The most anticipated basketball tournament of the year is underway, as the best NCAA teams participate. The answer to the yearly when does March Madness start question has been answered. On March 18, the tournament has begun in Indiana and it involves all the 68 college teams from the Division I level. This is an action-packed, single elimination competition that spans over the course of one month. Throughout the event, punters will have the opportunity of betting on matches on a daily basis. Leading sports books have already published the odds for the outright winners and the matches played in the first three rounds.
When does March Madness Start?
This is the first time in history when all the matches of the March Madness will be played in the same state. Residents of Indiana can consider themselves lucky to host this massive tournament that brings into the spotlight the best collegiate basketball players. Changes have been made to the bracket, and geography will no longer determine the manner in which teams are distributed. With all the games being played in the same state, the location of the teams involved is no longer relevant.
For basketball fans, including those who prefer esports and NBA 2k betting this tournament provides exceptional betting opportunities. Lucas Oil Stadium, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Mackey Arena and Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall will be the gracious host for this event. Practice will take place at the Indiana Convention Center, so participating teams will have ample opportunities to prepare for upcoming matches.
March Madness Schedule
The NCAA Division men’s basketball tournament will be different in 2021, because all the games are played in Indiana. For punters, this is great news as it provides more betting options on a daily basis. The First Four matches were played on March 18, with the weekend being reserved to first and second round games.
Bookmakers offer competitive odds and the best will publish the odds for upcoming games at the start of the week. Now that you know when does March Madness start, read the GGbet review to see who the favorites in the round of Sweet 16 are, starting on March 27 and concluding the next day. Elite Eight games are scheduled for the last days of March, while the Final Four takes place on April 3. The highlight of the tournament is the NCAA championship game, which is scheduled for 9 p.m. Monday, April 5.
March Madness Predictions
A tournament of this magnitude couldn’t fly under the radars of major bookmakers. GG.bet covers the tournament and even has an exclusive March Madness bonus offer for its punters. Such bonuses can be used to bet daily or place antepost wagers on the outright winners of the tournaments. There are 68 teams participating in the NCAA DI men’s basketball tournament, but for stand out from the crowd.
Are the Odds on Gonzaga Bulldogs Good Enough?
Gonzaga is arguably the best team in the tournament and the overwhelming favorite to lift the trophy on April 5. The Bulldogs have crushed opponents in the WCC and are expected to steamroll towards the championship game. At the time of writing, they only get odds of 3.00, which are rather low for such an event. Given the quality and track record of this team, the only doubts are regarding the value in the odds.
Illinois Fighting Illini are the Strongest Challengers
The Illinois Fighting Illini try to stop the main favorites in their tracks and take the trophy across the state border. The team is in superb form and with the likes of Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn has a decent chance to convert the odds of 6.00. They will face some strong opponents in the upcoming rounds but have the quality to prevail. Punters shouldn’t have a hard time finding value in the odds on them to win.
A Chance for Redemption for the Baylor Bears
The Baylor Bears have a strong starting formation and quality players, but tend to choke under pressure. Their defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma State Cowboys explains the rather high odds of 8.50. There is definitely value in the odds offered on the Bears to cause an upset in the March Madness tournament. This team is worth backing on a match by match basis, to take advantage of truly competitive odds.
Michigan Wolverines are the Dark Horses in March
Betting on the outright winners is all about finding odds that are worth taking. In this regard, the Michigan Wolverines look like an excellent choice, as they are priced at 11.00 to prevail. That’s because they finished the regular season in a rather disappointing manner and have a difficult road ahead. If they are to succeed, center Hunter Dickinson will have to rise to the occasion and play his A-game.
