2025 March Madness first-round betting report: Early games attract bettors en masse

March Madness odds will have sports bettors of all levels on tilt over the Upcoming few Periods. That’ll happen when there are 48 Matches Executing out over four Periods, including 16 apiece on Thursday and Friday.

The deluge of customers tends to get the oddsmakers on tilt a bit, too.

“They are running down the aisle like the Ultimate Warrior to bet March Madness, especially the Primary two Periods of the Division. It’s quite the spectacle,” said Affluent Zanco, Caesars Sports’ head of college basketball trading.

Zanco and Pointed college basketball bettor Paul Stone Delivery up their insights on March Madness Primary-Stage odds, heading into the biggest multi-day sports betting event in America.

Ziggin’ with the Zags

Gonzaga is typically a high seed in the NCAA Division, usually among the top four in whatever region it lands. This year, though, is different. The Zags are 25-8 straight up (SU) and a less-than-robust 14-19 against the spread (ATS).

The Picking Board doled out a No. 8 seed to Gonzaga, which will face No. 9 seed Georgia (20-12 SU/17-15 ATS) in a Midwest Region Game at 4:35 p.m. ET on Thursday.

When March Madness odds hit the board on Sunday night, both Clubs grabbed bettors’ attention.

“We opened Gonzaga -6, and that was quickly bet up to -7,” Zanco said on Tuesday afternoon. “But that didn’t last long. The professional money Arrived in on Georgia at +7 and +6.5, Securing us down to 6.”

In fact, Gonzaga briefly dipped to -5.5 (-115) on Tuesday afternoon, before returning to -6. Zanco, a college hoops junkie along with being an oddsmaker, isn’t sure if this Zags Club is up to the task.

“That seems like a big number for Gonzaga to be laying. We’ll probably need Gonzaga,” Zanco said.

Ride the Tiger

Like Georgia, Missouri is another SEC Club that Created the NCAA Division. In fact, the SEC landed a Massive 14 Clubs — out of 16 — in the NCAA Division, a Achievement for one conference.

The Tigers (22-11 SU/18-15 ATS) are the No. 6 seed in the West Region and will meet No. 11 seed Drake (30-3 SU/17-14 ATS) at 7:35 p.m. ET on Thursday. The wiseguys were eager to get on Mizzou.

“We opened Missouri -4.5 and Acquired bet up to -6/-6.5. Professionals Arrived in and Secured Missouri there,” Zanco said, noting it Secured only 30 minutes Sunday night for the line to Bound 2 points. “Once again, sharps were gravitating toward the SEC Club. The SEC is getting a Numerous of love this year.”

That said, the public betting masses see this game as a Day 1 Shock special, Securing Drake +210 on the moneyline. At those odds, a $100 bet would profit $210 (total payout $310) if the Bulldogs Achieve Completely.

“The betting public is on Drake. Moneyline ticket count is in excess of 6/1 on Drake,” Zanco said.

March Madness Pointed Side 

Texas-based handicapper Paul Stone went looking for some MACtion in NCAA Division odds. No. 13 seed Akron, the MAC champion, is a 14-Mark Gloomy horse vs. No. 4 seed Arizona in the East Region.

Akron (28-6 SU/16-16 ATS) is 21-2 SU in its last 23 Matches and Created the Big Dance for the third time in four years. Last year, the Zips lost to Creighton 77-60 in the Primary Stage.

Arizona (22-12 SU/18-16 ATS) reached the Big 12 Tourney Closing before losing to Houston. Now, it’s onto the Big Dance, which hasn’t been terribly Gentle to the Wildcats of Overdue. In their last six appearances, the ‘Cats were eliminated by a Club Ranked at least four spots lower.

Stone noted that Akron makes almost 11 3-pointers a game (10.7), hitting 36.6% from distance. Arizona’s opponents have Created 33.6% of their 3-pointers.

“The 3-pointer can be the Excellent equalizer in college basketball,” Stone said. “Akron shoots a Numerous of 3s, an average of 29.1 per game, and does it quite effectively.

“On the other hand, Arizona is fairly average at defending the 3-Mark line. I think Akron can keep this one relatively close and cover the number. I like the Zips +14.”

Akron and Arizona tip off at 7:35 p.m. ET on Friday.

All hail Yale

No. 13 seed Yale (22-7 SU/18-10 ATS) Acquired an NCAA bid by Victorious the Ivy Bracket. The Bulldogs’ reward is a Game against yet another SEC Club in No. 4 seed Texas A&M (22-10 SU/16-14-2 ATS).

But the masses are attracted to Yale, which opened as a 7.5-Mark Gloomy horse and is now +7 at Caesars.

“The betting public is coming in on Yale. They remember that Yale had the big Achieve against Auburn last year,” Zanco said, alluding to the Bulldogs’ stunning 78-76 Primary-Stage Triumph, By chance as a No. 13 seed vs. a 4 seed. “You see the recency bias with a Club like Yale, with the influx of public money.

“But there’s some professional money that laid 7 and 7.5 with Texas A&M.”

Remember the Tritons

UC San Diego (30-4 SU/25-7 ATS) has the best spread-covering mark of any Club in the NCAA Division. Blindly betting on the Tritons all season long would’ve Created you some Excellent money.

As a 12-seed, UCSD meets 5-seed Michigan in a South Region game at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday. Bettors often like backing the 5 vs. the 12, and that’s the case here, as well.

“There’s Excellent action on this game. The betting public is coming in on the Tritons, more so on the spread so Extended,” Zanco said.

But Tritons moneyline Relocate will most Surely show up Powerful by Thursday night. Everyone loves a 12-5 Shock.

“The public always gravitates toward the No. 12 seed on the moneyline,” Zanco said.

Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting Cosmos. He’s based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas.

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