Betting the NCAA Basketball Tournament
Filling out a bracket and entering a bracket pool is one way to win some money during March Madness, but there are other options. Betting the NCAA Tournament can be an extremely exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be frustrating at times. Let’s explore some types of bets available and look at some helpful tips as well.
Types of Bets
If you are someone that routinely bets on basketball, then you probably know most of the betting types available, but there are some unique betting types when it comes to NCAA Tournament betting. If you plan on joining in on the "Madness", then you will want to choose the type of bet that works the best for you and that you are the most comfortable with.
Future Bet:
A future bet can be made on several different outcomes. Odds are usually released immediately following the NCAA Championship for which team will win the tournament the following year.
You can also place a future bet on teams that will reach the Final Four, and which teams will earn the No. 1 seeds. Future bets can offer huge payouts if you strike when the value is the best, and future odds are constantly changing. This will give you a chance to get in on the action before the games tip off.
Moneyline Bet:
Betting the moneyline is the easiest betting type to understand, and it might be one of the best to utilize when it comes to taking the underdogs in the NCAA Tournament. A moneyline bet is simply picking the winner of an individual game, and point spreads do not matter.
The reason that this type of bet could be smart when going with the underdog because you could be in line for a huge payout if you win that bet. We don’t recommend placing many moneyline bets throughout the season, but it works for this part of the season.
Point Spread Bet:
A point spread bet is the most common bet that is made when betting basketball, and it should be one that you utilize for most for the tournament games. Sportsbooks will set the odds based on the probability of a certain outcome, but March Madness is always unpredictable.
Not only do you have to determine the winner or loser of each game, but you also need to determine the spread in the final score.
Over/Under Bet:
An over/under bet is sometimes referred to as a “total” bet, and it refers to the total number of points in a particular basketball game. This is a common bet to make on the NCAA Tournament, and you should definitely consider a few of these throughout the tournament.
Picking winners against the spread is not an easy task, so determining the number of total points that will be scored might be a better strategy.
Live Betting Options:
If you are someone that enjoys betting in real-time, then you need to find a sportsbook that has this option. Live betting options usually increase during March Madness, and you should be able to make several different kinds of bets. It can increase your chances of winning if you are following along closely, and can definitely add some more excitement to each game.
General Tips for Betting Basketball
If you plan on betting on basketball, here are a few general tips to keep in mind. These tips can be helpful throughout the regular season as well but are very important when it comes to the end of season tournament.
Do Your Research:
This tip applies to any bet on any sport, but it is extremely important when it comes to basketball. The NCAA Tournament can be extremely fast-paced, but it is important to do plenty of research before making a pick on any game.
Look for things such as injuries, current scoring trends, and location for each game that you are looking at. This might seem like a hassle, but it can be extremely beneficial in the long run.
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Search For Underdogs:
The NCAA Tournament is known as “March Madness” for a reason, and there are always plenty of upsets. It might be fun to root for the underdogs, but it can also be a nice payout for you.
Check over the bracket each round, and find the best underdog picks and throw some money down. Upsets are going to happen each year, and you need to do your best to pick them out before they occur.
Matchups Matter, Seeds Don't:
This different than betting on regular-season games because each team has a seed next to their name. Those seeds might be helpful when filling out a bracket, but it doesn’t really help when it comes to placing bets.
Instead of looking at the number or seed, take a closer look at the individual matchup. Some teams are just a bad matchup for others, regardless of the seed. Matchups matter, seeds don’t.
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