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It’s that time of year when March Madness captivates the country. Regardless of how college basketball has changed with the advent of legalized wagering, NIL, and the transfer portal, fans can’t wait to delve into the field of 64.
March Madness earned its moniker due to the huge interest and “predictable unpredictability” of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Buzzer beaters and surprising results seem to rule the day.
“Madness” ensues when teams representing the entire have at it, those smaller schools out of “disenfranchised” conferences having a rare shot to play (and perhaps knock off) a behemoth.
Whether you’re a serious bettor or just a casual builder of brackets, there are so many things to consider, especially since the tourney brings together teams with no history against one another.
Questions are abounding, including:
- Lay/take the points or bet the moneyline?
- Which 2-seed is probably losing to a 15?
- Who is poised to make a deep run in the tourney?
- What about those tricky pairings of 8-9 seeds?
As the gazillions of people who’ve filled out a March Madness bracket await the teams to try to survive and advance, remember no one has ever come close to perfectly predicting the tournament in its entirety.
That doesn’t dissuade just about everyone and his uncle, whether it’s in pay-to-play or free-to-play contests.
Historians note the first NCAA tournament was back in 1939, won by the University of Oregon, with the current 68-team format (pared down to 64 teams after play-ins) beginning in 2011.
(Author’s aside…it should be noted there wasn’t much in the way of “madness” last season. Higher-seeded teams had their way throughout the tourney.)
Ahead of the 2026 tournament, it’s the usual suspects who are getting the bulk of the support, as in the Duke Blue Devils, favored at 13-4 (+325), according to March Madness futures odds.
The co-second choices are the Arizona Wildcats and Michigan Wolverines at 15-4 (+375), with the defending-champion Florida Gators next at 7-1 (+700), Rounding out the top five on the current board are the Houston Cougars at 10-1 (+1000). Florida whipped Houston, 79-73, in the title game last season.
Here’s a bit of a primer on the 2026 NCAA tournament…
Where Can I Watch the March Madness Final?
March Madness news says head to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on April 4th and 6th to catch the 2026 Final Four. It’s the fourth time Indy has hosted the event. Subsequent Final Four locales are Detroit (2027), Las Vegas (2028), back to Indianapolis (2029), Arlington, Texas (2030), and Atlanta (2031).
What is March Madness?
As was mentioned, March Madness is the (usually) unpredictable NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the culmination of the college season where the national champion is crowned. It’s not always the best, however, as there might just be some squad getting hot at the right time.
When Does March Madness Start?
Before there’s a Final Four, there’s a First Four on the March Madness schedule, with eight teams competing in Dayton, Ohio, March 17th and 18th to fill out the final four teams in the field. It’s two 11-seeds and two 16-seeds. The tourney then begins in earnest with opening-round games at Buffalo (NY), Greenville (SC), Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Portland, and Tampa. St. Louis and San Diego
Any Final Thoughts?
While wagering on NCAA basketball is popular throughout both the regular season and conference tournaments, there are bettors who come out of the woodwork once March Madness begins. Whether it’s filling out a bracket or taking a shot at tourney games themselves (or associated prop wages), there’s no shortage of opinions. Remember, “the dog ate my homework” is not a valid excuse if you’re not researching.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
