There are few things that sports bettors love doing more than making March Madness bets. The NCAA Tournament is one of the best sporting events of the year, and it’s because this is an event that always seems to be wildly unpredictable.
Betting on March Madness can be a great way to make some money, but only if there is a plan in place. You have to make a plan for all of the upsets and unpredictability, and that is what this article is for.
If you are going to bet on March Madness, then here are some tips that can help put you on the right track.
Do Plenty of Research
Before you even start to think about looking at the betting odds or lines, you are going to need to commit to doing some research on each matchup. Research is the only way that you can be prepared to make winning bets, even if it’s not something that is very fun to do.
You will have to do different research depending on the game, but it’s important that you are well-prepared before making any wagers. Simply following along with “expert” picks is not enough, as you also have to come up with your own plan before submitting a wager.
Ignore the Seeds
Too many people get caught up on the seeds when it comes to March Madness, but that’s not the proper way to go at all. Those seeds don’t really mean much at all, and it’s important to look at the matchups instead.
You also want to ignore the picks that you made on your bracket when betting on March Madness because the two can be completely different. You have to be willing to separate betting on March Madness from how you fill out your brackets.
Location Can Matter
All of the NCAA Tournament games are played at a neutral location, but you still need to know where those games are going to be played. Location can have a huge impact on NCAA Tournament betting as the top seeds tend to have a home-court advantage of some sort.
You also have to pay attention to what schools travel well because they can impact how the game is played on the floor. Betting on college basketball is always impacted by home fans, and that can be the case during the NCAA Tournament as well.
Always Look at the Props
If you are going to bet on March Madness, then you have to be willing to bet on both player and team prop betting options. This type of betting can offer some terrific value in the odds, and you will also enjoy betting as there will be some intriguing options.
Prop betting options typically don’t become available until right before the game begins, but it would be worth it to wait until those betting lines become available. You will have to do some serious research to bet on prop bets, but it can lead to some big wins.
Moneyline Over Spread
Betting against the spread is usually the best way to bet when it comes to college basketball, but that might not be the best option when it comes to betting on March Madness games. It can be hard to predict what will happen during the NCAA Tournament, and sometimes simply betting the moneyline is the way to go.
You will typically find better moneyline odds during the NCAA Tournament than you would during the regular season, as it’s just hard for teams to win. Don’t be afraid to bet the moneyline when betting on March Madness, as making winning bets is the ultimate goal.
Be Ready to Bet Live
Most of the March Madness bets are going to be placed pre-game, and it’s certainly okay if that is the strategy that you choose to employ as well. Getting your bets early can be a great strategy, but you can’t forget about all of the live betting options.
The biggest reason for betting live is that you will get a chance to see how each game is playing out before you submit a wager. You will have to make a bet quickly as the odds can come and go quickly, and you don’t want to miss out on them.