By Larry Rupp
The calendar has turned to March, which means the legendary NCAA Tournament for men’s college basketball is almost here. Fans across the country fill out brackets every year in hopes of correctly predicting the next team to raise the trophy. The tourney has also developed into one of the most anticipated events from a sports betting perspective, so let’s dive into what it’s all about.
What is March Madness?
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has affectionately become known as “March Madness” simply because of how intense each game truly is. Once the 68-team field is finalized, college programs from across the country go head-to-head in a win or go home tournament. Each round takes place at a neutral site and all the action is spread out over the course of a few weeks.
Millions of people try their hand at filling out a perfect bracket via ESPN’s Tournament Challenge app, but it is a seemingly impossible task. There always seems to be one or two major upsets that shock the world and cause utter chaos to ensue. The best part may be that every game is televised for free on NCAA’s March Madness Live app as well as the organizations’ website. Broadcasts from TV stations like CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV can all be enjoyed at no cost.
Of course, NCAA.com is also the go-to spot for final game results and tournament updates.
The Road to the Final Four starts this month. Don’t miss seeing all the action LIVE at a city near you.
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 1, 2022
Tickets:
👉 https://t.co/ljWgCkJ1Nk pic.twitter.com/NRJk5AJvul
Where Can I Bet on March Madness?
Fortunately, all 63 games of the tournament will be available for single-game betting at every major sportsbook. That includes wagers like over/unders, moneyline bets, and spread bets on platforms such as FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, PointsBet and more. Sports bettors looking to place future wagers on which team they believe will win it all are in luck, too. Those odds are being updated by the day and will change from round to round as teams are eliminated, too.
Tips & Tricks to Keep in Mind
It’s important to keep in mind that betting on tournament games can be much different than placing a wager on a regular season matchup. Stakes are high and these kids do not have much experience playing in do or die situations. Keeping these tricks & tips in mind are sure to help.
While it may not seem like it, home court advantage still exists during the tournament. Yes, teams will not be playing in their own arenas in order to establish fairness. However, some schools will have to take plane trips and be forced to deal with a lousy jet lag situation. On the other side, certain teams may only need to take a short bus ride to get to their game location. This would obviously give them an emotional advantage in terms of crowd support.
The other thing to remember is that balanced teams win championships. In fact, every champion over the last 18 tournaments ranked inside the top 20 in defensive efficiency and all but one ranked inside the top 20 in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Bettors will be quick to pick a couple upsets and latch on to a fan favorite cinderella team, but picking a blue blood program is the best route to take when choosing the ultimate winner.
Who is a sleeper team for March Madness?@gabbgoudy hit the streets to ask some fans 😴⤵️ pic.twitter.com/XIcVdmVRGw
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) March 1, 2022
Picture Credit: Shutterstock