How To Bet On March Madness Games

The NCAA Tournament and March Madness Betting research begins on 'Selection Sunday' as the field of 68 teams are announced. After the brackets are filled in, the March Madness format is followed with.

1. Mar 04, 2021 After all, betting on March Madness winners is hard enough – there’s no reason to stay confused about what the tournament betting odds mean. Moneyline Wagers on March Madness Games. Moneyline odds on the NCAA Tournament promise a% payoff when a gambler’s chosen school wins the game straight-up. A favorite’s moneyline is denoted with a.
2. Another popular betting option for March Madness games is the 'over/under' or what many may refer to as the total. This wager is a cooperative effort between the two teams to either go ‘Over’ or ‘Under’ the posted total.

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:

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
• Email
• 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.

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

March Madness Game Locations

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.

March Madness Game Schedule

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.