March Madness Sports Betting Guide
If you want to master your March Madness betting strategy, we’ve got everything you need on this page. Find out how to bet on March Madness games, understand NCAA Tournament tips and strategies, see historical win percentages, and lots more.
Our NCAA experts have put together key strategies, tips on live betting, the best sites to wager on, and the types of March Madness bets. Keep reading for everything you need to know to make the most of your March Madness bets.
In This March Madness Betting Guide:
Best Bets For March Madness
March Madness offers a ton of betting value if you know where to look. Here’s how to maximize your potential gains:
1. Pick Favorites To Win The NCAA Tournament
Prior to the #4 Connecticut Huskies winning the NCAA Tournament in 2023, each of the previous five March Madness champions were #1 seeds.
TIP: Hone in on top-seeded teams when filling out your brackets and placing futures bets.
2. Find Value On Underdogs In The Early Rounds
While #1 and #2 seeds typically dominate, don’t underestimate the potential of lower-seeded teams in March Madness.
TIP: Teams seeded #5, #6 and #7 all have win percentages lower than 66% in the first round, so take a good look at #10, #11, and #12 seeds that could be live underdogs.
3. Don’t Forget To Handicap Totals
Go beyond brackets. While wins and losses are key, totals betting offers hidden value.
TIP: Analyze game flow, tempo, and team styles to identify Over/Under opportunities. Exploit these insights to potentially enhance your betting experience.
4. Bracket Contests Are One Of The Best Bets For March Madness
Filling out brackets is popular for casual fans every season, but savvier college basketball bettors can get a shot at big wins with little to no risk.
TIP: Don’t miss out on the lucrative March Madness bracket contests taking place this year at some of our top recommended college basketball sportsbooks.
March Madness Betting Strategies
March Madness mastery starts here! Here’s how you can start building the fundamentals for your winning strategy:
What Is A Sports Betting Bankroll?
Sports betting bankroll management is the foundation of a responsible and sustainable March Madness betting strategy. Essentially, your bankroll is the total amount of money set aside specifically for sports betting activities.
Proper management of this bankroll is crucial for long-term success. This involves setting per-bet limits with discipline, even during losing streaks. By establishing a bankroll and adhering to a sensible management strategy, you can reduce risk and maximize your chances of sustained profitability over time.
Expert Bankroll Tip:
Choose an amount between 1-5% of your total bankroll as your standard unit size for each bet. For example, if you start March Madness with $500, consider a standard wager size of around $20 per game. You can always re-assess your unit size as your bankroll gets increases or decreases.
How To Create Your March Madness Bankroll?
Crafting a solid bankroll strategy for March Madness requires careful consideration and planning. Start by assessing your overall financial situation to determine the amount of disposable income you’re comfortable betting on NCAA Tournament games.
Once your bankroll is established, set your standard bet amount, as explained in the section above. Betting on games with small amounts will help to manage risk and ensure that your bankroll will last throughout the college basketball postseason.
Expert Betting Budget Tip:
Pace yourself in the first two rounds of the tournament. It’s tempting to bet on a bunch of games, but this is actually the best time to be selective. We recommend only betting on games with the clearest edge. As the tournament progresses, you’ll have more game data to help with handicapping (and more of your bankroll still intact).
How To Read An Injury Report?
Checking injury reports before placing bets is a vital step in any successful March Madness betting strategy. Injury designations will reveal how seriously player performances are affected.
In general, players listed as probable can be counted on to play and produce as normal. Players listed as questionable often attempt to play through their injuries during NCAA Tournaments. Consider the type of injury to gauge the impact it could have on their game. For example, a sore calf is less likely to have an impact than an injured finger on the player’s shooting hand.
Expert Injury Report Tip:
Consider the team’s depth when handicapping injuries. A team with an offense built around 1-2 players may crumble if a key player gets injured. But, a system team that spreads the ball around could be better equipped to handle injuries. That team may also be a good bet if the market is overreacting to the injury.
Prepare Your Initial Lines Early
College basketball has some of the biggest line swings you will see in sports betting. Unlike professional sports leagues with around 30 teams each, college basketball has over 300 teams. 68 of them participate in the NCAA Tournament. Sportsbooks simply can’t get the line right on every game. Expect frequent line adjustments after the initial release, as heavy betting on one side forces them to recalibrate the odds.
This is where sharp bettors have a big edge over the rest of the market. As part of your NCAA bracket strategy, prepare initial lines for potential matchups in advance. This will allow you to jump on a bad line right away, if your March Madness sportsbook puts out a line much different than yours. For example: If you project Ohio State as a 4-point favorite and they open as -7, quickly grab Oregon +7.
Expert Line Choice Tip:
Stick to your area of expertise. Rather than preparing initial lines for every possible matchup, focus on the teams and conferences you are most familiar with to find your edge.
Scheduling Tips To Consider
While home court and scheduling quirks are crucial during the regular season, March Madness levels the playing field with neutral courts and every team fighting for survival.
The strategy for March Madness brackets does include considering some important scheduling tips. These include where teams are seeded and what region they are playing in. Analyze historical performance in these seed vs. seed matchups and factor in travel distances and potential fan presence for both teams. Savvy bettors can locate some key scheduling-based edges.
Expert Scheduling Tip:
Keep in mind that historically popular programs, like the Duke Blue Devils and Kentucky Wildcats, have more fans nationwide than much smaller schools. Their nationwide support can make early-round games feel like home games, potentially swaying the outcome.
What Is The Best March Madness Betting Strategy?
There is no one March Madness betting strategy that edges out the rest. If so, sportsbooks would adapt and remove it. Instead, a winning March Madness strategy combines elements of all of the tips featured on this page.
One betting strategy worth highlighting is evaluating a team’s current form entering the NCAA Tournament. For example, the 2023 Connecticut Huskies, who turned a losing streak into a championship run.
Expert Seeding Strategy Tip:
March Madness seeding is based on the entire season. Some high seeds might be slumping, while low seeds could be peaking. Research recent form to identify these potential discrepancies and inform your betting decisions.
Don’t Chase Your Losses
Try to bet on college basketball with a cool head. March Madness is exhilarating, but emotions can run high, leading some bettors to chase losses. An early losing streak can become emotional and many bettors try to win their money back with bigger bets.
Chasing losses can result in poor bankroll management. This includes placing bets, out of desperation, on games without a clear edge. Remember that losing and winning streaks are natural in sports betting and shouldn’t cloud your judgment.
Expert Responsible Gambling Tip:
If you feel yourself getting frustrated, take a break. It’s better to take a day off from college basketball betting than to chase losses or bet under pressure.
Best March Madness Betting Site For Beginners
A great March Madness betting site for beginners should deliver a generous welcome bonus to new bettors, a user-friendly site interface, and a secure sports betting experience. The Sports Geek has compiled a list of the best March Madness betting sites, including our best NCAAB sportsbook for beginners, BetUS.
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Our Top March Madness Betting Site For Beginners: BetUS
BetUS is the premier March Madness betting site this season. You’ll find three exciting NCAA bracket challenges that you can participate in for grand prizes. Their Full Bracket Contest ($1M), Sweet Sixteen ($10K), and Eight-Team Contest ($10K) offers the top cash prizes for perfect picks — and 2nd-5th place can come away with $100-$200 in casino chip funds or free play.
After signing up, head to their sportsbook page to find a large variety of March Madness wagering options: moneylines, point spreads, totals, future bets, prop bets, and live betting. The site also has Free NCAAB Tournament resources. Get daily college basketball picks and predictions on BetUS TV, and see exclusive March Madness betting content on the BetUS Locker Room page.
College basketball bettors will receive a 125% match bonus up to $3,125 on their first deposit at BetUS. Cryptocurrency users can cash in on an even larger first-deposit welcome bonus of 200% up to $5,000 on their first crypto deposit.
Types Of March Madness Bets
There’s a diversity of March Madness betting opportunities from outright winner moneyline wagers to NCAA Tournament bracket challenges. Here are the most popular March Madness bets:
March Madness Bracket Challenges
In March Madness Bracket Challenges, participants predict the outcome of each NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game to create the most accurate bracket. Points are awarded for each correct prediction, with higher stakes often placed on later rounds and the ultimate winner.
For example, a bracket challenge may award one point for each correct first-round prediction, two points for each correct second-round prediction, and so on. The participant with the highest total score at the end of the tournament wins the bracket challenge. These challenges are popular among casual fans and often feature prizes for top performers.
Expert Tip:
A good NCAA bracket strategy is to enter multiple contests and diversify your brackets. Rather than using the same bracket for every contest, make slight variations in each one for more potential paths to victory.
Example of a March Madness bracket contest
Moneyline
Moneyline betting lets you choose the outright winner of a basketball game. Odds reflect the perceived strength of each team. For instance, in a March Madness matchup between the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels, if Duke is favored to win, the moneyline odds might be Duke -150 and North Carolina +130. This means a $150 wager on Duke is needed to win $100. While a $100 bet on North Carolina would yield a profit of $130 if they win.
Expert Tip:
Consider betting small favorites on the moneyline instead of the point spread (-110). You will risk a bit more, but you won’t have to worry about picking a winner that narrowly falls short of covering the spread.
Point Spread
Point spread betting is predicting the margin of victory in a basketball game. Sportsbooks “handicap” the game by giving the favorite a point disadvantage and the underdog an advantage. For example, if the Kentucky Wildcats are favored by 7.5 points over the Florida Gators, a bet on Kentucky is only successful if they win by eight or more points. While, a bet on Florida would cash if the Gators win the game outright or lose by seven points or less.
Expert Tip:
Consider closing strength when handicapping the point spread. Teams with deep benches that tend to extend late leads are safer bets as favorites. Teams that struggle to hold onto leads risk giving up backdoor covers.
Totals
Totals betting, aka over/under betting, lets you wager on the combined score of both teams in a March Madness game. You can predict whether the total score will land over or under the sportsbook’s posted total. For instance, if the total points line for a game between the Oregon Ducks and UCLA Bruins is set at 150.5 points, a final score of UCLA 71 – Oregon 65 would pay out bets on the UNDER with a final combined score of 136 points.
Expert Tip:
Consider the pace of the game when betting on totals. Fast-paced games with lots of scoring opportunities generate higher scores than slow-paced games with methodical defenses.
Parlays
Parlay betting is combining multiple individual bets into a single wager, maximizing potential payouts with each added selection. You can create a parlay with a combination of moneyline picks, point spreads, and totals. Keep in mind, that while parlays offer the potential for higher payouts, they also carry increased risk as all selections must be correct for the bet to win.
Expert Tip:
Bet on parlays sparingly and for entertainment purposes only. Sticking to individual bets is a far more reliable March Madness strategy than parlays, which are much more difficult to win.
Props
Proposition bets, or props, involve placing wagers on outcomes or events within a basketball game, independent of the final score. Prop bets cover a wide range of possibilities. Which team will score the first basket? The total number of three-pointers made by a team? Or whether a certain player will achieve a double-double. These bets add an extra layer of excitement to college basketball games and are popular among those looking for unique betting opportunities.
Expert Tip:
Check the prop market before placing your March Madness bets. You may find a game or player specific prop with better value that aligns with your game expectations over betting standard lines.
Futures
Futures betting involves placing wagers on the outcome of a future event. In college basketball, futures bets often include predicting the champion of March Madness before the tournament begins, or wagering on a team to advance to the Final Four. Futures bets offer the opportunity for long-term investment and can provide bettors with an added rooting interest throughout the postseason.
Expert Tip:
Keep your eye on March Madness future bet odds during the regular season. A good team slumping in January or February might be available at a discounted price that turns out to be a strong value play by the time the tournament rolls around.
Where To Watch March Madness
Guide To March Madness Live Betting
Nothing captures the thrill and excitement of March Madness quite like live betting. Every possession and clock stoppage delivers a new opportunity to place a live bet on the action. Here’s your guide to make the most of the March Madness live betting experience:
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Live betting is all about making constant adjustments as the game unfolds. Odds shift based on on-court action and betting activity. It is essential to practice reading moneyline odds before live betting on March Madness games. If you understand that (-120) means risking $120 to win $100 or bet $6 to win $5, you’ll recognize the value and act quickly to lock it in before it adjusts.
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Before placing any live bets, we recommend studying the injury reports available online. While live betting, X (formerly known as Twitter) is a great source for live injury updates. If a player goes down, gather information on the severity of that injury to quickly adjust your betting strategy.
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Each online sportsbook has specific college basketball live betting rules found in the help section or via customer service. For example, a live bet on points scored in the second half can include overtime. This may impact how you handicap the total in a close game. Ensure you know your sportsbook’s rules on March Madness live betting before diving into the action.
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The first round of March Madness throws multiple games at you simultaneously, tempting you to live bet on them all. But the true edge that live betting provides is to observe the ebbs and flows of a game in real time. We recommend being selective and disciplined when live betting on the NCAA Tournament by sticking to games you’re able to watch.
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Hedging in March Madness involves placing bets on both sides of a game to guarantee a profit or minimize a loss. For example, say you bet $120 to win $100 on the Kansas Jayhawks as (-120) favorites before the game. If they take a big early lead, you could bet $50 on their opponent to win $75 at (+150) on a live line. This would reduce your max loss to $45, while still earning you a $50 profit if the Jayhawks win.
The issue with this practice is limiting your winning potential in the long run. Plus, you’re always paying chalk on the losing side. Stick to responsible bet sizing so you don’t feel the desire to hedge out of your wagers.
Expert March Madness Picks
See All CBB PicksBenefit from a winning edge in NCAA betting. Want to know who to bet on during March Madness? Our mix of expert and AI-generated picks and predictions is your go-to guide. Picks include home/away records, points per game, defensive aspects, and many more stats.
Which Conference Has The Most NCAA Tournament Wins?
Every season of college basketball is unique, so conference power rankings will shift from year to year. It’s useful to look beyond the current season and explore historical conference performance to help build your NCAA Bracket strategy. Note: The ACC has had eight championship teams since 2001 and the Big East has seven:
| CONFERENCE | CHAMPIONSHIPS | WIN % |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Coast Conference | 15 (1957, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019) | .181 (out of 83 all-time NCAA Tournaments) |
| Pac-12 Conference | 15 (1939, 1942, 1959, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1995, 1997) | .181 |
| Southeast Conference | 11 (1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2007, 2012) | .133 |
| Big Ten Conference | 10 (1940, 1941, 1953, 1960, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1987, 1989, 2000) | .120 |
| Big East Conference | 9 (1984, 1985, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2023) | .108 |
| Independents | 6 (1944, 1947, 1954, 1963, 1966, 1977) | .072 |
| Missouri Valley Conference | 4 (1945, 1946, 1961, 1962) | .048 |
| Big 12 Conference | 3 (2008, 2021, 2022) | .036 |
| Big 8 Conference (1907-1996) | 2 (1952, 1988) | .024 |
| Metro Conference (1975-1995) | 2 (1980, 1986) | .024 |
| West Coast Conference | 2 (1955, 1956) | .024 |
| American Athletic Conference | 1 (2014) | .012 |
| Big West Conference | 1 (1990) | .012 |
| Metropolitan New York Conference (1933-1963) | 1 (1950) | .012 |
| Mountain States Conference (1938-1962) | 1 (1943) | .012 |
NCAA Championship Seed: Historical Win Percentages
March Madness is perhaps best known for the thrilling upsets and buzzer-beaters that earned the NCAA Tournament its nickname. But when push comes to shove, the tournament’s top seeds are almost always standing in the NCAA Championship Game. Here’s a look at the record and statistics of every seed since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985:
| SEED | TOTAL WINS | TOTAL LOSSES | WIN % | # OF CHAMPIONSHIPS | # OF RUNNER UPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 500 | 128 | .796 | 24 | 13 |
| #2 | 354 | 147 | .707 | 5 | 8 |
| #3 | 281 | 148 | .655 | 4 | 7 |
| #4 | 235 | 150 | .610 | 2 | 2 |
| #5 | 176 | 152 | .537 | 0 | 4 |
| #6 | 160 | 151 | .514 | 1 | 1 |
| #7 | 136 | 151 | .474 | 1 | 0 |
| #8 | 110 | 151 | .421 | 1 | 3 |
| #9 | 93 | 152 | .380 | 0 | 0 |
| #10 | 93 | 151 | .381 | 0 | 0 |
| #11 | 98 | 152 | .392 | 0 | 0 |
| #12 | 77 | 152 | .338 | 0 | 0 |
| #13 | 38 | 152 | .200 | 0 | 0 |
| #14 | 24 | 152 | .136 | 0 | 0 |
| #15 | 16 | 152 | .095 | 0 | 0 |
| #16 | 2 | 152 | .013 | 0 | 0 |
Seed vs. Seed Data
Below is a breakdown of the seed vs. seed win-loss record for each March Madness first-round matchup since 1985. Note: While the #5 vs. #12 matchup is generally most well-known for its upset potential, similar upset frequencies are found in #6 vs. #11 and #7 vs. #10 matchups:
| MATCHUP | WINS | LOSSES | WIN % |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 vs. #16 | 150 | 2 | .987 |
| #2 vs. #15 | 141 | 11 | .928 |
| #3 vs. #14 | 130 | 22 | .855 |
| #4 vs. #13 | 120 | 32 | .789 |
| #5 vs. #12 | 99 | 53 | .651 |
| #6 vs. #11 | 94 | 58 | .618 |
| #7 vs. #10 | 92 | 59 | .609 |
| #8 vs. #9 | 74 | 76 | .487 |
Percentage Wins By Seed By Round
When choosing your brackets for March Madness, research historical data beyond the first round to decide how far to advance your early winners. For example, just under half of the #11 seeds that have won in the first round have also moved on to the Sweet 16, so a strong one might be worth penciling in for back-to-back wins.
| SEED | 1ST RD | 2ND RD | SWEET 16 | ELITE 8 | FINAL 4 | CHAMPIONSHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | .987 | .871 | .705 | .594 | .617 | .649 |
| #2 | .928 | .696 | .716 | .471 | .406 | .384 |
| #3 | .855 | .640 | .488 | .436 | .647 | .364 |
| #4 | .789 | .636 | .319 | .609 | .286 | .500 |
| #5 | .651 | .529 | .231 | .750 | .444 | .000 |
| #6 | .618 | .473 | .444 | .188 | .667 | .500 |
| #7 | .609 | .381 | .345 | .300 | .333 | 1.000 |
| #8 | .487 | .216 | .600 | .667 | .667 | .250 |
| #9 | .513 | .103 | .625 | .400 | .000 | N/A |
| #10 | .391 | .407 | .375 | .111 | .000 | N/A |
| #11 | .382 | .448 | .346 | .556 | .000 | N/A |
| #12 | .349 | .415 | .090 | .000 | N/A | N/A |
| #13 | .211 | .193 | .000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| #14 | .145 | .090 | .000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| #15 | .072 | .363 | .250 | .000 | N/A | N/A |
| #16 | .013 | .000 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
How Many Upsets Usually Happen During March Madness?
The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Lower-seeded teams knocking off #1 seeds is always an exciting event during March Madness. In fact, some teams have a lot more history of delivering losses to top seeds than others. Take a look at 12 teams that have scored four or more upset wins over #1 seeds in March Madness history:
| TEAM | # OF MARCH MADNESS UPSETS OVER #1 SEEDS |
|---|---|
| Duke Blue Devils | 9 |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 8 |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | 8 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 7 |
| Michigan State Spartans | 7 |
| Villanova Wildcats | 6 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 5 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 5 |
| Syracuse Orange | 5 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 4 |
| UCLA Bruins | 4 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 4 |
How Many Upsets Do You Need To Pick For March Madness?
A mathematically sound strategy for March Madness brackets involves understanding how many upsets to expect in the first round. Using historical seed vs. seed performances as a guide, here are our recommendations for how many March Madness upsets to choose:
| MATCHUP | WIN % | UPSET % | EST. OUT OF 100 | HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU PICK A 1ST ROUND UPSET? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 vs. #16 | .987 | .013 | 1 | About once every 25 NCAA Tournaments |
| #2 vs. #15 | .928 | .072 | 7 | About once every three NCAA Tournaments |
| #3 vs. #14 | .855 | .145 | 14 | About once every two NCAA Tournaments |
| #4 vs. #13 | .789 | .211 | 21 | About one per NCAA Tournament |
| #5 vs. #12 | .651 | .349 | 35 | One or two per NCAA Tournament |
| #6 vs. #11 | .618 | .382 | 38 | One or two per NCAA Tournament |
| #7 vs. #10 | .609 | .391 | 39 | One or two per NCAA Tournament |
| #8 vs. #9 | .487 | .513 | 51 | Two per NCAA Tournament |
March Madness Game Trends
While each NCAA Tournament is unique, bettors can usually count on a handful of March Madness game trends that college basketball fans see almost every year:
Count On Great Shooting Teams
The hottest shooting teams often run deep in March Madness. Keep an eye out for teams with strong free throw shooting and three-point shooting.
Top Seeds Dominate The First Round
Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, #1 and #2 seeds have combined for an incredible record of 291-13 in the first round. We don’t recommend picking #15 and #16 seeds common in your March Madness bracket strategy.
Upsets Aplenty In The First Two Rounds
By the time the field of 68 has been whittled down to the Sweet 16, plenty of lower seeds have delivered upsets to higher-seeded favorites. These upsets are referred to as “bracket busters” for eliminating teams many bettors projected would go deep in the tournament.
Many NCAA Tournaments Have A Cinderella Story
While the top teams usually advance into the Elite Eight and beyond, it is common to see 1-2 teams make a run into the Sweet 16. Recent examples include #15 Princeton’s trip to the Sweet 16 in 2023, and #15 St. Peter’s run to the Elite Eight in 2022.
Most NCAAB March Madness Tournament Appearances By Team
There are 26 teams in the history of March Madness that have earned a bid in the NCAA Tournament 30 times or more. The teams at the top of this list tend to come with high expectations every year, given their experience and history of success:
| TEAM | # OF TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES |
|---|---|
| Kentucky Wildcats | 60 |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | 52 |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 51 |
| UCLA Bruins | 50 |
| Duke Blue Devils | 45 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 41 |
| Villanova Wildcats | 40 |
| Louisville Cardinals | 39 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 37 |
| Syracuse Orange | 37 |
| Texas Longhorns | 37 |
| Michigan State Spartans | 36 |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | 35 |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | 35 |
| UConn Huskies | 35 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 33 |
| Cincinnati Bearcats | 33 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 33 |
| Oklahoma Sooners | 33 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 33 |
| Temple Owls | 33 |
| Kansas State Wildcats | 32 |
| Georgetown Hoyas | 31 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 31 |
| West Virginia Mountaineers | 31 |
| BYU Cougars | 30 |
Most March Madness Tournament Games Played – All-Time
Only 24 teams in NCAA Tournament history have played in 75 or more March Madness games through the 2023 tournament. Racking up this many tournament games requires consistent bids into the tournament and plenty of wins to add to that game total.
| TEAM | # OF TOTAL GAMES PLAYED |
|---|---|
| Kentucky Wildcats | 187 |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | 180 |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 165 |
| UCLA Bruins | 160 |
| Duke Blue Devils | 159 |
| Louisville Cardinals | 120 |
| Villanova Wildcats | 110 |
| Syracuse Orange | 109 |
| Michigan State Spartans | 107 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 104 |
| Connecticut Huskies | 97 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 96 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 94 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 92 |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | 85 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 81 |
| Texas Longhorns | 79 |
| Cincinnati Bearcats | 78 |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | 78 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 78 |
| Georgetown Hoyas | 77 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 76 |
| Kansas State Wildcats | 76 |
| Oklahoma Sooners | 75 |
Highest NCAAB Tournament Winning Percentage
There are currently 23 NCAA Tournament teams boasting a win percentage of 60% or higher after playing at least 30 games. These teams tend to win at least a couple games each year before being eliminated.
| TEAM | Record | WIN % |
|---|---|---|
| Duke Blue Devils | 119-40 | .748 |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | 131-49 | .728 |
| UCLA Bruins | 115-45 | .719 |
| Florida Gators | 48-20 | .706 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 132-55 | .706 |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 116-49 | .703 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 66-30 | .688 |
| Michigan State Spartans | 72-35 | .686 |
| Connecticut Huskies | 65-32 | .670 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 68-36 | .654 |
| Villanova Wildcats | 71-39 | .645 |
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | 44-25 | .638 |
| UNLV Rebels | 33-19 | .635 |
| Syracuse Orange | 69-40 | .633 |
| Louisville Cardinals | 76-44 | .633 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 58-34 | .630 |
| Oregon Ducks | 26-16 | .619 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 58-36 | .617 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 40-25 | .615 |
| Auburn Tigers | 19-12 | .613 |
| Georgetown Hoyas | 47-30 | .610 |
| Virginia Cavaliers | 35-23 | .603 |
| Butler Bulldogs | 24-16 | .600 |
All-Time Number 1 Seeds
Many programs have earned a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament once or twice. Only four have been a #1 seed more than 10 times. It should also come as no surprise that these four schools are also the top four in all-time tournament wins, as highlighted above.
| TIMES AS A #1 SEED | SChool |
|---|---|
| 17 | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| 15 | Kansas Jayhawks |
| 14 | Duke Blue Devils |
| 12 | Kentucky Wildcats |
| 7 | Arizona Wildcats, Virginia Cavaliers |
| 5 | Georgetown Hoyas, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Michigan State Spartans, Oklahoma Sooners, UConn Huskies |
| 4 | DePaul Blue Demons, Illinois Fighting Illini, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers, UCLA Bruins, Villanova Wildcats |
| 3 | Indiana Hoosiers, St. John’s Red Storm, Stanford Cardinal, Syracuse Orange, UNLV Rebels |
| 2 | Arkansas Razorbacks, Baylor Bears, Florida Gators, Houston Cougars, Louisville Cardinals, LSU Tigers, Michigan Wolverines, Pittsburgh Panthers |
| 1 | Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, Cincinnati Bearcats, Indiana State Sycamores, Maryland Terrapins, Memphis Tigers, Missouri Tigers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Oregon Ducks, St. Joseph’s Hawks, Temple Owls, Texas Longhorns, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Washington Huskies, Wichita State Shockers, Wisconsin Badgers, Xavier Musketeers |
Top March Madness Betting Tips
Using proven college basketball betting strategies like those we’ve provided are bound to improve at handicapping, and increase their overall win percentages. Here are some additional top March Madness betting tips to add to your repertoire:
1. Look For Tournament Contests
Many NCAA bracket challenges are free or inexpensive to enter and offer the potential for huge prizes. Check out our March Madness bracket challenges page so you don’t miss any upcoming opportunities.
2. Know When To Place March Madness Bets
In NCAAB, public perception often drives early line movement against the favorite as casual bettors flock to popular teams. Try to place March Madness bets on popular teams before the line moves, and consider waiting until after the initial move to place bets on underdogs.
3. Examine Coach Cover Rates
Beyond the standard win-loss record, some coaches tend to perform better against the spread than others. For example, Kentucky head coach John Calipari is 31-23-3 ATS in the NCAA Tournament through 2023. Coach cover rates can be a key piece to the March Madness handicapping puzzle.
4. Watch The Game
Watch as many games as possible in the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Be sure to watch the replays and play-by-play reports of any important games you might miss. Team performance and game flow aren’t always accurately conveyed by the final score. Digging deeper into your observations can give you an edge and help you spot weak lines.
5. Combine Betting Strategies
We recommend that you don’t stick to just one bet type or college basketball betting strategy during March Madness. Consider all your options such as bracket pools, individual games, and prop bets to seek out value wherever you can find it.
The Latest March Madness News
Click below to check out the latest March Madness and NCAA news and updates from The Sports Geek.
Responsible Gambling
We encourage you to gamble responsibly. Consider online betting to be a form of entertainment, not a source of income. Set loss limits and time limits, and don’t bet more than you’re comfortable losing.
Here are some resources to help you, or someone you care about, gamble responsibly:
March Madness Betting Tips Overview
March Madness is an exciting tournament to bet on, and knowledge is power when it comes to building your successful March Madness betting strategy. Whether you are just looking for a bracket guide for your office pool or you plan to wager on individual games this season, the tips and strategies found on this page will put you in a better position to win.
Make sure to check back at The Sports Geek all March long for the best March Madness bets, expert picks, and more in-depth betting strategies. Good luck! We’re rooting for you!
