March Madness Tournament Props: Prop Bets & Alternative Markets

Add some fun to your NCAA Tournament betting with March Madness props. Get odds and learn about types of props, tips, advice, and more!

Chris Vasile - Publishing Editor at Covers.com
Chris Vasile • Publishing Editor
Mar 19, 2025 • 11:09 ET • 5 min read
March Madness player composite image.
Photo By - Imagn Images.

Basketball bettors have the opportunity to add some extra mayhem to the NCAA Tournament with March Madness props.

While prop bets for March Madness aren’t the biggest draw in action, these markets are gaining popularity at sportsbooks and add a fun wrinkle to your NCAA Tournament wagers in 2025.

So, while you lick your wounds from a busted bracket—or celebrate still being in contention—we'll be breaking down the growing list of Big Dance prop bets available in 2025.

March Madness prop odds

Prop odds for March Madness began hitting sportsbooks in earnest on the night of Selection Sunday, which was March 16, 2025. Check back for updated prop odds throughout the NCAA Tournament.

One March Madness prop that is readily available is "To Make the Final Four odds."

Team FanDuel DraftKings
Auburn Auburn -150 -135
Duke Duke -115 -120
Alabama Alabama +165 +170
Florida Florida +165 +165
Houston Houston +165 +165
Tennessee Tennessee +340 +330
Iowa State Iowa State +390 +320
Wisconsin Wisconsin +650 +650

Odds to make the NCAA Final Four are out and to the surprise of nobody, the two front-runners and No.1 seeds in their respective regions lead the way. Auburn and Duke are two elite teams with plenty of star power and equipped with a favorable draw, should be right there at the Alamodome contesting the Final Four.

March Madness seed prop bets

Most seed prop odds for this year's NCAA Tournament will begin to appear at sportsbooks throughout North America once the bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday. Check back for updated prop odds throughout March Madness.

Seed victory props

Prop Yes No
Will a 13 seed win a game? -145 +115
Will a 14 seed win a game? +185 -235
will a 15 seed win a game? +500 -900
Will a 16 seed defeat a 1 seed? +1400 -6000

Everyone loves to pick a good upset and the odds for this 'Seed victory prop' are enticing. A No. 13 many have their eye on is Yale as they take on No. 5 Texas A&M, who were ousted early in the Big 12 conference tournament.

Exact number of No. 1 seeds to reach men's Final Four

Number of No. 1 seeds DraftKings
Exactly 2 +180
Exactly 1 +235
Exactly 3 +320
Exactly 0 +800
Exactly 4 +1000

The price on 'Exactly 2' No. 1 seeds making the final four is tremendous value. Both Auburn and Duke have elite teams, and a good draw. Florida and Houston are both plagued with issues that could be exploited by the right team

Which seed will win the tournament?

Seed number DraftKings
One -310
Two +500
Three +1100
Four +1400
Eight +2000
Six +3000
Seven +3500
Five +3500
Nine +9000

Without trying to kill the drama, I believe this tournament is top-heavy with the aforementioned teams like Auburn and Duke a very likely candidate to cut down the nets. While -310 doesn't appeal to very many people, some would say the value is there.

Tournament props

March Madness tournament props focus on events or happenings during the NCAA Tournament. These props can be based on certain teams, regions, seeds, or conferences and most often are graded upon the conclusion of the National Championship Game. 

  • Number of Round 1 upsets
  • Any First Four Team to reach second round

Double chance champion prop 

Teams FanDuel
Duke OR Florida +120
Duke OR Auburn +145
Duke OR Houston +165
Auburn OR Florida +175
Florida OR Houston +200
Duke OR Alabama +230

Have I mentioned that Duke or Auburn are my choices?

March Madness MVP

The March Madness MVP (also known as the tournament's most outstanding player) is a fun market that can provide value, providing you have a good take on which team will win the national title. After all, the MVP has come from the tournament winner every year since 1983.

March Madness prop bets explained

Prop bets – also known as proposition bets – aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when talking about March Madness odds. However, there are more and more of these fun alternative markets each year and they're a great attraction for those learning how to bet on March Madness

March Madness props focus on individual team or player performances and particular events or happenings during a game, round, or tournament. Some prop bets can unfold in a matter of minutes, while others are graded on the Final Four and National Championship results.  

Where can I bet on March Madness props?

March Madness is one of the most popular times of the year for sports bettors, making it one of the busiest times of the year for online sportsbooks. Every betting site will offer March Madness scores, matchups, and odds, but the top sites are safe and secure, offer a wide range of banking options, and offer a ton of markets for each game. Check out the best March Madness betting sites in your region. 

Tips for betting on March Madness props 

March Madness prop bets can vary in focus and scope. Some props are longer-running markets, graded after a certain round or at the end of the NCAA Tournament. Other props are game-based and limited to a particular matchup. 

Tournament Bracket Build your bracket

For betting on tournament or round props, you’ll want to build out your March Madness bracket and lay your path to the Final Four. Weigh each matchup and then base those prop bets on how you see the Big Dance playing out. 

Cinderella Spotting Cinderella

Singling out a Cinderella team that could provide an upset or two is vital to getting value from the March Madness props. Finding a live lower seed or an unknown mid-major giant killer can score some big plus-money prop payouts.

Avoid Contradictions Don’t contradict

Make sure your March Madness prop picks are in line with your single-game wagers. You don’t want to play the Over on the number of ACC schools making it out of the Round of 64 and then fade Florida State to cover as a favorite in the first round. 

Create Narrative Set a narrative

When it comes to game props, such as team and player prop bets, set a narrative for how you see the matchup playing out. If you think a talented big man will have his way with a smaller opponent, then look to the Over on props for points and rebounds. If you like a small-conference Cinderella to shoot their way to an upset win, look to back up that opinion with an Over wager on the team’s total number of 3-point buckets made. 

Covers Global Two Color Money Money management

The excitement of March Madness can get the best of basketball bettors, so have a money management system in place. If you plan on playing some NCAA Tournament props, designate a certain amount of your bankroll to just those types of wagers. This will help you be more selective about your prop bets and narrow down which types of bets you are winning and losing throughout the Big Dance.

Instant Replay: March Madness prop bets 

  • March Madness prop bets can focus on various aspects of the tournament, from the rounds to seeds to the overall tournament and individual matchups.
  • March Madness game props are gaining popularity and sportsbooks will have more of these than ever in 2025.
  • The “First to 15” prop is one of the most exciting and entertaining bets you can make during the NCAA Tournament.
  • Set a narrative for your March Madness props, whether that’s building out your bracket or setting a game script for player and team props.

March Madness prop bets FAQs

Pages related to this topic

Chris Vasile Covers.com
Publishing Editor

Chris Vasile has been in the betting industry for well over a decade honing his craft as a writer, editor and handicapper. A journalism graduate from Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario, Chris has contributed betting and non-betting content for online publications such as ProSportsDaily and The Hockey Writers, in addition to Covers. With a keen interest in soccer, Chris has been featured on Covers' 'Before You Bet' and runs his own YouTube channel — Game Day Wagers.

When it comes to daily sports betting, his sportsbook of choice is bet365 for the plethora of markets and great UX. Chris' top sports betting advice is to stick to what you know. Being a jack of all trades and master of none is a quick way to bust the bankroll. Find one or two sports you can devote your time to and trust the process.

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