The NCAA Tournament is one of the most anticipated and exciting sporting events of the year, which is why every spring you have many new sports bettors wondering how to wager on March Madness.
With 68 of the top college basketball teams in the country competing for the National Championship, the road to the Final Four is paved with fantastic finishes, unbelievable upsets, and the most fun you’ll ever have betting on college basketball.
Only time will tell which teams will defy the odds to advance to the 2024 National Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona on April 8.
How does March Madness betting work
March Madness betting works just like most basketball games. However, when you mix in the high-stakes tournament format and the top programs in the NCAA, March Madness betting takes on a completely different intensity.
Once the field of 68 teams is released on Selection Sunday, oddsmakers get to work setting point spreads, Over/Under totals, and additional March Madness odds for each tournament matchup in the First Four as well as the Round of 64.
As teams win and advance throughout the bracket, bookmakers quickly release betting lines for the next slate of games all the way through to the National Championship game, adjusting their odds to current form and matchup edges found in these unique tournament contests.
Understanding March Madness betting odds
The point spread, Over/Under and moneyline may be the most common ways to bet on March Madness odds, but there’s nothing basic about those betting odds when you add a dash of Big Dance drama.
Point spread
The point spread is the estimated gap between the two teams on the scoreboard, set by oddsmakers to balance the level of competition before each NCAA tournament game. The point spread favorite must win by more than the designated spread to cover (and win the bet) while the underdog must win outright or lose by less than the spread to cover.
| Teams | Odds |
|---|---|
 San Diego State |
+7.5 (-110) |
 UConn |
-7.5 (-110) |
In the example above, San Diego State is a +7.5 point underdog. They would have to win outright or lose by fewer than eight points to cover the spread. The favorite is UConn. They need to win by more than eight points to cover. The second set of odds beside the spread is the vig or the juice and is the cost of placing the bet. At -110, a bettor has to wager $110 to win $100.
The opening rounds of March Madness betting can see some larger point spreads on the board when higher-ranked teams play lower-ranked opponents, such as No. 1 vs. No. 16 matchups. As the tournament goes on, the spreads will shrink as the level of competition gets tighter.
Over/Under
The Over/Under is the projected total number of points scored by both teams in their NCAA Tournament game. Bettors can wager on whether the final score will go Over or Under this total.
| Teams | Odds |
|---|---|
| San Diego State vs. UConn |
o145.5 (-110) |
| u145.5 |
The total for the above game is set at 145.5 points. Bettors can wager on the Over or the Under. If 146 combined points or more are scored, the Over wins, but if 145 or fewer are scored, the Under takes it.
Oddsmakers admit that college basketball totals are one of their toughest markets to book and get even tougher during March Madness with foreign foes, contrasting styles, and quick turnarounds in each round of the tournament.
Moneyline
The moneyline is the most straightforward method for betting on March Madness: simply pick which team will win. Each team is assigned a moneyline value based on its implied probability of winning the game outright.
| Teams | Odds |
|---|---|
| San Diego State |
+165 |
| UConn |
-205 |
In the above moneyline example, San Diego State is the +165 underdog. That means you can win $165 on a $100 wager if San Diego State beats UConn, which is a heavy favorite. At -205 a bettor would need to wager $205 to win $100.
Earlier rounds of the NCAA Tournament will see larger moneyline odds when a higher seed takes on a lower seed. Moneyline underdogs are a popular March Madness bet due to the unpredictable upsets that highlight the bracket each year.
Five other popular March Madness bets
The popularity of March Madness betting has sparked additional ways to wager on the NCAA Tournament, from long-running bets to quick and thrilling gambling options.
Futures
Futures are bets that take a longer period of time to play out, including betting on which team will win the National Championship or make the Final Four by winning its respective region. Our Final Four odds and March Madness odds pages are a great place to get started.
Futures bets can be placed throughout the course of March Madness and the odds are always adjusting to outcomes, injuries, and betting action during the Big Dance.
Props
Props (or proposition bets) are alternative wagers set for games outside of the standard markets. March Madness props can focus on individual team or player performances or be based around events and stats, such as the total number of 3-pointers made or fouls committed.
There are longer-running prop bets available, such as betting on the number of teams from a conference to advance to the Sweet 16 or how many teams with the nickname “Wildcats” will advance to the Round of 32.
First to 15
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more exciting way to enjoy March Madness betting than First to 15 props. The game is in the name: bet on which team will score 15 points first.
Bookmakers will set odds for either side in this race to 15 based on their matchup, and bettors get to enjoy a thrilling back-and-forth bet that usually pays out in the first 10 minutes of the game. “First To” bets can range in point values, such as a race to 20, 30, 40, and upwards, depending on where you choose to bet.
Tournament MVP
Wagering on which player will win tournament MVP – also known as the Final Four Most Outstanding Player – is a form of futures betting.
These odds go up at the start of the tournament, featuring the best players from the tournament favorites at the top. The March Madness MVP odds adjust to outcomes, results, and betting action throughout the tourney.
Derivatives
Derivative odds allow you to bet on segments of March Madness games, such as results from the first half.
Derived from the full-game spreads, totals, and moneylines, these markets are graded exclusively by those segments, such as total combined points scored in the first half. Bettors can find added value in derivative odds when it comes to team tendencies and pace of play.
March Madness betting tips & strategies
The NCAA Tournament is one of the most unpredictable events in sports but there are some tried and true tips to help make the smartest March Madness bets.
Look for experienced teams and coaches
Tournament experience as well as a stable core of upperclassmen to lean on can be key to a team’s NCAA success when postseason pressures rise.
There’s a reason why you always see the same coaches advancing past the first weekend of the tournament. Knowing how to manage lineups and adjust game to game is worth its weight in gold.
Scout the schedule
Strength of schedule from the regular season plays a big part in shaping the teams given an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and it’s also a good measuring stick when betting March Madness matchups. Look at a team’s quality of opponents and notable wins from the regular season.
Perhaps the only thing that can trump a proven track record is current form and momentum. Every year we see surprise success from teams peaking at the right time in the postseason. Dissect those hot – and cold - streaks and see if they’ll continue in March.
Know the signs of a Cinderella team
Finding a certified Cinderella team is the fast track to profits when betting March Madness. These can be small-conference schools with tricky tempos or sharpshooters who took down top-tier competition during non-conference play.
A Cinderella can also be a lower seed coming out of a power conference that’s been playing at a competitive level all season and finding its form at the right time during the tournament.
Look for live-betting opportunities
The wild swings in momentum during March Madness seem tailormade for live betting. In-play odds are always an exciting way to jump into the action and that intensity is ramped up during March Madness.
Live betting the NCAA Tournament is also a great way to hedge and middle pregame wagers.
Where can I bet on March Madness?
March Madness is one of the most popular times of the year for sports bettors, which of course makes it one of the busiest times of the year for online sportsbooks. Every betting site will offer March Madness odds but the top sites are safe and secure, offer a wide range of banking options, and give you a ton of markets for each game. Check out the best March Madness betting sites in your region.
Free March Madness bracket contests
Many legal sportsbooks also offer free March Madness bracket challenges and tournaments with huge cash prizes available just for signing up.
How to bet on March Madness FAQs
The most popular ways to bet on March Madness is wagering on point spreads, Over/Under totals, and moneylines for individual NCAA Tournament games.
Every online, mobile and retail casino sportsbook takes bets on March Madness games.
Yes. Unlike the talent-heavy pro leagues, March Madness success is often driven by the best coaches and the most experienced teams.
Teams with good momentum can often go far in the NCAA Tournament.
The 2024 NCAA Tournament tips off on March 19 with the First Four and runs until April 8 with the National Championship Game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The UConn Huskies have the shortest odds to win the 2024 National Championship at +480, but are followed closely by the Houston Cougars at +650 and the Purdue Boilermakers at +750.
