Besides the NFL Super Bowl, there’s no single sports event inside the United States that’s more gambled on than the NCAA March Madness tournament. It’s hard to put an exact number on how much money is bet on March Madness, but the figure is estimated to be well into the billions of dollars. If you’re reading this, chances are you want in on the March Madness betting yourself.
Welp, you’ve come to the right place. Over the course of this guide, we’ll give you all the know-how on how to bet on March Madness — sportsbooks, promotions, types of wagers, and even some March Madness betting strategies for success.
Before we get started, here’s the latest March Madness odds. The odds to win March Madness were lasted updated on September 7, 2023, and obviously, will be in flux once the NCAA basketball season gets underway. Houston and Alabama were favorites to win the 2023 March Madness, though the big names like Baylor and Kansas were well amongst it.
| NCAAM Championship 2024 |  |
|---|---|
| Kansas | +1000 |
| Duke | +1000 |
| Purdue | +1200 |
| Michigan State | +1400 |
| Kentucky | +1600 |
| UConn | +1600 |
| Marquette | +2000 |
| Houston | +2000 |
| Arkansas | +2000 |
| Texas | +2200 |
| Gonzaga | +2500 |
| North Carolina | +2500 |
| Alabama | +2500 |
| Creighton | +2500 |
| Arizona | +2500 |
| USC | +3000 |
| Tennessee | +3000 |
| Villanova | +3000 |
| UCLA | +3000 |
| Florida Atlantic | +4000 |
| Auburn | +4500 |
| Texas A&M | +5500 |
Top Sportsbooks For March Madness Bracket Betting
The NCAA Tournament is the pinnacle of college basketball — the top 68 teams in the nation, duking it out in a single-elimination tournament. That win-or-go-home format is why it’s earned the “March Madness” moniker. All 67 games are contested within a three-week span so March Madness bracket betting opportunities everywhere come tourney time.
To capitalize on all these opportunities, you’ll need an online sportsbook that carries all the March Madness gambling odds under one roof. In that regard, plus other bettor-friendly features, these next three sportsbooks should be atop every bettor’s to-join list:
BetOnline’s March Madness’ Lines
Bettors far and wide rave about BetOnline‘s bet selection. It’s all-encompassing — no matter the sport, league, or country. That certainly applies to the bookie’s March Madness bets, too.
You name the March Madness bet type — moneyline, in-play, props, futures, etc. — and it’s there for the taking at BetOnline. Not only that, but the prices are top-of-the-line, almost mimicking the NCAA March Madness odds you’ll find from powerhouse Las Vegas casinos.
March Madness Bets at BetNow
Loyalty is a big part of BetNow’s charm. The bookie offers a “lifetime VIP” program to its players. Every time a bettor re-ups their account on BetNow, they’re eligible for an additional 10 or 15 percent bonus. To earn the deal, simply fund your account for the first time. If that initial deposit is at least $500, you qualify for the 10-percent deal, while a deposit of $2000 or above earns the 15-percent promo.
This loyalty program really pays off while in March Madness. With the sheer amount of betting options available, there’s a good probability you’ll need to re-add funds to your account. If so, why not earn extra free play out of it? Of course, this loyalty service can be used year-round at BetNow, even beyond the NCAA tourney.
BetUS has Huge March Madness Pools
BetUS always has a great welcome bonus. They let you choose between 100% and 125%. Of course these come with different rollover requirements and maximum payouts. Every choice comes with its advantages and disadvantages. We love being able to choose.
They have a total of one million dollars in prizes for their March Madness brackets. These are given out both for pools and perfect brackets.
March Madness Bonuses And Contests
We’d be amiss not to mention the plethora of promotions available during March Madness. Sportsbooks roll out their biggest and best deals of the year right before the tournament starts as they try to lure bettors to its site for the tourney. Some of our personal favorites are the following:
- BetOnline: This sportsbook has a $100,000 March Madness pick-em contest. With an entry fee of just $15, players submit their bracket picks and contend for 300 different prizes. The grand award, however, is a $15,000 reward for the best bracket picker.
- BetNow: You’ll also find a bracket challenge at BetNow. However, this one is free of cost. Dubbed the “Million Dollar March Madness bracket”, there are 30 prizes up for grabs, none bigger than the $350,000 stake for the top bracket entrant.
- BetUS: Win a million bucks by pulling off the nearly impossible. For a perfect March Madness bracket, they will give you a million dollars. For a perfect top eight, you will get $10k.
You’re in good hands at any of the aforementioned sportsbooks. For a complete list of betting site recommendations, check out the table below. Included are long-form reviews and sign-up bonus details.
March Madness Betting Games
In simple terms, you can place March Madness betting games into one of two buckets — daily and futures wagers. Here's what you need to know about each:
Daily Bets
Like we mentioned before, there are 67 different games in the NCAA Tournament. Each of those will come with the following bet types that can be made both pregame or in-play:
- Moneyline: This wager is as simple as picking which team will win outright. Typically, moneyline March Madness betting odds will be more lopsided in the early-round games (e.g. one seed versus 16 seed), before becoming more neck-and-neck in the final rounds.
- Spread: This bet adds a "handicap" to each team. Therefore, the favorite must win by a certain point-spread, while the underdog must keep the game within that same spread, if not, win outright.
- Over/under: Nevermind who wins and by how much points, over/under is a gamble on how many points will be scored by both teams combined by either halftime or game's end.
- Props: Some of March Madness best bets are props. These are essentially "side wagers" on specific outcomes within games. March Madness prop bets included which player will make the most three-pointers or even, what color tie a coach will wear.
Futures
Perhaps the most popular way to bet on March Madness is via a futures bet. Typically, this is a wager on which team will win the entire tournament. Remember those odds to win the NCAA championship from earlier? Welp, those are future NCAA Bracket odds.
As the name implies, futures wagers are made well in advance. Most bettors place a futures bet before the regular season starts and again before March Madness.
Obviously, picking the exact team in a field of 68 to cut down the nets is a high-risk, high-reward play and the odds reflect that. Our advice is to spread your money around on a few different teams. This acts as an "insurance" per se and if one does indeed pan out, the winnings from that will more than makeup for the losers.
March Madness Betting Tips
Over the years, we've learned a thing or two about winning at the best bets March Madness. This know-how has come from personal experience and observing other players so without further ado, here are some must-follow March Madness betting tips:
Ride The Hot Hand
Timing is everything when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. The teams that are peaking at the right time tend to steamroll through its bracket. Similarly, the opposite applies to shaky teams entering the field.
More than anything, we attribute the phenomenon to confidence. If a team's strung a few wins together to end the season, it starts believing it can make a deep run. And folks, believing is half the battle — especially under the bright lights of March Madness.
Making Picks Based On Reputation Alone
Far too often, we see bettors get swept away by the sport's hoopla. This manifests itself in a few ways. One, they automatically assume a prestigious program — think Duke, North Carolina, or Kentucky — will "run the table" based on its history alone. Two, bettors fall in love with a "one and done" prospects that are NBA bound. Or three, both those examples dovetail (e.g. Zion Williamson's single-season at Duke).
Don't let the hoopla get to you — no matter what ESPN or social media is ablaze about. Any betting pick you make during March Madness should be based on research and data, not hype.
March Madness Schedule
The March Madness Schedule is subject to change, we will update the dates when they are released.
Other March Madness Resources
While we covered the "meat and potatoes" of March Madness betting just now, we have more resources for bettors looking to get an edge. Check out these other betting guides:
- March Madness odds: A complete breakdown of all the gambling odds you'll find while wagering the NCAA Tournament.
- March Madness bracket predictions: A crystal ball looks into what'll play out in the upcoming March Madness tournament.
- March Madness favorites: Which teams are the betting favorites heading into March Madness? Find out here!
- March Madness futures: We covered futures betting briefly earlier, but this is a more in-depth look at how to win at March Madness futures wagers.
- March Madness locations: Get the lowdown on which cities and arenas will host the upcoming March Madness bracket games.
- March Madness tickets: If you want to be there live to witness March Madness, check out this ticket-buying guide.
- March Madness Betting Timeline: History of March Madness Betting
March Madness 2023 Teams
1. Gonzaga
2. Arizona
3. Kansas
4. Baylor
5. Auburn
6. Kentucky
7. Villanova
8. Duke
9. Wisconsin
10. Tennessee
11. Purdue
12. Texas Tech
13. UCLA
14. Illinois
15. Providence
16. Arkansas
17. UConn
18. Houston
19. Saint Mary's (CA)
20. Iowa
21. Alabama
22. LSU
23. Texas
24. Colorado St.
25. Southern California
26. Murray St.
27. Michigan St.
28. Ohio St.
29. Boise St.
30. North Carolina
31. San Diego St.
32. Seton Hall
33. Creighton
34. TCU
35. Marquette
36. Memphis
37. San Francisco
38. Miami (FL)
39. Loyola Chicago
40. Davidson
41. Iowa St.
42. Michigan
43. Wyoming
44. Rutgers
45. Indiana
46. Virginia Tech
47. Notre Dame
48. UAB
49. Richmond
50. New Mexico St.
51. Chattanooga
52. South Dakota St.
53. Vermont
54. Akron
55. Longwood
56. Yale
57. Colgate
58. Montana St.
59. Delaware
60. Saint Peter's
61. Jacksonville St.
62. Cal St. Fullerton
63. Georgia St.
64. Norfolk St.
65. Wright St.
66. Bryant
67. Texas Southern
68. A&M-Corpus Christi
March Madness FAQs
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Is March Madness betting profitable?
March Madness betting can be profitable for some individuals, but it ultimately depends on your level of knowledge and experience in sports betting. It’s important to remember that any form of gambling comes with some level of risk, and you should never bet more money than you can afford to lose. However, if you have a good understanding of the teams and players and are disciplined in your betting approach, you could potentially make a profit during March Madness. It’s important to do your research and make informed decisions, rather than making impulsive bets based on emotions or hype.
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When is March Madness?
March Madness is a college basketball tournament that takes place every year in the month of March. The tournament typically begins around the second week of March and runs through the beginning of April. In 2024, Tuesday, March 19th, through to Monday, April 8th.
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Do March Madness betting lines offer props?
Yes, March Madness betting lines do offer props, or proposition bets. These types of bets allow you to wager on specific events or occurrences within the game, such as how many points a certain player will score or whether a specific team will make it to the Final Four. Prop bets can add an exciting element to your March Madness betting experience, but it’s important to do your research and only bet what you can afford to lose.
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Is March Madness betting popular?
Yes, March Madness betting is extremely popular. It is estimated that millions of people worldwide participate in betting on the NCAA basketball tournament each year. The tournament generates a lot of excitement and buzz, and many people enjoy placing bets on the games to make the experience even more thrilling. Additionally, many sportsbooks and online betting sites offer special promotions and bonuses specifically for March Madness, which contributes to the popularity of betting on the tournament.
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Which is best bookmaker for March Madness betting?
The best bookmaker for March Madness betting depends on a variety of factors such as the odds offered, bonus offers, and user reviews. Some top-rated bookmakers to consider are BetOnline, Bovada, and MyBookie. Whichever one you choose, make sure to do your research ahead of time and read up on user reviews and feedback to ensure that it is a reliable and trustworthy bookmaker.
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Is March Madness the final stage of the season?
No, March Madness is not the final stage of the season. March Madness is the nickname for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, which is a single-elimination tournament held in March and April. While it is a highly anticipated and exciting part of the college basketball season, it is not the final stage. The tournament is held after the regular season and conference championships, and the winner of March Madness is crowned the national champion, but the college basketball season officially ends after all of the postseason tournaments, including the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), CBI, and CIT, are completed.
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Are prop bets available for March Madness?
Yes, prop bets are available for March Madness. Prop bets are additional bets that can be made on specific aspects of the game or tournament, outside of the traditional point spread or money line bets. Some popular prop bets for March Madness include predicting the first team to score, the total number of points scored by a specific player, or the exact margin of victory. It’s important to note that prop bets can vary between different sportsbooks, so be sure to shop around for the best options.
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Who has won the most NCAAB titles?
The team with the most NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament championships is the UCLA Bruins, with a total of 11 titles. Coach John Wooden led the team to 10 championships between 1964 and 1975, making him the most successful coach in NCAA basketball history. Other teams with multiple championships include the Kentucky Wildcats, North Carolina Tar Heels, and Duke Blue Devils.
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How many games are in March Madness?
There are a total of 67 games in March Madness, which is the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. The tournament consists of 68 teams, with the initial “First Four” round consisting of four games. The remaining 64 teams then compete in a single-elimination bracket, with each round consisting of multiple games until the champion is crowned in the National Championship game.
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How many teams play in March Madness?
There are a total of 68 teams that play in March Madness, which is the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held annually in March and April. These teams are selected through a combination of automatic bids (given to conference champions) and at-large bids (selected by the NCAA selection committee based on teams’ overall performance and strength of schedule). The tournament is divided into four regions, with 16 teams in each region playing in a single-elimination format until one team is crowned the national champion.
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