Online Betting Ncaa Tournament
/ 2021 NCAA Tournament odds: Florida State, Oklahoma undervalued 2021 NCAA Tournament odds: Florida State, Oklahoma undervalued 75756A5E-120A-4932-810C-2FD980DB785E. Nor has the state of Indiana, which will become the college basketball betting capital of the world in the com. Account Register for free and get personalized odds, expert picks and exclusive offers! And then there are several teams fighting for NCAA Tournament bids. Whatever you’re looking for, this tournament’s got it. Here’s my preview and prediction for the 2021 Big Ten Tournament. Compare odds from all major sportsbooks for College Basketball Big Ten Conference Tournament.
- Brackets are the traditional way most Americans bet on the NCAA tournament. You fill out a full, 63-game bracket prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament and either pay to enter it into a pool or submit it to a free-to-enter NCAA Tournament bracket contest. Several NJ online.
- March Madness betting will be bigger than ever in 2021. With legal sports wagering expanding across the US, several more states offer online sports betting on the 68-team postseason tournament than did a.
It’s been two years since we’ve had March Madness to bet on and since then, the popularity of live betting in North America has skyrocketed. If you aren’t in love with in-play wagering already, you’ll be hooked by the end of the first day of the Round of 64.
Events like the NCAA tournament are perfect for live betting, especially in the opening rounds. The chaotic mishmash of college basketball’s elite facing off with unknown and upset-driven mid-majors make for some whacky results. We’ve already covered the basics of how to bet on March Madness, now here are some things to look for when live betting NCAA Tournament games.
Watch closely
Basketball is a game of runs. Knowing when these runs are about to take place comes with hours and hours of watching hoops. Even from your living room, you can feel the air get sucked out of a gymnasium after a crucial and-1 or smell fear on the favorite when the underdog buries a timely 3-ball to cut into their lead.
When looking for a solid line for live betting, know the situation. During the first two rounds of March Madness, you’ll see the lower seeds come out firing against name-brand programs and that can slim the in-game spread far beyond what the pre-game line closed at. You may be able to get the better team at a discount spread – depending on the vig.
Pay attention to things like foul trouble and possible injuries as well. You can get excellent value going against a team whose star player is sitting with three first-half fouls or jump on the Over when teams get into bonus early – meaning more points with the clock stopped. An injury to a key contributor can also provide value to the in-game line, be it a standout scorer or defensive stalwart. Recognize how their absence impacts the game and bet accordingly.
Now, live betting has much lower bet limits than pre-game wagering. But if you’re a casual bettor like me, you should be able to stay within your wheelhouse in terms of wager size.
First-half anomalies
While halftime odds are nothing new to most sports bettors and are not officially live betting, it does fall into the in-game category. You can get terrific value betting second-half totals when a good team performed poorly or a slower-paced offense put up big numbers in the first 20 minutes.
The 2019 ACC Tournament provided two perfect opportunities for those who were watching to cash in on some strange first halves.
Notre Dame and Georgia Tech were two of the lowest-scoring teams in the ACC, finishing 13th and 15th in the conference in terms of points per game, but they came out firing in the first half of their second-round game, combining for 84 points and going well over the total. This offensive outburst inflated the second-half line, leading to a great opportunity to hit the Under for the second half, which ended up winning.
A similar situation presented itself a day later when N.C. State took advantage of a slow-starting Virginia team and led 29-27 at the half, mostly because the Cavaliers managed just 10 field goals and made just 3-of-6 free throws before the break. It was clear from watching the game that Virginia just needed to hit a few more baskets in the second to pull away for the win and that’s what happened as the Cavs exploded for 49 after the break, easily covering the second-half spread (and the full game spread, for that matter).
You can also find value on the Under in the second half when the opposite happens, and a mediocre offense has a hot start or a methodical-paced team plays at a higher gear in the initial 20 minutes. Knowing what a team is and isn’t capable of and its season-long production is a great first step to capping second-half totals.
You should always measure those halftime scores against the overall game total. Oddsmakers are usually spot on with their Over/Under numbers (to the point that you’ll sweat more close O/U results than you’d like) and if you see a halftime score on pace to finish well above or below the full-game total, take a deeper look into why the point production is way off the mark and if it can correct itself in the closing 1,200 seconds.
Moneyline flyers
We’re talking specifically NCAA tournament live betting here, but let me pull an example from the other biggest event on the sports betting calendar: Super Bowl.
We’re all familiar with what happened in Super Bowl LI in February 2017. The New England Patriots battled back from a 28-3 hole in the third quarter to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime in Super Bowl LI.
Well, when the Pats were shockingly down 25 points, some sports bettors took a flyer on New England’s in-game moneyline (odds to win outright) with some Vegas books offering it as high as 16/1. And when Brady & Co. completed the comeback, those live betting payouts wiped out any profits made off the game’s other 800-plus offerings for those operators that stuck their neck out with a hefty Pats moneyline.
Back to the NCAA, a similar opportunity presented itself in the Round of 64 of 2017’s Big Dance (not on the scale of Super Bowl or in terms of sheer improbability) when No. 5 Virginia got left in the dust by No. 12 UNC-Wilmington, which jumped out to a 26-11 lead during the first half of their opening-round meeting.
The Cavaliers, who closed as -7.5-point favorites and were priced around -350 on the moneyline, looked lost in those first 13 minutes and many fans quickly counted out Virginia knowing it doesn’t have much in the way of offensive firepower to dig itself out of these types of holes.
Seeing a bargain, I tossed a flyer on the Cavs +140 to win outright, and soon after that bet receipt reached my inbox, Virginia caught fire with a 19-3 run to finish the half and would go on to win the game 76-71, cashing in my tasty in-game moneyline bet but falling short for those who bet the original spread.
We’ve watched situations like this every March. The heavyweight fave gets smacked in the mouth, all the Cinderella talk starts up, then – POOF! – pumpkin. Good teams find a way to win, and good in-game bettors find a way to maximize those situations.
Mind the middle
The Holy Grail of sports betting is middling a game. That’s when you place wagers on both sides of a contest at different odds and have the final result land right in the middle, paying out both bets.
As an example, you may have grabbed an NCAA underdog at +12 before tipoff and watched that team battle the fave closely through 30 minutes of basketball. Then, jumping into the live betting action, you see the favorite has an adjusted spread of -7.5 and bang on that number hoping that the final score wraps with a difference of eight, nine, 10, or 11 points. The final comes in with the favorite winning 82-71 and you just gave your bookie the “middle” finger by winning both bets.
In-game middling is not for everyone or every game. Like most of the bets mentioned above, you want to actually be watching the action and have a feel for the flow and momentum shifts. If your initial wager is looking good and you’re just getting greedy and middling any old thing, you could be erasing any profits made from your original bet. It’s almost like splitting 10’s in blackjack: you’ve got a winning hand. Don’t F with it.
Ncaa Basketball Betting Lines Today
And I would suggest you keep your middle wager size the same as your original bet, that way if you win your original bet but lose your in-game play, you’re almost breaking even (depending on the juice).
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March Madness betting will be bigger than ever in 2021.
With legal sports wagering expanding across the US, several more states offer online sports betting on the 68-team postseason tournament than did a year ago.
Currently, over a dozen states host regulated sports betting markets. And several states are on the cusp of introducing legal sportsbooks this year.
Online sportsbooks with March Madness betting
The NCAA Tournament creates several ways to bet on college basketball.
Some will fill out entire brackets for pools with their coworkers or friends. Others will choose to wager on games throughout the tournament by using a sportsbook.
March Madness begins with Selection Sunday on March 14. In a usual year, once the field of 68 is chosen the First Four play on Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.
The official first round begins on Thursday, March 18, with 16 total games. Note that all 2021 NCAA Basketball Tournament games will be held in Indianapolis and surrounding areas, due to COVID restrictions.
March Madness Live Odds
See below for updated March Madness odds posted at legal US online sportsbooks. Prior to the tournament you can bet on March Madness futures, including odds for teams to make the Final Four or to win the National Championship.
Once the bracket is set you’ll find live odd (spreads, moneylines, totals) for each individual game. Use the drop-down menu on the right to change your legal betting state. Scroll right to see more sportsbooks.
Where can I legally bet on March Madness in the US?
Currently, the following states feature a legal sports betting industry where you can wager on the NCAA Tournament:
Online Sportsbooks & Apps | Retail Only | Upcoming States |
---|---|---|
Colorado Apps | Arkansas | Louisiana |
Illinois Apps | Delaware | North Carolina |
Indiana Apps | Mississippi | Maryland |
Iowa Apps | Montana | |
Michigan Apps | New Mexico | |
Nevada Apps | New York | |
New Hampshire Apps | ||
New Jersey Apps | ||
Pennsylvania Apps | ||
Rhode Island Apps | ||
Tennessee Apps | ||
Virginia Apps | ||
West Virginia Apps |
The majority of states with a sports betting industry have retail sportsbooks as well as online sports betting apps.
If you live in one of the states listed above, you can wager on March Madness right from your mobile device through an online sportsbook.
If you live in Oregon, you may be wondering why the state is not listed. Unfortunately, although Oregon hosts mobile sports betting, bettors in the state cannot wager on any collegiate sports, including college basketball.
Anyway, most of the states that feature online March Madness betting have several wagering platforms available. These online sportsbooks currently allow NCAA basketball bets:
Betting through an online sportsbook is like wagering at a land-based location. The most significant difference is the availability to place live bets.
While some retail sportsbooks might accept live in-game wagers, the odds update so fast that having a betting app is a necessity.
The only other difference is your physical location, of course. With online sportsbooks, you can bet wherever you’d like in the entire state. At a retail sportsbook, you must be present at the time of wagering.
Even with legal options around the US, a lot of bettors still bet through offshore sportsbooks. This is dangerous for several reasons.
Beyond their uncertain legality, offshore sites are not regulated or protected. If you’re having issues with the site or you haven’t received your winnings on time, there is no alternative route to settling your bets.
Where to bet on March Madness Online
Betting on college basketball and March Madness is easy in the following states:
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Each state offers several online sports betting options, including DraftKings and FanDuel sportsbooks.
Creating an account is a simple process that only takes a few minutes.
To start, you’ll need to provide some personal information that every sportsbook requires, which includes:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Phone number
- Social security number
You will also need to create a username and password that you’ll need to input to access the online sportsbook. Most will ask you to set up security questions as well.
To finish signing up, you will need to confirm you’re at least of legal age and agree to the terms and conditions.
Once complete, you will be able to make a deposit and start betting on March Madness.
Colorado sports betting: Colorado became an online sports betting state in May 2020. BetRivers Sportsbook was the first to go online in the Centennial State. However, with 33 casinos in the state, more sportsbooks are joining the party all the time.
Illinois sports betting: Illinois joined the ranks of online sports betting states in June 2020. True to form in various other states, BetRivers Sportsbook was the first to open in the Prairie State. It’s a bit surprising that there are only about a half-dozen apps active in Illinois, but the five are all big-time brands, so there are plenty of great choices. The in-person registration requirement has been suspended for most of the life of the industry, and it is set to sunset in September 2021.
Indiana sports betting: Indiana launched online sports betting in October 2019. Both DraftKings and BetRivers went live on Oct. 3, followed by FanDuel on Oct. 26. While the Hoosier State only offers three sportsbooks at the moment, others are in line to launch.
Iowa sports betting: Iowa was one of the more unassuming states to become an online sportsbook haven in the first wave of launches. However, with the launch in April 2019, Iowa positioned itself as one of the new vanguard of sports betting destinations. The state’s outlook got a boost in January 2021 when it finally allowed remote registration to proceed.
Michigan sports betting: The launch of online sports betting was a momentous occasion in January 2021. Michigan’s launch was the largest simultaneous launch of apps in US history, with 10 apps going live on the very first day. Michigan also launched online casinos and poker the same day and is suddenly one of the top gambling destinations in the state.
Nevada sports betting: Nevada is the original sports betting location in the United States. Sports betting apps have been available in the state since 2013, several years before any other state. Although the Silver State now has competition, there are still plenty of great apps for you to place your bets. Be aware, however, that you have to visit the apps’ home casinos in order to register and move money into and out of your account.
New Hampshire sports betting: New Hampshire became an online sports betting state in part, at least, because Gov. Chris Sununu wanted to place a bet on the New England Patriots. The governor pushed for the Granite State to go live prior to the 2020 NFL Playoffs, and got his wish when DraftKings launched in December 2019. Due to an unusual arrangement, DraftKings enjoys a virtual monopoly over the state, but it is live and able to book action no matter where you sit in New Hampshire.
New Jersey sports betting: The New Jersey sports betting market was the first to go online, and it is the most extensive around. Currently, there are over 15 sports betting apps available in the state. These additional platforms include FanDuel, William Hill, SugarHouse, PointsBet and BetMGM.
Pennsylvania sports betting: Sports betting in PA went online in May 2019 with SugarHouse Sportsbook. Several more have launched, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Unibet, BetRivers and Fox Bet online sportsbooks.
Rhode Island sports betting: Rhode Island began online sports betting in September 2019 after the bill to allow it passed in April. Mobile sports betting is operated and regulated by the Rhode Island Lottery, which operates with support from William Hill. Although it’s not a big market and not a big state, anyone inside the Ocean State is welcome to bet on NCAA Tournament games, so long as they don’t occur inside state lines.
Tennessee sports betting: Tennessee was a surprising entrant into the online sports betting game in November 2020. The Volunteer State’s launch actually represented a historic first, due to the fact that it was the first state with online-only sports betting. There are no retail sportsbooks in the state, but the four online sportsbooks are more than happy to process your wagers on March Madness.
Virginia sports betting: Virginia became an online sportsbook state in January 2021 after a short legalization process in 2020. Like Tennessee, Old Dominion is operating as an online-only state for sports betting. However, unlike the Volunteer State, there are already plans in motion to bring retail sports betting to the state. For the time being, though, anyone inside the state lines can find options like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and BetRivers for betting on college basketball games.
West Virginia sports betting: West Virginia has three apps to choose from including BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel. There are no major restrictions on betting in the Mountain State, so feel free to place all your NCAA Tournament wagers in the state.
Among the best sportsbooks to use for March Madness betting are DraftKings and FanDuel. Both sports wagering apps feature a large amount of alternate lines, props and futures.
They’re also two of the best when it comes to live wagering. The sportsbooks each provide an extensive amount of live odds with multiple alternates for point spreads and totals.
Soon to open legal March Madness betting states
Some states in the US have legalized online sports betting, but have yet to put the law into action. Numerous states are working on rolling out some online sportsbooks in time for March Madness.
The biggest state with online sports betting in the works is New York. The Empire State already has retail sports betting, and both state lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have expressed support for moving into the online space, albeit through different avenues. It will probably be a few months before they all come together, but there will be online March Madness wagering in New York sometime quite soon.
The other state likely to bring sports betting online is Maryland. Voters already passed a sweeping referendum in November 2020, and it is only on lawmakers and regulators to implement it, at this point. Given how NCAA basketball-crazy the state is, it would not be a shock to see a launch soon.
Types of bets you can place during March Madness
March Madness futures
Futures are a popular bet for March Madness.
These wagers are typically available all season long, with the odds changing throughout based on the results of games.
Although a lot of bettors place futures wagers right before the tournament begins, they are available leading up to the season and right now, too.
The most common futures bet is picking the winner of the national championship. It is a popular wager because of the opportunity to receive favorable odds.
Of course, betting on one of these teams before the season, as opposed to betting a No. 1 seed at the start of the tournament, would generate a larger payout.
Other widespread futures include:
- Which conference will win the title?
- Which player will be named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player?
Again, both of these options will have encouraging odds for bettors.
Some sportsbooks have additional futures that allow you to bet on how far along the team will get. Most will have lines for making the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and Final Four.
March Madness bracket challenges
Beyond futures or individual wagering, a lot of sportsbooks have bracket challenges too. These are pools where you’re able to submit a full bracket like you would with your friends.
Online Betting On Ncaa Tournament
DraftKings, FanDuel and other sportsbooks implemented some type of bracket contest last season.
Though there are challenges that cost money to enter, the majority of books include ones that are free to join.
Paid challenges, like DraftKings’ recent NJ-only pool, cost $20 and had a total prize of $100,000. While the free contests vary in cash prizes, they can range from DraftKings’ $64,000 pool to FanDuel’s $150,000 Bracket Madness.
Many sportsbooks, including SugarHouse, Caesars and PointsBet, also run various free bracket challenges.
After joining one of these contests, picking a bracket is easy.
You will choose a winner for every game in this single-elimination tournament until you’ve crowned your champion.
Since most pools don’t require picks for the First Four matchups, you’ll begin picking winners from the field of 64 in the first round.
The bracket is broken up by four regions, with teams being seeded one through 16.
Once you’re all done, the “madness” begins, and you officially have a rooting interest for every single game.
If, and usually when, your bracket becomes “busted,” you still can bet on individual games throughout the tournament. Every online sportsbook will provide betting odds for each game.
A lot of books will also update futures odds after every day or a round of action. If your bracket went down because your champion lost, you’re still able to put some money on another team you think will have the best chance.
March Madness live betting
Live betting has become one of the most standard ways to use any online sportsbook, and it isn’t any different when it comes to betting on March Madness.
As any college basketball fan can tell you, no lead is safe as long as there is still time on the clock.
Live in-game wagering allows you to place a bet at any time in the game with updated lines based on the current score and situation.
It is an excellent feature because it doesn’t restrict you to the pregame odds; you can wager at any point. It also lets you see how a game begins before deciding to commit any money.
Sometimes teams that get down a lot early will receive much better odds than when they entered the game. Bettors can take a chance of putting a few dollars down on an enhanced moneyline with the possibility that a comeback will provide a big payout.
Live betting will be available for every NCAA Tournament game.
Beyond the standard betting lines like point spreads, moneylines and game totals, most sportsbooks will offer a large selection of alternate lines as well as game and player props.
March Madness moneylines, spreads, over/unders
The most basic college basketball bets are moneylines, point spreads and over/unders.
These straightwagers are available for every regular-season game and every March Madness matchup too.
Betting the moneyline is merely choosing which team you think will win. The teams that are the favorite will have minus odds, meaning that you must wager more than the amount you’re going to win.
For instance, a 5-point favorite’s moneyline is probably going to be around -230. So, this means you’ll have to wager $230 to win $100.
The opposite applies to betting an underdog’s moneyline. A team receiving the same 5-point spread will have a moneyline around +180. Your $100 wager would win $180 with the underdog.
A point spread bet is similar, except that the game’s final score and the margin of victory come into play. If you bet on the favorite giving 5 points, they must win by at least 6 points for your wager to win.
While a 5-point victory would result in a push, any fewer points would be a win for the underdog getting the spread.
Game total bets, often referred to as the over/under, has nothing to do with which team wins the game. The over/under is strictly decided by how many combined points are scored in total.
College basketball totals will vary with every game, ranging from 120 to 160 points.
Bettors pick whether they think there will be more or fewer points scored than the given amount the sportsbook provides. If the total is set at 130 points and the final score consists of 125 points, then “under” bettors win and “over” backers lose.
March Madness betting tips
Early and equal
Parity is increasing in March Madness.
Think Loyola University in the 2018 Final Four, so take advantage of that parity early in the tournament when the point spreads are bigger.
For first-round games, betting on the No. 12 versus No. 5 seed games is the way to go. More than a third of all teams seeded at No. 12 have won during the round of 64.
That makes 12 seeds, as well as 11 and 13 seeds, good bets against the spread during the round of 64 and the round of 32.
Weigh strengths
Later in the tournament, pay attention to the team’s conference strength as well as momentum. Have they been just squeaking by or winning big?
Teams playing well into the third round are likely to keep playing well, regardless of seeding.
Keep an eye on higher seeds
In the Final Four, the higher-seeded team wins — and typically covers the spread — 75% of the time.
Wimpy records?
Teams with weak road or neutral records often do not fare well in the tournament.
March Madness betting trends
Most of the money is bet on the spreads of the games.
There will be a small amount on moneylines and totals, but fans love to bet big money on their team to win the national title. But not many teams worse than a No. 3 seed has won the tournament.
Many analysts say 50 million Americans bet on March Madness picks each year. The news media often reports on the billions of dollars in loss of productivity due to time spent filling out NCAA Tournament brackets and watching the games.
Forbes magazine estimates that the number of people worldwide who will place at least one bet on the tournament could be more than 100 million.
Last 10 NCAA basketball champions
- 2019: No championship due to COVID-19
- 2018: Villanova
- 2017: North Carolina
- 2016: Villanova
- 2015: Duke
- 2014: Connecticut
- 2013: Louisville
- 2012: Kentucky
- 2011: Connecticut
- 2010: Duke
March Madness FAQ
When does March Madness start?
Selection Sunday is on Sunday, March 14.
The 2021 First Four begins on Tuesday, March 16, and the first round starts on Thursday, March 18.
What are the important dates?
First Four: March 16-17
First and second rounds: March 18-21
Sweet 16 and Elite Eight: March 25-28
Final Four and the championship game: April 3 and 5
How do I stream March Madness?
Every single March Madness game will air on either truTV, TBS, TNT or CBS.
Those looking to stream the game online have several options as well. If you receive these TV networks as part of your cable package, then you can log in and stream every game for free using March Madness Live.
Those without a cable subscription have other alternatives as well. They can stream games through services like fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV.
Is there DFS for March Madness?
Yes, you can play college basketball DFS contests on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel.
When are March Madness odds released?
Most sportsbooks have futures odds available now. Odds for the start of the tournament will become available after Selection Sunday on March 14.
How does March Madness work?
The field of 68 teams is selected and announced on Sunday, March 14.
Four play-in games known as the First Four finalize the four-region bracket before the first round begins on Thursday, March 16.
The opening round consists of 32 games in two days. After 16 more games through that weekend, the Sweet 16 is set for the following week.
Four more days of games will determine the regional champions and the Final Four.
The 2021 Final Four and title game will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.
The national championship will be decided on April 5.
Which team was the lowest seed to win March Madness?
Villanova was the lowest seed to ever win March Madness as a No. 8 seed in 1985. The seventh-seeded UConn Huskies are the second-lowest
A brief history of March Madness
March Madness is one of the most exciting and most gambled on sporting events in the US every year.
The NCAA Tournament was created in 1939 to determine college basketball’s annual national champion.
Like with anything else, the tournament has changed and expanded over the years. For the first 11 years of its existence, only eight teams qualified. By the 1980s, the field grew to 48 teams.
This number expanded to 64 teams and is the tournament we see today. The format stayed the same until a play-in game was reintroduced in 2001, adding the 65th squad.
Then in 2011, the field grew by three more teams and three more play-in games to have the current NCAA Tournament format that will occur this year.
Instead of only involving 16th-seeded teams, the four play-ins will have at least two games between Nos. 11, 12, 13 or 14 seeds. These opening games are now known as the First Four.
The field of 68 is determined on Selection Sunday, which takes place on March 14 this year.
An NCAA selection committee is in charge of rounding out the entire field and deciding which seed each team will have.
Thirty-two teams receive automatic bids into the tournament because they won their conference’s postseason. Regardless of record or anything that took place in the regular season, conference tournament champs get invited to the Big Dance.
The selection committee then decides the final 36 teams that receive an at-large bid. Every teams’ regular-season resume is put under scrutiny to determine the best and which deserve to play in March Madness.
The UCLABruins are the most successful team in the history of the tournament, winning the championship 11 times. Kentucky basketball isn’t far behind, with eight titles, followed by NorthCarolina with six.