We take a look at the latest betting trends for March Madness 2021 at BetRivers and SugarHouse as we approach the start of the tournament on Thursday.
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After the coronavirus stopped March Madness last year, it’s back and ready for bettors’ brackets — and the 2021 NCAA Tournament is ready to begin.
Every year, bettors take it upon themselves to make their very own bracket predictions using advice from a number of sources. Our March Madness picks and bracket predictions can help you to make sensible predictions ahead of the tournament.
The First Four are kicking things off on Thursday and bettors have been quick to place their bets on the first weekend of games and futures picks. Here’s the breakdown of how bettors on BetRivers and SugarHouse are wagering on the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
The NCAA Tournament is all about underdogs and upsets. The public is currently backing several underdogs to pull off first round upsets, including No. 12 seed Georgetown (+180) with 91% of the ML handle to beat No. 5 seed Colorado, No. 13 seed Winthrop (+215 ML) with 89% of the ML handle to beat No. 4 seed Villanova, No. 13 seed Ohio (+330 ML) with 86% of the ML handle to beat No. 4 seed Virginia, No. 12 UC-Santa Barbara (+235 ML) with 82% of ML handle to beat No. 5 seed Creighton ,and No. 14 seed Colgate (+370 ML) with 76% of the ML to beat No. 3 seed Arkansas.
The most popular game to bet on since the unveiling of the bracket is Winthrop vs. VIllanova with 11% of current game bets. The largest current first-round game bet is a $5,500 wager on Arkansas vs. Colgate Over 157.5 points (-108), with a potential payout of $10,615.
The NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four opening round on Thursday, March 18.
First Four Schedule & Odds
#16 Appalachian State (-3, -157 ML) vs. #16 Norfolk State (+132 ML). O/U 135.5
#11 Michigan State (-1.5, -124 ML) vs. #11 UCLA (+104 ML). O/U 136
#11 Wichita State (-2, -132 ML) vs. #11 Drake (+112 ML). O/U 139
#16 Texas Southern (-2.5, -143 ML) vs. Mount St. Mary’s (+120 ML). O/U 132.5
NCAA Championship Futures
No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga (West) enters the tournament as the heavy betting favorite to cut down the nets. The public is backing the undefeated Bulldogs with 23% of championship bets and 36% of the championship handle. Gonzaga has been the heavy favorite all season long, and continues that trend, with the most futures bets since the bracket was unveiled.
The No. 2 seed in Gonzaga’s region is Iowa, backed by the most futures bets and handle of any team not on the No. 1 seed line.
No. 1 seed Michigan (East) is the second-most backed team to win the NCAA Tournament by both bets (9.6%) and handle (10.8%), with No. 1 seed Baylor (South) responsible for 8% of championship bets and 7.9% of championship handle.
No. 4 seed Oklahoma State, led by Cade Cunningham, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is one of the hottest teams in the country and has received the second-most NCAA Championship bets since the bracket was unveiled, trailing only Gonzaga.
Odds to Win the NCAA Tournament:
- Gonzaga +215 (#1, West)
- Baylor +250 (#1, South)
- Illinois +650 (#1, Midwest)
- Michigan +700 (#1, East)
- Oklahoma State +1400 (#4, Midwest)
- Texas +1700 (#3, East)
- Texas Tech +2000 (#6, South)
- Ohio State +2000 (#2, South)
- Kansas +2000 (#3, West)
- Iowa +2000 (#2, West)
- Alabama +2000 (#2, East)
- Florida State +2000 (#4, East)
All of the latest news and picks for March Madness 2021 can be found in our College Basketball category on site. At americanbettingexperts.com we always aim to assist you with your March Madness picks and inform you of the latest news whenever necessary.
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