Betting Tips For The Annual March Madness Tournament

If you’re a college basketball fanatic that is looking to fill out the perfect bracket just in time to win your office pool or some million dollar bracket challenge (I wish), then you need to know a few simple March Madness betting tips that will help you maximize your chances of cashing in early and often when March Madness gets underway in less than eight weeks. Let’s get started.

Betting Tips For The Annual March Madness Tournament

Head over Heart!

One of the very first things I tell all betting enthusiasts is to use what I like to call the ‘head over heart’ method. Betting buffs in all sports genres should never, ever bet on one of their favorite teams. By doing so, you’ll manage to stay clear of using your ‘heart’ to make wagers, thereby effectively placing all of the focus goes on the game’s ATS outcome. While we all have favorite teams, I’ve seen thousands of bettors get in trouble because they’re ‘hoping’ their team can cover the spread more so than making an educated, unemotional wager.

No. 1 Seeds Advance

If you didn’t know, a No. 16 seed has never knocked off a No. 1 seed since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. No. 16 seeds have gone 0-124 against No. 1 seeds during that time. Of course, there have been some close calls along the way, but still, no upsets! Just 15 games between No. 1 seeds and No. 16 seeds has been decided by single digits. So there’s a strong possibility that your favorite No. 1 seed will cash in against the spread in its opener, even as a double-digit favorite.

Back a First Four Winner to Advance to 32 or Sweet 16

Ever since 2011, when the NCAA expanded its annual tournament to a 68-team field, at least one first-four at-large winner has reached either the Round of 32 or the Sweet 16.

Pick at No. 1 or a No. 2 seed to Fall Early

One of the top two seeds in each region is almost a lock to fail to reach the Sweet 16. At least two of the top two seeded teams in each region have failed to reach the Sweet 16 in each of the last six years. The last time every No. 1 and No. 2 seed made it to the second weekend was way back in 2009.

Remember…Not All No. 1’s Are Created Equal

If you think all four No. 1 seeds are a lock to reach the Final Four, think again – and adjust your wagers accordingly. Since the annual March Madness event began seeding teams in 1979, all four No. 1 seeds have made it to the Final Four just once – in 2008. Conversely, at least one No. 1 seed has reached the Final Four except two (2006 and 2011) in every tournament since 1985.

Don’t Ride the Dogs Too Hard!

While we all love cashing in on bankroll-boosting double-digit seeded underdogs, the fact of the matter is that double-digit seeds don’t often make ‘super-deep’ tourney runs like VCU and George Mason did in 2006 and ’11 respectively. Just three No. 11 seeds have reached the Final Four since 1985 while three others have reached the Elite Eight. Seven No. 10 seeds have reached the Elite Eight – most recently, Steph Curry-led Davidson in 2008. Only one No. 12 seed, Missouri in 2002, has made it to the Elite Eight.