Brad Underwood Tells OutKick That Sports Betting Is Hurting College Basketball

The proliferation of legalized sports betting across the United States has caused many headaches for leagues. The NFL has had several gambling incidents involving players and even had to lay down strict rules for the Super Bowl – held in Las Vegas. But, it's not just professional sports. Illinois men's basketball coach Brad Underwood says it's hurting college basketball, too. 

Underwood joined Dan Dakich on Tuesday's episode of "Don't At Me With Dan Dakich" and explained how legalized sports betting has changed his approach as a coach. 

Underwood explains that college teams don't have to report injuries the same way that pro teams do. Which, he thinks, can lead to some issues. That's why Underwood is a proponent of injury reports in college sports. 

"If [a student] sees player A, and he's your leading scorer, and he's walking around campus in a boot – or a teammate tells his dad, 'Hey, I don't think Johnny's playing today because he hit his head in practice,' [that's a problem." 

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood watches during an NCAA basketball game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network)

Underwood went on to discuss how prop bets – which were recently banned in Ohio for college events – are an easy target for manipulation. 

"There will be a day in a time when, conceivably, you could have two guys not jump for the jump ball because there's a prop bet on it," he said. "I think anything that challenges the integrity of competition stinks." 

He also admitted that sports bettors often attack players for blowing covers.

"We've had guys that have gotten very, very nasty text messages and so on, because they missed a layup that didn't cover an over and under or whatever it was." 

Really, what all of it comes down to is whether sports betting ultimately starts to affect the integrity of the outcome. Sports is the one thing that is a true meritocracy and that's why Americans love it so much. If that goes away? Forget about it. 

"You you can't ever jeopardize the integrity of competition," Underwood continued. "And if we ever lose that, then that our sport is done." 

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