College basketball’s biggest spectacle is on the horizon, and our March Madness betting guide is here to help you find the best betting markets and share important tips on getting the most out of your money. We've tailored this guide for both seasoned NCAAB bettors and total greenhorns looking to bet on March Madness for the first time.
1. How March Madness Tournament Work
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament remains the good old single-elimination competition, in which one bad night can send a team packing. But the 2027 edition is going to be a little different. For the first time, the tournament will feature 76 teams instead of 68. Everything else will be pretty much the same.
We will start with Selection Sunday (this year, it takes place on March 14). Then (on March 16 and 17), there will be 12 Opening Round games, which will pave the way for the traditional 64-team First Round (scheduled to kick off on March 18). Half the teams make it into the Second Round, with the field shrinking further into the Sweet 16, the Elite Eight, and ultimately the Final Four.
So where do the 8 extra teams fit in the schedule? The idea is to enter the first round with 64 teams as has been the case over the years, so only the Opening Round gets extra games.
Just in case you are new here, there is a separate NCAA tournament for women's college basketball, which happens at around the same time as the men's version. Women's March Madness betting options are very similar to the ones applying to the men's matches, as both tournaments have almost the same rules. To learn more about this sport and events you can bet on, you can check our article including basketball betting tips, sure bets and picks of the day.
2. Where to Bet on March Madness and College Basketball
There are loads of sportsbooks out there providing March Madness betting options. What separates the great from the good is how individual bookmakers combine essential wagering and account management facets. In essence, it's more than just the competitiveness of a bookie's March Madness betting lines that matters. The best bookmakers also offer a decent selection of markets and reliable live betting functions, too. Oh, and it's simply not a good site if it starts acting up when you initiate a withdrawal. Below we list the top Men's March Madness betting offers.
Where to bet on March Madness
bet365
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bet365 open account offer
1XBET
Bonus Sports
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Roobet
Bonus Sports
Roobet Sports Deals
1xBit
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Welcome Package up to 700K USDT and 250 Free Spins
Jack
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100% No Risk Sports Bonus
If you're torn between options, odds-comparison has always been our go-to tie-breaker. Some bookies simply offer better odds than others. Well, it's usually a few cents of difference, but over a large number of bets, they can add up to considerable sums.
For anyone betting on a budget, we recommend narrowing your list of options down by minimum deposit requirement. You may also want to check available March Madness offers before committing to a site. Just ensure an inviting March Madness betting promo doesn't lead you up the garden path regarding the overall reliability and accessibility of a sportsbook. The best March Madness betting sites don't necessarily offer the best promos, and the best promos aren't always available to you.
One of the best betting sites for March Madness we recommend is 1XBET. Their betting offer is very broad and you can count on multiple payment methods too. Learn how to download 1XBET app latest version 2026 from our article.
3. College Basketball Betting Restrictions in the USA
College basketball betting is legal in many US states and many players bet on their favourites to win NCAA Men'a March Madness, but the rules aren't identical everywhere. Some states like New York and New Jersey, for instance, won't let you bet on college teams from that state. Others prohibit markets like college player props, meaning you can only wager on team-level outcomes. Make sure to double check the rules applicable in your region before placing bets with your chosen bookmaker.
4. College Basketball Betting Markets
The moneyline is what introduced most of us to sports betting that's why it is the first on the list of bet types in our NCAA tournament betting guide. Here, you are simply betting on which team wins the game. It's not always the most lucrative where there is a clear favorite and underdog, but it's also fairly low-risk.
A level higher are the famous NCAA tournament spreads. With these, you don't just pick the winner but also the number of points you expect them to win by. So if your selected team is quoted at -6.5, the spread bet will cash if the team wins and beats the opponent by at least seven points.
March Madness Betting Markets
- Moneyline
- Point spread
- Live betting
- Parlays
- Futures
- Totals
- ...and more
Totals work just how it suggests in the name. They let you bet on whether the total scores of the game (sum of the scores of both teams) will be over or under the bookmaker's line.
The futures market, on the other hand, provides March Madness betting odds for winning the tournament or even reaching the Final Four. Most sites also provide futures for winning a particular region.
Similar betting markets apply to NBA matches. For those who would like to place bets on their favourite teams, we have prepared a guide explaining NBA betting picks, under/over predictions and winner outright odds. Take a look and bet!
5. March Madness Betting Strategies
A good March Madness betting strategy starts with shopping around for the best prices. It's not hard to see why. If sportsbook X prices a team at +700 and sportsbook Y gives the same team +600, it means you will get more from X for the same exact prediction if it pans out.
Seasoned bettors in forums also swear by looking beyond the obvious favorites. March Madness is never short of upsets, and if you can see one coming, you can win big even with a budget payroll. Worth noting is that this requires you to have a nodding acquaintance with recent team forms and matchup advantages, some of which bookies miss or ignore during pricing.
And finally, one of our favorite March Madness betting tips: waiting! Use the first few matches of the tournament to see how each target team is playing, so your decisions are informed on current form rather than history.
6. 2027 March Madness Betting Odds and Early Favourites
Early March Madness odds 2027 are out. We expect the prices to move before Selection Sunday but going by the current odds, the likeliest to go all the way are Duke, Michigan, Florida, and Arizona and these teams are included in our March Madness 2027 predictions.
True to form, our own March Madness 2027 betting predictions put Duke at the top of the pile. One of our experts thinks Michigan deserves a little more respect after winning the 2026 national championship, and there have been plenty of Florida, Arizona, Houston and UConn shouts.
However, if forced to make an early call on the NCAA Men's March Madness eventual champion, the majority of us consider Duke a decent pick. Of course, there are still months of regular-season basketball, and you can't rule out the possibility of injuries and transfers tipping the balance in another team's favor. If you like basketball, apart from the real live games, you may be interested in NBA 2K Series eSports betting. If so, you can find out more about betting opportunities related to it, in our article.
March Madness 2027 Final Winner - NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Winner
Last update: 1793181383
Let’s get back to the college basketball in our March Madness betting guide. When does March Madness start? The Opening Round will be on March 16, 2027, while Selection Sunday will take place on March 14. The Final Four is scheduled for April 3 and 5.
And where will March Madness be in 2027, you might ask? Well, several places, as it has always been. The regional finals will be held in San Antonio, Los Angeles, Kansas City and New York, while the Final Four will head to Detroit.
7. March Madness Betting Guide FAQ
7.1 What are the best March Madness betting options?
Moneyline, spreads, totals and futures remain the most popular and arguably the best options for a first-timer or casual bettor.
7.2 When does March Madness start in 2027?
Selection Sunday is March 14. The men's Opening Round begins March 16 and the First Round on March 18 and 19.
7.3 Who's favoured to win March Madness in 2027?
Duke, Michigan and Florida are favourites to win NCAA Men’s March Madness. Note, however, that the odds to win NCAA Tournament 2027 are highly likely to change throughout the regular college basketball season.
7.4 What is the best way to approach March Madness betting?
Don't treat the tournament like a giant lottery ticket. Take the time to compare prices and understand the markets. Research the teams and set up a bankroll that fits your budget. Most importantly, keep your expectations in check. Follow the basics and this March Madness Betting Guide can give you the starting point you need to make the most of the tournament.
March Madness Betting Guide
College basketball’s biggest spectacle is on the horizon, and our March Madness betting guide is here to help you find the best betting markets and share important tips on getting the most out of your money. We've tailored this guide for both seasoned NCAAB bettors and total greenhorns looking to bet on March Madness for the first time.
Contents
1. How March Madness Tournament Work
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament remains the good old single-elimination competition, in which one bad night can send a team packing. But the 2027 edition is going to be a little different. For the first time, the tournament will feature 76 teams instead of 68. Everything else will be pretty much the same.
We will start with Selection Sunday (this year, it takes place on March 14). Then (on March 16 and 17), there will be 12 Opening Round games, which will pave the way for the traditional 64-team First Round (scheduled to kick off on March 18). Half the teams make it into the Second Round, with the field shrinking further into the Sweet 16, the Elite Eight, and ultimately the Final Four.
So where do the 8 extra teams fit in the schedule? The idea is to enter the first round with 64 teams as has been the case over the years, so only the Opening Round gets extra games.
Just in case you are new here, there is a separate NCAA tournament for women's college basketball, which happens at around the same time as the men's version. Women's March Madness betting options are very similar to the ones applying to the men's matches, as both tournaments have almost the same rules. To learn more about this sport and events you can bet on, you can check our article including basketball betting tips, sure bets and picks of the day.
2. Where to Bet on March Madness and College Basketball
There are loads of sportsbooks out there providing March Madness betting options. What separates the great from the good is how individual bookmakers combine essential wagering and account management facets. In essence, it's more than just the competitiveness of a bookie's March Madness betting lines that matters. The best bookmakers also offer a decent selection of markets and reliable live betting functions, too. Oh, and it's simply not a good site if it starts acting up when you initiate a withdrawal. Below we list the top Men's March Madness betting offers.
Where to bet on March Madness
If you're torn between options, odds-comparison has always been our go-to tie-breaker. Some bookies simply offer better odds than others. Well, it's usually a few cents of difference, but over a large number of bets, they can add up to considerable sums.
For anyone betting on a budget, we recommend narrowing your list of options down by minimum deposit requirement. You may also want to check available March Madness offers before committing to a site. Just ensure an inviting March Madness betting promo doesn't lead you up the garden path regarding the overall reliability and accessibility of a sportsbook. The best March Madness betting sites don't necessarily offer the best promos, and the best promos aren't always available to you.
One of the best betting sites for March Madness we recommend is 1XBET. Their betting offer is very broad and you can count on multiple payment methods too. Learn how to download 1XBET app latest version 2026 from our article.
3. College Basketball Betting Restrictions in the USA
College basketball betting is legal in many US states and many players bet on their favourites to win NCAA Men'a March Madness, but the rules aren't identical everywhere. Some states like New York and New Jersey, for instance, won't let you bet on college teams from that state. Others prohibit markets like college player props, meaning you can only wager on team-level outcomes. Make sure to double check the rules applicable in your region before placing bets with your chosen bookmaker.
4. College Basketball Betting Markets
The moneyline is what introduced most of us to sports betting that's why it is the first on the list of bet types in our NCAA tournament betting guide. Here, you are simply betting on which team wins the game. It's not always the most lucrative where there is a clear favorite and underdog, but it's also fairly low-risk.
A level higher are the famous NCAA tournament spreads. With these, you don't just pick the winner but also the number of points you expect them to win by. So if your selected team is quoted at -6.5, the spread bet will cash if the team wins and beats the opponent by at least seven points.
March Madness Betting Markets
Totals work just how it suggests in the name. They let you bet on whether the total scores of the game (sum of the scores of both teams) will be over or under the bookmaker's line.
The futures market, on the other hand, provides March Madness betting odds for winning the tournament or even reaching the Final Four. Most sites also provide futures for winning a particular region.
Similar betting markets apply to NBA matches. For those who would like to place bets on their favourite teams, we have prepared a guide explaining NBA betting picks, under/over predictions and winner outright odds. Take a look and bet!
5. March Madness Betting Strategies
A good March Madness betting strategy starts with shopping around for the best prices. It's not hard to see why. If sportsbook X prices a team at +700 and sportsbook Y gives the same team +600, it means you will get more from X for the same exact prediction if it pans out.
Seasoned bettors in forums also swear by looking beyond the obvious favorites. March Madness is never short of upsets, and if you can see one coming, you can win big even with a budget payroll. Worth noting is that this requires you to have a nodding acquaintance with recent team forms and matchup advantages, some of which bookies miss or ignore during pricing.
And finally, one of our favorite March Madness betting tips: waiting! Use the first few matches of the tournament to see how each target team is playing, so your decisions are informed on current form rather than history.
6. 2027 March Madness Betting Odds and Early Favourites
Early March Madness odds 2027 are out. We expect the prices to move before Selection Sunday but going by the current odds, the likeliest to go all the way are Duke, Michigan, Florida, and Arizona and these teams are included in our March Madness 2027 predictions.
True to form, our own March Madness 2027 betting predictions put Duke at the top of the pile. One of our experts thinks Michigan deserves a little more respect after winning the 2026 national championship, and there have been plenty of Florida, Arizona, Houston and UConn shouts.
However, if forced to make an early call on the NCAA Men's March Madness eventual champion, the majority of us consider Duke a decent pick. Of course, there are still months of regular-season basketball, and you can't rule out the possibility of injuries and transfers tipping the balance in another team's favor. If you like basketball, apart from the real live games, you may be interested in NBA 2K Series eSports betting. If so, you can find out more about betting opportunities related to it, in our article.
Let’s get back to the college basketball in our March Madness betting guide. When does March Madness start? The Opening Round will be on March 16, 2027, while Selection Sunday will take place on March 14. The Final Four is scheduled for April 3 and 5.
And where will March Madness be in 2027, you might ask? Well, several places, as it has always been. The regional finals will be held in San Antonio, Los Angeles, Kansas City and New York, while the Final Four will head to Detroit.
7. March Madness Betting Guide FAQ
7.1 What are the best March Madness betting options?
Moneyline, spreads, totals and futures remain the most popular and arguably the best options for a first-timer or casual bettor.
7.2 When does March Madness start in 2027?
Selection Sunday is March 14. The men's Opening Round begins March 16 and the First Round on March 18 and 19.
7.3 Who's favoured to win March Madness in 2027?
Duke, Michigan and Florida are favourites to win NCAA Men’s March Madness. Note, however, that the odds to win NCAA Tournament 2027 are highly likely to change throughout the regular college basketball season.
7.4 What is the best way to approach March Madness betting?
Don't treat the tournament like a giant lottery ticket. Take the time to compare prices and understand the markets. Research the teams and set up a bankroll that fits your budget. Most importantly, keep your expectations in check. Follow the basics and this March Madness Betting Guide can give you the starting point you need to make the most of the tournament.