March Madness 2024 Betting Preview | Where and How to Place Your Bets

It’s another exciting time in the U.S. with March Madness. The 85th edition of the NCAA Basketball Championship sees 68 teams compete for the most prestigious basketball trophy at the college level. 32 teams automatically secured a place after winning their conference tournaments, and the remaining 36 teams (at-large) were determined on Selection Sunday. The Selection Committee has seeded each team according to region from one to 68, with the UConn Huskies ranked No. 1 and the Wagner Seahawks ranked No. 68.

What is the Men’s NCAA Tournament Schedule Like?

Following the Selection Sunday, the competition commences with a First Four consisting of eight teams. The eight sides are made up of the four lowest-seeded sides from automatic bids and the four lowest-seeded sides from “at-large.” Four games will be played over two days, and the winners of each game will enter into the main bracket of the tournament.

The tournament’s first round is a round of 64 featuring four teams from the First Four and the remaining 60 teams. This round will see 32 games, and the winner of each game will enter the second round. Following the second round, 16 winners will advance into the second week to participate in the regional semifinals, also known as Sweet Sixteen. These games will be held over two days before the regional finals, also known as Elite Eight.

Four teams are left from the Elite Eight and will qualify for the national semifinals, the Final Four. Games will be held the same day at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, before the NCAA Championship game on Monday, April 8, 2024, in the same venue. A total of 67 games will be played before the end of the tournament, and the good thing is that all these games are available for wagers on DraftKings. Bettors will also find DraftKings Sportsbook offers for March Madness when they sign up on the betting platform. There is an exclusive offer for newly registered customers to help them explore various betting options. You will also see special bonuses on the platform targeted at March Madness. Players may bet on Game Winners, Total Points, Point Spread, Outright Winners or Player Props.

Who are the Favorites?

In terms of favorites, we cannot look past the defending champions, UConn, who beat San Diego State in last year’s final. The Huskies prevailed 76-59 over the Aztecs to lift their fifth trophy. They won their first Big East conference tournament since 2011 prior to this year’s event and have been seeded No. 1 overall for the competition. UConn will certainly be a tough team to play against. Another side to watch out for is Houston. Although they’ve not won the NCAA Championship before, this will be an excellent time to surge into victory. The No. 1 overall seed finished the regular season top of the Big 12 with a 15-3 record. After losing the conference final to Iowa State, the Cougars will hope to put that loss behind them when they face the Longwood Lancers in the round of 64.

North Carolina is another team others will be wary of. The Tar Heels finished top of the Atlantic Coast Conference but fell to a disappointing defeat to the North Carolina State in the conference final. Nevertheless, they remain a strong side, having won the NCAA Championship six times. Kentucky is another team whose history in the NCAA tournament is commendable. Despite losing 87-97 to Texas A&M in the SEC tournament semi-finals, their history and experience in this competition could be a crucial factor. The Wildcats have won the Championship eight times, last winning in 2012. Other sides to consider when making your predictions include Purdue, Florida, Tennessee, and Kansas.