March Madness Betting Lines: Underdogs Worth Betting On this 2024 Season

March Madness Betting Lines: Underdogs Worth Betting On this 2024 Season

March Madness is almost upon us, which means that it’s time to start thinking about how we are going to spend our betting dollars in the tournament.

2024 NCAA Basketball Betting | MyBookie Sportsbook | NCAA Basketball Possible March Madness Underdogs Worth Betting On

The games come thick and fast, with upsets a big part of what makes this tournament so appealing to everyone, even those who barely watch any college basketball during the regular season. People love to put together a bracket, which makes the whole tournament that much more interesting, as doing so gives you a dog in the fight in every single game, or at least for the opening round. We are going to now look at a few teams that might make some noise in March Madness. That being said, the final bracket has yet to be released, so we don’t know how seeding will look at this point, so keep in mind that these are not necessarily teams we think will win it all.

 

South Carolina Gamecocks

The Gamecocks are certainly not the most exciting team to watch, for reasons we will get into in a moment, and their overall record may be a little deceiving. They are currently sitting at 24-6 on the season after a loss to #4 ranked Tennessee, but their strength of schedule does leave a little bit to be desired. What makes them dangerous is that they play the game at a very slow pace, which generally helps them to stay close to any opponent. They are great on defense, especially in rebounding, so they can potentially control the pace of the game and keep scoring to a minimum. To me, that all adds up to a dangerous team that no one is going to want to play.

South Carolina Vegas Odds
MyBookie Current Odds to Win NCAA Basketball Tournament


 

Clemson Tigers

Anyone that follows college basketball will be well aware of the impact that the ACC has in the game, especially when it comes to March Madness. Over the past 8 seasons, we have seen 7 teams from this conference make it to the Final Four, so the odds are very much in the favor of at least one ACC team making a deep run. Why not Clemson? They have come good after snapping out of a midseason funk and are playing some great ball right now, winning 7 of their last 9, which is the kind of form you want to be in heading into the tournament. This team leans heavily on shooting from 3-point range and tend to get caught up in shootouts. They are fun to watch and could be a nightmare if they get hot from deep.

Clemson Bets
MyBookie Favorite to Win NCAA Basketball Tournament


 

Creighton Bluejays

Creighton is more than likely going to finish in the top 10 in the National Rankings, which should give them a very decent seeding in the tournament. Of the 3 teams listed here, I think they are the most likely to go on a run that could lead to the Final Four. You look at just the last couple of weeks and you see huge wins against ranked teams in Marquette and UConn, the latter of which was an absolute blowout win. That alone makes them dangerous, as it is very clear that this is a team that does not fear anyone. On their day, they can beat the best, which is exactly what it takes to go deep in the tournament.

Creighton Basketball Odds
MyBookie Current Odds to Win NCAA Basketball Tournament


 

2024 March Madness Schedule

Are you looking for the Printable March Madness bracket? Click or tap here to open it as a .JPG

Round City Venue Dates Host
First Four Dayton, Ohio UD Arena March 19 – 20 University of Dayton
First/Second Brooklyn. N.Y. Barclays Center March 22 -24 Atlantic 10 Conference
First/Second Charlotte, N.C. Spectrum Center March 21 – 23 University of North Carolina at Charlotte
First/Second Indianapolis Gainbridge Fieldhouse March 22 – 24 IUPUI / Horizon League
First/Second Omaha, Neb. CHI Health Center March 21 – 23 Creighton University
First/Second Pittsburgh PPG Paints Arena March 21 -23 Duquesne University
First/Second Salt Lake City Vivint Smart Home Arena March 21 – 23 University of Utah
First/Second Spokane, Wash. Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena March 22 – 24 University of Idaho
First/Second Memphis, Tenn. FedExForum March 22 – 24 University of Memphis
East Regional Boston TD Garden March 28 – 30 Boston College
South Regional Dallas American Airlines Center March 29 -31 Big 12 Conference
Midwest Regional Detroit Little Caesars Arena March 29 – 31 University of Detroit Mercy / Oakland University
West Regional Los Angeles Crypto.com Arena March 28 – 30 Pepperdine University
 

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

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Underdogs You Should Put in Your 2023 March Madness Betting List?
 

Previous Betting News

You don’t have to be a major fan of college basketball to get excited about March Madness. It is one of those events that cause even the most casual bettor to dip into their bankroll and get some wagers going. In terms of excitement, the tournament is tough to beat especially when those Cinderella teams begin to emerge, as they do every single year, to bust brackets and cause mayhem. We are still a couple of days away from Selection Sunday and the release of the 2023 bracket, which makes an article like this a little tougher to put together, but we are still going to take a look at a few teams who might just fill the sleeper or Cinderella role to perfection, keeping in mind that we are not even totally sure that some of these teams will be in. Check out MyBookie’s college basketball betting odds for those underdogs teams.

 

March Madness betting look at Cinderellas, sleepers and bracket-busters

Bradley Braves

Before we get to March Madness, we had Arch Madness, which is what the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament is often referred to. That tournament is over and we saw something of a surprise at the end, with Drake beating Bradley in convincing fashion in the final. That defeat ended a 12-game win streak for the Braves, but will it have hurt their chances of getting into March Madness? If not, then it would be easy to overlook that one bad game over the past few months and have them in as a potential bracket buster. This is a team that got better as the season wore on, and they have a defense that can frustrate better teams.

 

Colgate Raiders

The Raiders have been in the tournament in each of the last 2 seasons and look set to be in again. Now, you can argue that they have not made it beyond Round 1, but last year they gave Wisconsin a real scare as the #14 seed, losing 67-60 in that one. Many of their key players are back again this season and looked very good in the Patriot Conference, where they only lost 1 game all year. Their non-conference play left a little to be desired, but this is a team on a roll and one that can score a lot of points without relying on just one or two players. They could be a handful as a #14 or #15 seed.

 

Furman Paladins

The last time Furman was in the tournament was way back in 1980, but it looks as though that dry spell might be coming to an end. You can’t ask for a much better finish to the season for Furman, as they won the Southern Conference regular season crown before going on and winning the conference tournament, too. All told, they have won 6 on a row and could be a handful for whoever gets them in Round 1. This is an efficient team that leads the nation in 2-point FG%, so they are going to put points on the board.

 

Iona Gaels

I always look for teams that end the season on a high note when trying to identify potential Cinderella teams in March Madness. You certainly have to put Iona in that category, as they are on a 12-game win streak that saw them win the MAAC in a bit of a stroll. They are also in the semi-finals of the MAAC Tournament and could potentially extend their win streak to 14 games before all is said and done.

 
2022 College Basketball March Madness First Round Underdogs to Must Bet On
 

Previous Betting News

The best part of the event that is March Madness is the drama that it provides. Unlike scripted or fake drama that dominates the airwaves, the drama that the NCAA Tournament provides is often unforeseen and awe-inspiring. Today, we will take a look at some teams that can continue the trend that makes the NCAA Tournament the best postseason in all of sports. Let’s get right to it so you can bet against the March Madness Odds.

 

NCAA First Round: Underdogs Worth Betting | March Madness Odds

Montana State Bobcats-14th Seed 

The Montana State Bobcats will be roughly a 14-point underdog in their first-round matchup with the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Now, Mark Adam’s Red Raiders are one of 8-10 teams in the nation that have the ability to win the national championship. 

What sticks out in this game is that this seems to be the matchup that everyone is just skating by and not giving it a second thought. That game seems to jump up and bite everyone during the first couple of days during the dance. 

Bobcats coach Danny Sprinkle has a veteran team with four of his top five scorers being seniors and the fifth being junior Raequan Battle, who was a top 100 talent in 2019 and had originally committed to Washington. The Cougars also shoot roughly 37% from behind the arc from deep which ranks within the top 40 in the nation.

 

Michigan Wolverines-10th Seed

To be perfectly honest, Colorado State deserved better. The Rams have been one of the best stories of the season, boasting one of the best players in the country in David Roddy. 

The Michigan Wolverines have struggled at times this season, but they still have one of the best big men in the nation in Hunter Dickinson, along with senior guards Eli Brooks and Devante Jones. The roster is also loaded with former top 100 recruits though many have yet to realize their prep potential. 

Since early February, the Wolverines have basically alternated wins and losses and ran into a hot Indiana team in the Big Ten tournament. Michigan is a battle-tested group that plays in one of the top three conferences in the nation. They will likely only be a one or two-point dog, but they should win this game straight up. 

 

Iowa State Cyclones-11th Seed

The Iowa State Cyclones enter March Madness on a bit of a skid, having lost their last three games to close the season. However, in their first-round matchup with the LSU Tigers, they take on an opponent who fired their coach Will Wade. LSU was served with a notice of allegations that confirmed what we have all known for years: Will Wade ran a dirty program.

The Cyclones may not be playing their best basketball, but LSU has ridden their early-season success into a tournament bid. Head coach TJ Otzelberger also boasts one of the best players in the Big XII in Izaiah Brockington. The 6-4 senior guard averages over 17 points and seven rebounds per game while shooting nearly 38% from distance. Iowa State is 8-5 against the spread in the road and neutral-site games this season, having won six of those games. 

 

Virginia Tech Hokies-11th Seed

It’s hard to deny that the Hokies are one of the hottest teams in the nation as they defeated the three best teams in the ACC on their way to the automatic bid. Mike Young’s group is the fourth-best team in the ACC against the spread and covers the number by a second-best +2.6 points per game. 

The Virginia Tech Hokies have a tough road to an upset as the Texas Longhorns are one of the most talented teams in the nation, with Chris Beard at the helm. That said, Marcus Carr and Tre Mitchell, two big-time transfers into the program this season, have not performed at a level commensurate with their careers prior to arriving in Austin. Mike Young is not as widely known as Beard from a national standpoint, but he just showed us what he is capable of in the ACC Tournament.

 
2019 March Madness Underdogs
 

Previous Betting News

2019 March Madness First Round Betting Underdogs

If you’re a college basketball betting aficionado that loves backing value-packed underdogs that have a great chance of either covering the spread or winning outright, then you’re going to get the expert insight you’ll need in order to make a series of wise, opening round March Madness betting on three underdogs that all fit the bill as far as looking like value-packed underdogs. With that said, let’s find out which dogs look like they’re barking loudly in their respective openers.

 

No. 7 Wofford (29-4) vs. No. 10 Seton Hall (20-13)

  • When: Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 9:40 PM ET
  • Where: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida
  • 2019 March Madness Odds: Wofford -2.5 / Total: 144

Seton Hall might be the lower seed in their opener against No. 7 Wofford, but the Pirates have the look of a team that is both, offering great value and one that could beat their higher seeded opponents outright on Thursday. Seton Hall had won four straight while beating Marquette and Villanova along the way until narrowly falling to the Wildcats 74-72 in the Big East conference tournament championship game the last time out.

While Wofford has gone a perfect 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games against a team with a winning straight up record, Seton Hall has gone 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning straight up record while also going 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 neutral site games. The Pirates will have their hands full against Wofford, but they’ve got a great chance to cash in and win outright as an underdog in the first round.

 

No. 14 Yale (22-7) vs. No. 3 Louisiana State (26-6)

  • When: Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 12:40 PM ET
  • Where: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida

While LSU has won eight of their last 10 games, but the Tigers have fallen to Florida twice along the way. Now, LSU will take on a Yale team that has won three straight to claim the Ivy League title and seven of their last 10 games overall. More importantly, these two teams are virtually dead even statistically on both sides of the ball.

Yale and LSU both have a quartet of double-digit scorers on their rosters, but only Yale enters March Madness without any drama, seeing as how LSU head coach Will Wade has been suspended for his alleged involvement in a FBI wiretap scandal.

While LSU has gone 5-1 ATS in their last six games, Yale has gone 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600 while also posting an encouraging 11-3 ATS in their last 14 neutral site games. 59 percent of public bettors like the Bulldogs to at least cover the chalk and it’s easy to see why.

 

No. 13 UC-Irvine (30-5) vs. No. 4 Kansas State (25-8)

  • When: Friday, March 22, 2019 at 2:00 PM ET
  • Where: SAP Center, San Jose, California
  • 2019 March Madness Odds: K-State -4.5

K-State won four straight before falling to Iowa State in the Big 12 conference tournament, but they’ve also dropped three of their last nine games while losing to the Cyclones twice along the way. UC-Irvine hits March madness as one of the hottest teams in the nation, having won an impressive 16 consecutive games including their emphatic 92-64 beat-down of Cal-State Fullerton in the Big West conference championship on Saturday.

There’s a reason why a whopping 62 percent of college basketball bettors like UC-Irvine and it’s because the Anteaters have been burning up the books by going 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points and a near-perfect 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall. Combine that with the fact that K-State is just 1-6 ATS in their last seven non-conference games and averages just 65.8 points per game and it’s easy to see why UC-Irvine is looking like a great underdog pick in their opener.

 
2018 March Madness Betting Underdogs Offering Great Value
 

Previous Betting News

If you’re a March Madness betting enthusiast looking for some value-packed underdogs worth betting on in the first round of the 2018 NCAA National Championship Basketball Tournament, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve got the block on lock when it comes to the NCAA Basketball betting action. Now, check out this trio of opening round underdogs worth betting on!

 

2018 March Madness Betting Underdogs Offering Great Value

No. 12 Davidson (21-11) vs. No. 5 Kentucky (24-10)

  • When: Thursday, March 15, 2018, 7:10 PM ET
  • Where: Taco Bell Arena, Boise, Idaho
  • TV: CBS
  • March Madness Betting Odds: Kentucky -5.5 (Total 143)
 

Davidson ‘transformed like Optimus Prime’ late in the regular season and now enter the NCAA Tournament on fire, having won four straight games and 11 of their last 13 games overall. The Wildcats blew St. Louis and St. Bonaventure off the court before narrowly getting past Rhode Island to surprisingly win the A-10 conference tournament title last weekend. Now, Davidson would like nothing better than to upset the No. 5 seed Kentucky Wildcats in the opening round.

For their part, Kentucky is also pretty hot, having won three straight to claim the SEC tournament title while winning seven of their last eight games overall. The Cats put the clamps on Georgia and blew Alabama off the court before narrowly getting past Tennessee in the conference championship matchup last weekend.

Davidson is playing some pretty good defense right now, having limited six of their last nine opponents to 63 points or less and they only gave up 67.6 points per game on the year (54th). The Wildcats have also scored in the 80s twice during the stretch and at least 74 points in three other games. Kentucky has a plethora of elite, five-star kind of talent on their roster, but the SEC-based Wildcats are also young and inexperienced.

I like Davidson’s senior forward Peyton Aldridge (21.5 ppg), the co-Player of the Year in the Atlantic 10 and I’m expecting a big game out of him after he was held to just 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting in Sunday’s win over Rhode Island. Davidson also has a nice backcourt in guards Kellan Grady (18.0 ppg) and Jon Axel Gudmundsson (13.0 ppg).

Pick: Davidson +5

 

No. 9 NC State (21-11) vs. No. 8 Seton Hall (21-11)

  • When: Thursday, March 15 at 4:30 PM ET
  • Where: Intrust Bank Arena – Wichita, KS
  • TV: TBS
  • Live Stream: MM Live
  • March Madness Betting Odds: Seton Hall -2.5 (Total 157.5)

North Carolina State is the No. 9 seed, but I love the value that the Wolfpack are offering against No. 8 Seton Hall in their opening round contest even though they’ve dropped two of their last three games. Seton Hall has also lost two of their last three, so both teams come into this contest with what looks like the same amount of momentum. However, over their respective last 10 games, Seton Hall is just 4-6 while NC State has gone a polar opposite 6-4.

NC State recorded some really quality wins this season by beating Duke by 11 points at home in January, Clemson, North Carolina, and Florida State. Seton Hall has struggled late this season while losing to Xavier twice, Villanova twice and Butler in the Big East Tournament.

The Pirates are just 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a straight-up loss and 0-4 ATS in their last four tournament games. Conversely, NC State has gone 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning straight up record, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games. NC State holds the edge in scoring and I think that you’ll see that edge play out in this contest!

Pick: NC State +2

 

Providence (21-13) vs. Texas A&M (20-12)

  • When: Friday, March 16, 2018, 12:15 PM ET
  • Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
  • TV: CBS
  • Live Stream: MM Live
  • March Madness Betting Odds: Texas A&M -3.5 (Total 138)

Providence and Texas A&M both had their respective three-game winning streaks snapped in their last contests as the Friars lost to Villanova 76-66 in overtime of the Big East and the Aggies fell to Alabama 71-70 in the SEC tournament.

However, while Providence went just 5-5 over their last 10 games, they also managed to beat bot, No. 2 Villanova and No. 3 Xavier along the way. Overall, in six games against the two Top 5 teams, the Friars have gone 3-3 this season. While Texas A&M did manage to beat Kentucky on Feb. 10, the Aggies also lost three straight games at one point, including one to mediocre Mississippi State.

While Texas A&M holds the statistical edge at both ends of the court, there’s a reason that a whopping 70 percent of public bettors like the Friars to cover the chalk as 3.5-point underdogs and it’s because of their battle-tested armor playing in the Big East against teams like Villanova, Xavier, Butler, and Creighton. Providence has just three double-digit scorers to Texas A&M’s four, but the Friars have a whopping six players that average between 4.2 and 8.9 points per game.

Texas A&M is just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall, 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up loss, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games against a team with a winning straight up record. On the flip side of the coin, Providence has gone 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning straight up record.

Pick: Providence +3.5

 
March Madness 2017 First Round Betting Underdogs
 

Previous Betting News

I’m sure you know by know that at least one No. 12 seed tends to upset a No. 5 each year in the NCAA Tournament. Since 2009, favorites are just 11-21 ATS, including 5-11 since 2014. A 12 seed has defeated a 5 seed outright in 18 of the past 21 seasons, and the series is tied 8-8 over the past four NCAA tournaments. No. 12 seeds are also the lowest seeds that have been favored in NCAA tournament games since 1985. Here are two No. 12 seeds I recommend in this Big Dance for your March Madness betting picks.

 

March Madness 2017 First Round Betting Underdogs

No. 12 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 5 Minnesota (pick’em)

This line tells you all you need to know about how good oddsmakers think Middle Tennessee is. Last year, the Blue Raiders were a No. 15 and upset No. 2 Michigan State in dominating fashion, ruining more than a few brackets. Last year’s Blue Raiders went temporarily unconscious for one afternoon. This edition, which generates more of its points from inside the arc (58 percent) than any other team in the field, has been lighting it up for four months. Their 2015-16 leading scorers in Giddy Potts and Reggie Upshaw returned and were joined by Arkansas senior transfer JaCorey Williams, who led Middle Tennessee with 17.3 points per game. Middle Tennessee also takes care of the ball and can make shots. This team is going to score on Minnesota Golden, and the Big Ten team has had trouble putting the ball in the basket all season with an effective field goal percentage of 48.6, which ranks 249th nationally.

Minnesota is one of the great turnaround stories as the Golden Gophers won eight games last season.! Richard Pitino suspended or dismissed five players; the athletic director who hired him, Norwood Teague, resigned in disgrace the previous summer; a school audit in May found Pitino had drastically overspent his travel budget in his first two seasons. The Golden Gophers are one of the tournament’s least consistent teams. They had three winning streaks of at least six games while also posting a five- game losing streak at one point.

 

No. 12 Nevada vs. No. 5 Iowa State (-6)

Nevada (28-6, 14-4 Mountain West) enters the tournament having won nine straight games, which is one of the longest active streaks in the nation. The Wolf Pack were the Mountain West’s best, and while that may not mean what it did when Jimmer Fredette and Kawhi Leonard were around, it’s an impressive accomplishment all the same. The Wolf Pack are making their first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 10 seasons behind their prowess at the three-point line. Nevada ranks in the top 30 in three-point accuracy (38.9%) and made three-pointers (312). During the national broadcast on CBS, analyst Seth Davis predicted a Nevada upset. “I actually like Nevada to go all the way to the Sweet 16,” Davis said.

After a slow start, the Cyclones dominated the second half of the Big 12 season. They won 9 of their last 10, including a three-game run in the Big 12 Tournament where they finished with their third championship in four seasons. Iowa State (23-10, 12-6 Big 12) reached the Sweet 16 last season and has won at least one tournament game in four of the last five years. Iowa State also scored two wins over top-10 teams this season, including a victory over Kansas (ranked third at the time) and Baylor (ranked ninth at the time). ISU is similar to Nevada. Both are smaller, athletic teams filled with excellent shooters. Monte Morris is one of the best point guards in the nation. The senior, and winningest player in program history, averages 16.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.

 
Underdogs that May Surprise Bettors this March Madness
 

Previous Betting News

With the NCAA Tournament upcoming, it’s time to look ahead and the teams that may be playing in it. We have all read about the best teams in the country, and the favorites to win the tournament. This time, let’s look at some underdogs that may surprise bettors on this March Madness online spread.

 

Underdogs that May Surprise Bettors this March Madness

Texas

We do not hear much about the Longhorns, but they are a legitimate threat to win some games in March. The Longhorns are 17-9 on the season and 8-5 in Big 12 play. The Longhorns are going to finish in the middle of the pack in the Big 12 – which is one of the best conferences in all of college basketball. Texas is coming off a great win over West Virginia, and has games against Baylor, Oklahoma and Kansas remaining. While it’s not a guarantee Shaka Smart’s team will get in the tournament, they should, and when they do – look out. They are an underdog that may surprise bettors this March Madness!

 

Miami Hurricanes

Why are we not hearing much about the Miami Hurricanes? As winners of five straight games, the Hurricanes from South Beach are 21-4 overall and 10-3 in conference play. The Hurricanes have the offense that can win games, and their defense has been fantastic. Miami has a tough remainder to their Atlantic Coast Conference season, but they are a lock to get into the tournament. With strong play, the Hurricanes could be a top seed, or a 2. Many will count them out, but they could surprise.

 

Dayton Flyers

Archie Miller and his Dayton Flyers are coming off a loss to St. Joseph, but with just four losses on the season, they could be a major threat. The Atlantic Ten is good, folks. St. Joseph, Dayton and VCU are all scary teams to run into during the tournament. The athleticism of the Dayton Flyers makes them an underdog team that could surprise bettors in March Madness.

 

Illinois State Redbirds

Now this team comes with a clause. The Illinois State Redbirds HAVE to win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. The Redbirds are 17-11 and 11-4 in conference play. Even if they win their final 3 games, they still will fall short for a tournament bid. This team has already downed Wichita State, and boy they can really play. If the Redbirds get to the big dance, they will be a team to reckon with!

 

Valparaiso Crusaders

Bryce Drew, the best NCAA Tournament player in program history is the head coach. Alec Peters is having a monster season, and will be tough to defend come March Madness. Valparaiso is 22-5 on the season, and leads the Horizon Conference.

There are five underdogs that may surprise bettors this March Madness season!

 
Underdogs You Should Put in Your 2016 March Madness Betting List
 

Previous Betting News

If you’re a devoted hoophead, you’ve probably spent the past several months digging through tons of data and getting familiar with the happenings in the college basketball lines. As you probably know, there are 351 teams in Division I of College Basketball this year, and most of these teams have had NCAAB odds published for every single game they’ve played so far–around 30 games by now. With such a vast amount of data to sieve through, there’s no way one can stay on top of everything, but you’ve at least gotten to know several top players and teams, along with a given number of betting trends.

 

Underdogs You Should Put in Your March Madness Betting List

And now that March Madness is just around the corner, it is time for you to profit from that knowledge, especially if you have been paying attention to the lowly upstart teams with solid betting potential in the NCAA Tournament, commonly known to you as Cinderella teams.

In NCAAB betting, there’s nothing more fun and profitable than a team that exceeds expectations based on their small background or low seeding. The problem, however, is that it is never easy to spot solid Cinderella teams, particularly in a mind-blowing season like the one we are having, where every conference and region is riddled with upsets. Fortunately for you, we have just the right characteristics for you to look out for when considering upstart teams in the 2016 March Madness betting lines and odds. Below we will show you how to identify such teams, and then—for good measure—give you a couple of upstart teams to consider in your March Madness NCAA Basketball picks.

 

Characteristics of Cinderella Teams in March Madness

Has an Exceptional Player: If you look at any at the history of the NCAA Tournament, you’ll find that almost every team that made an unexpected deep run in the tournament had at least one player that stood above the rest and rallied others towards success. Whether it’s through strong rebounding, scoring, assisting or a combination of either/all of such elements; that exceptional play acts as a cog that elevates the play of those around him. Mind you, the good form of that player can be permanent or momentary, so keep your eyes wide open for such players.

Good Coaching: This one is self-explanatory; good coaching often leads to wins. Take note that, by good coaching, we are referring to a tactically sound coach that has proven his ability to instill confidence in his team and tutor his players towards victory. Strong coaching doesn’t necessarily have to be a big-name guy, or someone with tons of experience.

Tons of Experience: The saying about Experience is the best Teacher holds true is college basketball as it does in pretty much every other aspect of life. Having a core of players that have played together for a while breeds familiarity and often allows the team to handle pressure in a better way than young college basketball squads. Teams that have players who have played in the Tournament before is an added plus, something that is affirmed by the fact that the majority of the top-performing teams in the country have a number of experienced players leading them. Experience in the Tournament also comes in the form of teams that frequently make it to March Madness, often paced by experienced players and coaches.

Team Depth: Injuries are part and parcel of the game, just in the same way the best of players can go out of form. In such instances, having a deep team, mainly a talented bench that is able to put in the work if need be, comes in very handy for the Cinderellas, as it enables them to consistently compete at a high level.

Strong Run Leading Up to The Tournament: Obviously, there is a silver lining to this characteristic, given that certain teams enter the tournament on a strong run on the basis of playing soft teams leading up to the March Madness. That said, teams that have a solid form in the weeks leading up to the NCAA Tournament often perform well in their respective conference tournaments and the Big Dance.

Has a Standout Style of Play: Again, this characteristic is not an absolute necessity, but it does go a long way to encourage efficiency and the potential to win. The majority of teams that have unexpected good runs in the NCAA Tournament tend to have a unique style of play that makes it difficult for opponents to adapt or play against them. This can range from simple aspects such as team formations in offense/defense to well-tailored executions in plays such as full-court press.

Mismatches and Weak Opponents: Owing to the disparities in strengths of schedules and conferences, along with the fact that the NCAAB lines are bound to come with unexpected wins and losses every year; a given number of weak opponents sometimes slip through the cracks and enter the NCAA Tournament. This sets opportunity for possible upsets by other serious/underrated contenders. In other occasions, mismatches and vulnerabilities pave the way for wins by upstart teams. For example, a strong offensive team going against a weak defensive team, or a strong rebounding team facing a weak one, sets up opportunities for exploitations (and upset wins) by Cinderella teams.

 

Upstart/Cinderella Picks for the 2016 March Madness

The list here can be very long, and in due course of the month, we will be highlighting as many Cinderella picks as possible. But for now, feel free to whet your betting appetite with the following upstart picks for the upcoming March Madness.

 

Monmouth Hawks (27-6, 17-3 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)

The Hawks were so happy about clinching the MAAC regular season title that they extended King Rice’s head-coaching contract for five years through 2021. And looking at their season thus far, you couldn’t agree more that Monmouth has been a real force. Outside their impressive conference play, the Hawks had two top-50 RPI teams in Notre Dame and USC, along with other quality wins against UCLA and Georgetown. And as far as exceptionality is concerned, the Hawks have a dynamic player in Justin Robinson, a 5’ 8” diminutive junior guard who is averaging 20 points per game. From the look of things, Monmouth has to win their conference tournament for a sure bid into the NCAA Tournament, something that looks highly likely. And should they get through as expected, you should be on the lookout for the Hawks as a potential No. 10 or No. 11 seed that can make a mess out of your bracket with upsets over favorable matchups against a No. 3 or No. 4 teams from Major Conference such as Baylor and California in the early NCAA Tournament rounds.

 

Dayton Flyers (24-6, 14-4 in Atlantic 10 Conference)

Besides the strong form they have entering the NCAA Tournament, the Flyers have been one of the most aggressive teams in the country, racking up some signature wins that have pushed up their RPI up to a respectable ranking in the top 30. Included in their résumé are top-75 RPI victories over Iowa, St. Bonaventure, Vandy, Monmouth, George Washington, Alabama, William & Mary and Davidson. In addition, Dayton’s starting roster is beefed up with experienced upper classmen who are able to measure up to any kind of opponents. At the moment, the Flyers are projected to be anywhere between a No. 5 and No. 7 seed. This doesn’t exactly spell for a potential upset in round one, but the strong seniors-led Flyers team should be more than capable of surprising its better seeded opponents starting from the second round.

 

Colorado Buffaloes (21-10, 10-8 in Pac-12 Conference)

Like Dayton, Colorado is projected to be a No. 6 or No. 7 seed as of now, which—according to some bracketologists—means the Buffs could be on the end of a rude shock in the first round. Now,  whereas there is no way of telling what will happen when March Madness betting commences, I am strongly convinced that the Buffaloes could be a worthy upstart team, given most people will overlook them as a mid-major conference team. Don’t be too keen to jump on the bandwagon of Colorado doubters, this team is having a season for the ages, so going against them could blow up in your face big time. For starters, Colorado has already tied the school record for most regular season wins this year. As if that isn’t noteworthy enough, Colorado has quality and impressive top-35 RPI wins in Oregon, Cal, Arizona, and Oregon State, along with six more victories over teams in the RPI top-100. Additionally, Colorado is a well-coached team and the squad mostly constitutes of upper classmen in their starting five, led by 6’ 10” senior forward, Josh Scott, who is averaging over 16 points and 8 rebounds per game. And above everything, Colorado is 16-1 at home this year. With such a pedigree, Colorado should be able to at least get past the first two rounds of March Madness betting with ease.

 
 
 
 

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