKings Sportsbook - Best Betting Markets for College Hockey

DraftKings Sportsbook is, in our experience, by far the best sportsbook for college hockey betting. No other sportsbooks offer as many betting options for this sport as Draftkings. On top of this, you can claim a great sign-up bonus that you can use on any NCAA hockey bet.

Caesars Sportsbook College Hockey Betting

Caesars is, after DraftKings, the best sportsbook for college hockey betting. The range of markets is not massive, but that is something college hockey bettors are used to for now. At Caesars, you can bet futures and some puckline, totals, and moneyline bets for selected games.

BetMGM College Hockey Offering

At BetMGM, you can place college hockey bets, but unfortunately, those are often limited to future bets like national championship futures bets. Either way, BetMGM is a great sportsbook, and their welcome bonus offers are usually off the charts, so if you want to combine great promos with an excellent betting user interface, this is a good sportsbook for you. 

As with every sport, there are several strategies you can use when betting on college hockey. These strategies will help increase your chances of placing the right bets and winning. These strategies revolve around understanding hockey odds, when to bet, and what to look for before betting.

Understanding Hockey Odds

Hockey odds work the same way as with every other sport. The odds tell you what your potential payout will be when you wager on a game. For example, if the total odds of your prediction are +130 and you wager $100, then your potential profit is $130 along with your wager amount. However, if the odds are -130, you will need to wager $130 to make $100.

Choosing the Right Time to Bet

Knowing when to bet is an essential factor that can influence your winning probability. Line movement is a constant ahead of each game, making timing incredibly important, as betting too early or too late can cost bettors optimal profits. But as long as bettors trust their handicapping, they should be able to get close to the best possible price when wagering on college hockey games.

What to Look for When Betting

Similar to betting on other college sports, there are some things worth considering before placing your bets on college hockey games. You need to research who’s playing, how they have performed so far this season, and whether or not they have any injuries to play through.

Home Ice Advantage: A college team playing at home usually has the advantage due to fan support and not having to deal with travel-related fatigue. So it is crucial to consider this factor before you wager your money on any team to win an upcoming game.

Rivalries: Some teams in NCAA hockey are bitter rivals. Predicting the outcome of rivalry games requires analyzing all the essential statistics available. But it is important to remember that the heightened emotions in rivalry games can lead to mistakes that make those games less predictable than other matchups.

Goal Scoring Statistics: Checking the statistics for each team is a must before betting on any college hockey game, especially if you are considering under/over bets. But it is just as important to put some context behind those statistics. Identifying strength of schedule advantages or disadvantages can help bettors find an edge that may not have otherwise been noticeable.

Head-to-Head Statistics: Checking the head-to-head statistics of teams before a hockey game can be beneficial. With this information, you will know which team has had the upper hand against the other and has a better chance of winning their next meeting.

Injuries and Player Factors: The injury of a star player can affect the performance of any college hockey team. So you must stay up-to-date with team news to know what is going on with each team before you place your bets.
 

In the history of NCAA Division I men's ice hockey, several programs have stood out due to their success. Here are some of the best college hockey teams historically based on their championship wins and overall program strength:

1. University of Michigan: The Wolverines have a storied history and lead in overall NCAA championship titles.
2. University of North Dakota: Known for consistently fielding competitive teams and having a significant number of championships.
3. University of Denver: One of the top programs with multiple national championships.
4. University of Wisconsin: The Badgers have claimed multiple NCAA titles and have a strong hockey tradition.
5. Boston College: A powerhouse in the east, Boston College has numerous NCAA championships.
6. Boston University: Like their crosstown rivals, the Terriers have multiple national titles and are a perennial contender.
7. University of Minnesota: The Golden Gophers have a rich hockey heritage with several NCAA championships.
8. Michigan State University: With multiple national titles, the Spartans have a notable history in college hockey.
9. University of Maine: While they have fewer championships, the Black Bears have had periods of dominance in college hockey.
10. Minnesota Duluth: In recent years, Minnesota Duluth has emerged as a dominant force, winning multiple national championships.

These programs have established themselves not just through their success in winning championships but also by consistently performing well in regular seasons, producing professional NHL players, and having a strong fan following and institutional support for their hockey programs.

Last 10 Champions

Regarding historical winners, here's a list of the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Champions for the last ten years:

• 2023: Quinnipiac
• 2022: University of Denver
• 2021: University of Massachusetts Amherst
• 2020: No tournament held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• 2019: University of Minnesota Duluth
• 2018: University of Minnesota Duluth
• 2017: University of Denver
• 2016: University of North Dakota
• 2015: Providence College
• 2014: Union College