March Madness – The Best Basketball Betting Markets
March Madness is more than just a tournament, it’s an exciting period that keeps fans and punters on the edge of their seats after every basket, loss, and win. There are plenty of betting opportunities with all the unpredictability and excitement. Punters can bet on everything from bracket predictions to live markets. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best betting markets to watch during this exciting season.
Moneyline Bets: Simple, Yet Exciting
March Madness is known for some of the simplest and most popular bets, and moneyline bets are one of them. In this case, you’re betting on which team will win the game, and there’s no point spread. It’s March Madness, and the teams are evenly matched, so picking the underdog on the moneyline can be an exciting way to get some big payouts. For example, last year’s underdog Loyola Chicago win that shocked fans and filled the pockets of everyone who bet on it.
Odds change quickly, so it’s important to find the best odds and updated lines at your preferred betting site. At the online sports betting, you’ll have access to a variety of markets and competitive odds, especially as the tournament moves into the later rounds. The simplicity of money line betting is combined with high stakes, making it a fantastic way for punters to bet on a certain team to go all the way.
Point Spread: Evening Out the Opponents
Another top choice is betting on the point spread, especially during March Madness when close games and surprise outcomes are the norm. In this bet, you’re not picking a winner, but rather betting on how close or far the margin will be. For example, if Duke is a -6.5 point underdog like Butler, Duke would have to win by 7 or more points for the bet to be worthwhile. Bettors like this because it evens things out and gives fans a team they believe can close out the game.
If you know how to use team stats and player stats to make educated guesses about what will happen on the field, you’ll likely have great success betting on the point spread. Since March Madness games are usually so close, betting on the point spread only adds to the tension and makes every point count.
Over/Under: High-Scoring Thrills
Totals betting allows you to bet that the final score of a game will be over or under a given number. This betting format brings a special excitement to the table, and March Madness games can be very high-scoring. Let’s say the over/under is 145.5 points, and you’re betting that both teams will combine to score or not score that number. This market allows fans to enjoy the game without having to pick which team will win.
Games with two powerful offenses or a tough defense can be especially exciting when it comes to totals. Bettors know each team’s scoring or defense averages and decide whether to bet high or low. While totals betting is especially tempting for fans who enjoy high-scoring games, it adds an extra layer of excitement to the action on the court.
Player Bets: Follow the Star Players
Player bets, also known as “props,” allow you to bet on the performance of specific players rather than on the overall outcome of a game. When star players shine during March Madness, props make it easy to pick up on them. Points, rebounds, assists, and three-pointers are all popular prop bets. For example, Ochai Agbaji and Paolo Banchero were popular prop bets in the 2022 tournament because they were so fantastic.
When betting on players, think about how the team is playing, the matchups, and the form of the players. By following your favorite players, player bets add a personal touch to your bets. The game becomes more intense when you back one player and watch them score big baskets or grab important rebounds.
Parlay Betting: High Risk, High Reward
Parlay betting appeals to those who like higher stakes. You can combine multiple bets into one using parlays, and you only get paid if all of your selected bets win. In March Madness, this can involve betting on multiple games at once, or combining spreads, totals, and moneylines. The more bets you add, the bigger the potential payout, but the higher the risk.
And because you can profit from multiple outcomes across multiple games, parlay betting is what makes March Madness exciting. In a tournament where records are the norm, a successful bet can net you a nice win. If you’re an experienced bettor, parlay betting is a high-risk, high-reward option.
Futures Betting: Predicting the Champion
The most popular futures bet is on the winner of the tournament, and futures bets are long-term bets. A futures bet before or during March Madness allows you to pick a team that you think will win the entire tournament. For example, in 2022, Kansas City Chiefs supporters who bet on them early in the tournament were rewarded with a nice profit as they went on to win. Bettors looking to bet on their favorite team for the long haul will find futures ideal, as they can be placed both before and during the tournament.
The high potential payouts on futures bets are due to the fact that picking a champion from a field of 64 teams is no easy task. Odds change as the tournament progresses and as teams are eliminated, and there is often a bigger reward for taking risks early on.
Live Betting: Real-Time Action
Live betting is a type of betting where fans can place bets during the game and place their bets as the action unfolds. March Madness games are always intense battles for leads, momentum changes, and last-second shots. Live betting means you can bet on point spreads, totals, and more as the game progresses, with various factors changing in real time.
For fans who like quick decisions and want to bet on how the game is changing, live betting is ideal. Live betting is a quick way to follow each game because an underdog team can start to score, or a star player can get hot, and suddenly the odds can change dramatically.
Strategic Betting: Stay Ahead
There is a lot of excitement for fans and bettors during March Madness. The tournament is very unpredictable, after all. But if you focus on the markets that matter most to you – like moneylines, spreads, props and live betting – you will benefit from this unpredictability. Happy betting!
