The college basketball season is heating up and we need to learn how to bet on March Madness. We are getting through the conference tournament slate and look ahead to the most important time of the season: the NCAA Tournament. Otherwise known as March Madness, it is one of the most exciting times of the sports year.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or new to the experience, March Madness is a beast of its own. There is a lot to know about March Madness odds, how to bet, how to read the spreads and odds, and all that you need to know to get fully immersed in the best time of the college basketball season.
How to Bet on March Madness
When talking about March Madness, you have to acknowledge the betting aspect. Like the Super Bowl, millions of bettors put money down on the action every year. Whether it be betting on individual games or putting together a bracket, nearly everyone has something on the line.
While there is a whole other piece that could be dedicated to the bracket process, let’s put the focus on betting. There are a litany of ways to bet on March Madness even if you are somewhat new to the entire process.
The key is to know all that there is to know going into the tournament. When all is said and done, you will have a great idea of which bet types there are, what it means to wager on them, how to put yourself in the best possible position throughout the tournament and finding a good March Madness betting site.
Me looking at today’s CBB slate 😂 pic.twitter.com/RgeL1t642X
— ClutchBet (@ClutchBetSB) March 14, 2024
When Does March Madness Start?
There are two schools of thought here. For many, March Madness doesn’t officially begin until the tournament itself kicks off. It begins with the “first four” where there are play-in games to determine the final four teams to make the NCAA tournament bracket.
For others, conference tournaments kick off March Madness bets. It is the time when automatic bids are achieved, bubble teams put themselves in or out, and the tournament bracket begins to take shape. It can be either, though the tournament itself is what is referred to, traditionally.
The selection Sunday revealed the 2024 NCAA Division I bracket, so take a look and keep it updated in the official NCAA page here.
Check out the sweet sixteen NCAA 2024 March Madness bracket.
How to Understand March Madness Betting Odds
One of the first things that you need to know going into March Madness bets is what the betting odds mean. There are a lot of numbers thrown at you when you start betting. It can be all too easy to get lost in the process. Let’s take a look at all the major betting odds to be aware of.
March Madness Point Spreads and Alternate Lines
The very first place to start when betting on March Madness is with the most common bet types. The very first one is the spread. The spread is just after the money line – picking who will win – in terms of the most betting markets out there.
The spread concept is simple: the favorite must win in a college basketball game by more than the amount of the spread, or the underdog must lose by less than that amount or win outright. If that’s still confusing, let’s look at an example. Let’s say that Duke is -6.5 against their first-round opponent. Duke would need to win by seven or more in order to cover while their opponent would need to lose by less than seven or win outright to cover.
There are also alternate spreads. Sportsbooks set the main spread, but you don’t have to adhere to it. You can choose from alternate spreads that have different odds. So, let’s say Duke -6.5 is the main spread. You might like them, but only by 5.5. You can choose that spread instead, getting different odds in the process.
March Madness Total Over/Unders
Another fun wager to place on March Madness games is the total. The total is even simpler than the point spread. You are betting on a pre-set point total and whether both teams will combine for more than that total (over) or less (under).
For bettors with no rooting interest in a particular team, the over/under is a great alternative. There is nothing quite like needing the over to hit and having a late three put you over the top. It is a straightforward bet to make and can create a rooting interest that isn’t centered on one of the teams.
Pittsburgh guard Ishmael Leggett, right, places a decal on the bracket after an NCAA college basketball game against Wake Forest in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament March 14, 2024, in Washington. College hoops fans might want to think again before pinning their hopes of a perfect March Madness bracket on artificial intelligence. While the advancement of artificial intelligence into everyday life has made “AI” one of the buzziest phrases of the past year, its application in bracketology circles is not so new. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
March Madness Parlays
If you talk to seasoned sports bettors, they love March Madness for another reason: parlays. A parlay bet is much like any other kind of wager you will find but rolled together. If you like more than one game and feel confident about them hitting, roll them into a parlay.
Let’s say that you are confident that both Creighton and Kentucky will cover in their first-round games. Rather than betting on them individually, you can combine them into a parlay. Both of the picks must hit in order to cash the ticket, but the odds are much more favorable.
Parlays can look enticing because of the potential payouts. That said, hitting parlays – especially bigger ones – is very difficult. Still, there is nothing quite like hitting a parlay of six, seven, eight, etc. that has astronomical odds attached. Even the most disciplined bettors will have a parlay or two ready to roll because they are the most exciting wagers you can make.
March Madness Prop Bets
Of the most well-known ways to wager on college basketball and the NCAA tournament, player props may be gaining the most momentum. There can be uncertainty when it comes to the spread or the over/under. So, why not bet on individual outcomes instead?
Props are offered for both teams and players. Team props may center around how many points one team will score. The more popular form of prop betting involves player props. Each of the notable players will have individual odds on things like points scored, assists, rebounds, and even combinations of the three, among other things.
Player props are popular because they make the focus very granular. You might be confident in Purdue to win but not to cover. Instead, you bet on Zach Edey to go over his rebounds prop bet or take him to have more than a certain number of points + rebounds. The options are nearly unlimited and you can create a huge bet slip of just player prop picks and parlays.
March Madness Betting Tips (according to ClutchBuzz)
Part of what makes March Madness so wonderful is that it can be completely random. The playing field becomes relatively even, and every team has a singular goal. For bettors and bracket players, the goal is also simple: pick the most winners in each round.
One of the keys to a successful March Madness bracket is to ensure that you lock down most or all of the Final Four. There are a handful of teams that are clear favorites going into the NCAA Tournament, each of whom has their own story and path to this point. Let’s check out some of the major favorites coming into the tournament and a couple of teams you shouldn’t sleep on.
Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies are the defending national champions and look like they are in a good spot to win it all once again. It would be the first back-to-back run since the Florida Gators did so in the 2000s. The Huskies are 28-3 and ranked first in the country. It helps that they also finished the regular season as strongly as possible, winning nine of ten.
UConn lost a lot of talent from last year’s championship team, but they have not missed a beat. They won the Big East regular season championship as well, their first in 25 years. The momentum is certainly in their corner, and more than a few pieces of this team have the experience of a championship run under their belts.
The Huskies will face San Diego Aztecs in the Sweet 16.
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Houston Cougars
If the Huskies are considered the #1 favorite, Houston could be considered 1B. The Cougars, 26-3, finished the regular season on a nine-game winning streak and are the top team in the nation according to some. They have grown to be one of the best programs in the nation over the last four years, going 117-17 over that span.
They won the regular season Big 12 title with a dominant win over Kansas, another team that had championship aspirations. The Cougars made it to the Sweet 16 a year ago, ultimately being upset by No. 5 Miami (FL), a team that made it all the way to the Final Four.
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Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue has a chance to match the story previously told by the Virginia Cavaliers. Like the Cavaliers, the Boilers made the tournament as a No. 1 seed after a dominant regular season. And like the Cavaliers, they were upset in the first round by a No. 16, shocking the college basketball world and destroying many brackets.
The Boilers are hoping to copy the second half of that story. Virginia returned the next year after another dominant regular season but did not suffer an upset. As a matter of fact, they made their story complete by winning it all. For Purdue, that is the goal once again and anything less – even a Final Four appearance – would have to be a disappointment.
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Tennessee Volunteers
Of the projected No. 1 seeds, Tennessee has the most debate involved. Some feel that the Volunteers have all the tools needed to make it to the Final Four and even win the national championship. Many believe that the key is to avoid the big guns listed above, which is a given considering they are the best teams in the nation.
The Vols are battle-tested having played in the very tough SEC. They have wins over Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and Illinois, plus a major win over Kentucky. They can beat anyone at any time, which is what the tournament is all about.
Tennessee moved to second round after beating Saint Peter’s. They then eliminated Texas Longhorns in the next bracket and are now expected to move past the Creighton Bluejays in the Sweet 16. Can they make the Elite 8?
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Other Teams to Watch
The NCAA tournament would not have earned the name “March Madness” if the tournament was won by the top seeds every year. Each and every tournament has a team or two that comes from under the radar to make a deep run or win it all. Here are a few teams that should definitely be respected.
Arizona Wildcats
There hasn’t been a national champion from the West Coast since 1997 – when Arizona stunned Kentucky. This year, Arizona is a strong pick to win it all in the March Madness odds. They have been among the top seeds in the last few tournaments, though they have failed to move past the Sweet 16. This is a balanced team that has the experience to push the ‘Cats over the top.
The Wildcats have qualified to the sweet sixteen, after beating Long Beach St. in the first round and Dayton in the second round. They will face Clemston Tigers next.
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North Carolina Tarheels
One of the blue bloods of the college basketball world, something just feels right when UNC is good. They also happen to be a legitimate March Madness title contender. The ‘Heels need to get a bit better from long range but having a guy like R.J. Davis means that anything can happen in March.
The Tarheels have defeated Wagner in first round and they got past to second round where they will face Michigan State.
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Iowa State
Even if they are unlikely to go all the way, Iowa State are currently ranked 7th in the NCAA men’s rankings. They were the no. 2 seed in the East region and they are 27-7.
The selection Sunday bracket announced that the Cyclones first challenge on the way to win March Madness was South Dakota, who they defeated 82-65. They they breezed past Washington State, to book a place in the sweet sixteen where they will face Illinois.
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Iowa State is currently a 2.5-point favorite against Illinois on Thursday.
Read their #MarchMadness history here 👇 https://t.co/ixn86gvUVQ
— ClutchBet (@ClutchBetSB) March 25, 2024
Conclusion
Anything can happen when March Madness arrives. Huge favorites lose, players get hot, and stories are created. We have seen improbable moments happen all throughout the years and this tournament will be no different.
Being a fan of any of the 68 teams is nerve-wracking. Being an outsider who can enjoy the action may be preferable. Whatever your situation may be, March Madness delivers a level of action that other sports cannot hope to match. Strap in, get your bracket ready, and hope that your picks come through.
