March Madness is an annual NCAA Division I men’s college basketball tournament that takes place every March and April. The tournament features 68 teams competing in a single-elimination format, with the winner being crowned the national champion.
The first NCAA men’s basketball tournament was held in 1939 and included just eight teams. The tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1951 and to 32 teams in 1975. The current format of 68 teams was adopted in 2011, which includes a “First Four” round that features four play-in games between the lowest-ranked teams.
March Madness has become one of the biggest events in American sports, attracting millions of viewers each year. The tournament is known for its upsets, with lower-seeded teams often pulling off surprise victories over higher-seeded teams. The tournament is also known for its buzzer-beaters, where a player makes a game-winning shot just as the clock runs out.
Some of the most iconic moments in college basketball history have taken place during March Madness, including Christian Laettner’s game-winning shot for Duke in the 1992 tournament and Villanova’s buzzer-beating upset of Georgetown in the 1985 championship game.
Let’s take a look at two of today’s better betting games:
The game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Arkansas Razorbacks could be an exciting matchup between two talented teams.
Kansas is currently ranked fourth in the AP Poll with a 28-7 overall record. The Jayhawks are strong on both offense and defense, scoring an average of 75.5 points per game (86th in the country) and allowing 67.9 PPG (117th). Kansas is led by junior forward Jalen Wilson, averaging 20.1 PPG along with 8.4 rebounds per game, and freshman guard Gradey Dick, who is averaging 14.3 PPG.
Arkansas, on the other hand, is unranked with a 21-13 overall record. The Razorbacks are averaging 74.4 points per game (117th), led by junior guard Ricky Council, scoring 16.0 PPG. Arkansas also has a solid defense, allowing opponents just 67.3 PPG (97th).
Looking at the Bet Ratings and fair odds, I give Kansas a slight edge—approximately 54%—to cover.
BET: KANSAS ≥ -4 POINTS *
Auburn has had a solid season so far, with a 21-12 overall record. The Tigers are a well-rounded team, averaging 73.0 points per game (145th in the country) on offense while allowing just 67.3 PPG (145th) on defense.
Auburn has four players averaging more than 10 points per game — Johni Broome (14.2), Wendell Green (13.9), Jaylin Williams (11.1), and Allen Flanigan (10.1 PPG).
Meanwhile, Houston is ranked No. 2 in the country with a 32-3 record, thanks to a stifling defense that has held opponents to a mere 56.4 PPG — second in the nation. What’s more, the Cougars have a well-balanced offense with a starting five that is near equal in points, rebounds, and assists.
Most impressive, though, is Hoston’s 18.3 average point differential. Teams with a point differential of 15 points or more that are 3- to 8-point favorites on a neutral court have covered the spread over 60% of the time since 2007.
BET: HOUSTON ≥ -5 ½ ****
