Don’t put any money on the 2024 March Madness bracket until you read this all the way through. We’re giving you expert AND free betting advice for the NCAA Tournament. Advice that we’re confident will get you paid!
- What: 2024 March Madness
- When: March 21 - April 8
Before we go any further, let's take a gander at the current March Madness odds. Per the best betting sites for basketball, these teams are the favorite to cut down the nets:
| Team |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| UConn | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Houston | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Purdue | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Arizona | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| North Carolina | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Tennessee | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Iowa State | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Auburn | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
March Madness Betting Advice
We’ll be dishing out different pieces of betting advice on the 2024 March Madness tournament. Yes, that includes picks to win the whole thing, but other money-making advice on region winners and even who to avoid putting money on. There’s a lot to cover so let’s get right into it:
Do Bet UConn
No program has won back-to-back national champions since Florida did it in 2007. We’re betting that changes this year because UConn is our priority pick to win the national championship. After the season they’ve strung together, how could they not be the top choice?
Hell, we’d argue this Huskies team is better than last year’s. They went an astounding 31-3 during the season then won the Big East conference tournament. It’s not so much that UConn is winning but it’s how. They’re streamrolling teams and playing extremely balanced basketball.
Last year’s title-winning team was led by two dominant players in Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins. They are gone, but now the Huskies have three legit threats in Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton, and Stephon Castle. Amazingly, when all three are on the floor together, the Huskies average 120.5 points per 100 possessions — an insane stat that’s going to be tough for anyone else to contend with.
All this is to say we’re betting big on UConn here. This team has been the best team in the country since the get-go and nothing has changed our mind.
Don’t Bet Houston
Out of all the No. 1 seeds, the Cougars are the most vulnerable. For one, key veteran and top defender J’Wan Roberts hurt himself a few days ago. There’s no official word on his status, but he was limping around, which isn’t a good sign.
We know what you’re thinking, “but the Cougars have been good all season.” We get it, the 30-4 record is good on paper but you’re fooling yourself if you think the Big 12 was anywhere near as good this season as in years past. Houston isn’t as battle-tested as other top seeds because of this conference's weakness.
Speaking of which, Houston also just got smacked in the conference-title game. They lost by 28 points to Iowa State. 28 points! How can any better feel confident in betting Houston during the tourney after a performance like that? We would fade them heavy if were you. This team is a prime contender to get upset early on.
Do Bet Purdue
Many bettors and fans are predicting Purdue to be upset early this tourney. We can understand why too because the Boilermakers have done so two of the last three years when they were bounced in the opening round — including last year’s stunner to No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson. But Purdue is different and we’re confident they will exorcise those past demons.
Earlier we said UConn has been the wire-to-wire best team nationally. Welp, Purdue has consistently been the second-best squad in the country. We don’t need to remind you they’re led by Zach Edey, who will soon be named Wooden Player of the Year again.
But here's why the Boilermakers won’t choke early this year: the experience. Guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer were freshmen a year ago, and perhaps suffered from hitting a “freshmen wall” of sorts. Not this year though. Those guards, paired with Edey, form an offense that can shoot lights out. Purdue connects from the three-point line at 40.8 percent — significantly better than last year’s 32.2 percent mark.
Again, this Purdue team is different. We don’t think they’re better than UConn, but they’re very capable of making a run to the Final Four at least. That’s a separate special bet that can be made and one we vouch for cause it’ll likely be UConn vs. Purdue in the finale.
Do Bet New Mexico
All right, we all know the fun in the NCAA Tournament is the upsets and “sleeper” teams. That’s what we categorize New Mexico as. This team is not a threat to cut down the nets, but more to make a deep run and cash-in bets in the process.
Why? Because the Lobos are red-hot, having won the Mountain West tournament. That’s a conference that featured six tourney teams so not just another mid-major conference. Two of those qualified teams were beaten by double digits by New Mexico in the conference tourney. If you believe in “riding the hot hand”, then the Lobos are a good pick.
How To Bet On March Madness?
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