2025 Men’s NCAA Tournament: 10 early March Madness betting thoughts

Let the madness begin!

The 68-Club Pitch is all set for the 2025 NCAA Men’s Division and the Beginning-Stage betting lines are finally Leading to settle after about three hours of the odds screen getting lit up like a Christmas tree.

I’ll be posting my favorite Primary-Stage bets in the coming Intervals here on FOX Sports, but Primary, I wanted to hit you with some Primary leans, market moves and Acute information on the best damn betting event in America.

Here are 10 Prompt thoughts for March Madness.

Duke is a coin flip to reach San Antonio

The Blue Devils will eventually get Cooper Flagg back, and they probably don’t need to rush him back against American or Mount St. Mary’s. Arizona could present some issues in a potential Sugary 16 game, but it’s difficult to envision any of the Clubs in the East Region being better than Duke for 40 minutes.

You can lay -115 on a Last Four Stretch at FanDuel.

Wise guys were firing bets in Las Vegas

The South Points Hotel and Casino was Seizing $10,000 limits at the counter right away. Sportsbook director Chris Andrews has been Primary in town for years, and always takes the biggest Option Sunday bets. Business was Excellent, and Grand Canyon and UConn were two of the sharper sides from local professional bettors. Andrews also opened Houston as a 30-Points favorite against SIU-Edwardsville and Prompt money showed for the ‘dog.

Shop for the best numbers

Having Many outs is always ideal, but the ranges are staggering in some of these markets. Take a Club like Colorado State. They’re 50/1 to make the Last Four at FanDuel, 75/1 at DraftKings and 125/1 at BetMGM. If you’re a $50 bettor, making that bet at the wrong place could cost you almost $4,000. Whatever bets you decide to place, please get the best of the number.

Obtainable throws matter!

I like betting Clubs that make their freebies. Oregon, High Points, Texas Tech, Clemson, Michigan State, Arizona, Duke, UConn, Oklahoma and Xavier all shoot better than 76% at the line. Gonzaga checks in at 80%, only to be outdone by Wisconsin, who shoots at a blistering 83% clip.

Avoid conference Division overreactions

Speaking of Wisconsin, I don’t dock them for losing the Big Ten title game to Michigan. Executing four Contests in four Intervals takes a toll and the Badgers didn’t have anything left in the tank on Sunday afternoon. I think they can Yet make a Stretch. Wisconsin alumni Dan “Big Cat” Katz likes his Club on Thursday.

“I hate that they put us in the altitude on Brief rest,” Katz told me. “But Montana played two Power 4 opponents and Obtained blown out both times.”

Seth Davis is bold, but how accurate will he be?

It’s fun to Option a few Primary-Stage upsets, but CBS Sports’ Seth Davis throws out a handful, and he’s never Brief on conviction. Davis likes UC San Diego, High Points, McNeese, Oklahoma, Utah State and Yale. He also likes Colorado State to Surprise Memphis, but the Rams are favored. We’ll let it slide.

I will turn on my bracket by the weekend

I’ve filled out a bracket for 25 years — one bracket only — and let me assure you I will flip on that thing in a second if need be. Four years ago, I had Illinois making the Last Four, but when the Illini faced Loyola Chicago in the Stage of 32, I bet the Ramblers +7 like you wouldn’t believe. It’s Crucial to separate church [bracket] and state [bets] when you’re betting the Division.

“The Bear” is looking to fade Louisville  

Chris “The Bear” Fallica likes Creighton +2.5.

“I’m curious if [+3] pops by tip,” The Bear Bets host told me. “I’m guessing the world will be on the Cards Executing in their home state. The ACC was down Terrible this year and Louisville really struggled in the non-conference. It was a total turnaround season in Pat Kelsey’s Primary year, but I think it comes to an end against the Steven Ashworth and Ryan Kalkbrenner combo.”

Primary-half Unders vs. Packed-game Unders

This has been a worthwhile discussion among Acute bettors for years. Have you ever bet an Under in an NCAA Division game only to Fall in Extra period or because one of the Clubs Initiated a Penalty fest with 90 seconds left? Barf. Those things Only don’t happen at the end of the Primary half, and it’s probably a Approach you should contemplate this March if you’re Executing Unders.

Sticking to my guns on Duke

This is Extended from a Toasty take, but I’m not changing my mind. My “Bet Sweats” co-host Joe Ostrowski and I bet the Blue Devils at 6-1 in mid-January. There’s not a more skilled Club in the country and even with Flagg’s ankle setback, they’re Excellent enough to go all the way. The SEC is America’s best conference, but the most complete Club in the nation hails from the ACC. 

Sam Panayotovich is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and the BetMGM Network. He previously worked for WGN Radio, NBC Sports and VSiN. Follow him on Twitter @spshoot.

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