College basketball betting can be a bit tricky for sports bettors during the NCAA Tournament in mid-March. Many college basketball bettors start betting college basketball once the football season is over and that is the time conference play begins. Most college basketball teams have been competing against conference opponents since the first week of January. In the first round of March Madness, bettors look to 32 games involving teams with no possible head-to-head to reference the handicap for a winning side or total. In essence, we have 32 non-conference games in the first round and 16 in the second round before the possibility of teams within the same conference competing against each other during the NCAA Tournament. For this reason, it can be very difficult for sports bettors to find a winner and avoid the pitfall of simply betting on a team because the betting public is familiar with the manager or show.
There are a few key statistical categories to consider when handicapping the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. In the first round, it’s always good practice to look at recent form. Historically, teams that have performed poorly in the stretch of the season after early success have been eliminated early. Look to bet against teams that have lost seven to eight of their last 10 games. These teams often enter the tournament based on a good non-conference record and the strength of their conference. Another stat to keep in mind is the free throw percentage. Betting favorites who can’t make their free throws will have a hard time covering the point spread. Teams behind and facing elimination are often desperate and will start fouling in the last two minutes to extend the game in hopes of getting closer to their opponent. It’s great practice to look at free throw percentage and specifically focus on ball handlers who are likely to find themselves on the charity lane in the final minutes.
Another stat that the sports betting public should investigate is defensive field goal percentage. Good defensive teams know how to stop the dribble and avoid easy buckets. A solid defense will carry teams far during March Madness. Look for teams that can defend the paint, forcing your opponent to take harder shots. Part of defending the paint is rebounding the basketball. Teams that are good on the defensive board will avoid giving up easy points around the basket.
Experience is something professional bettors will look for when backing teams in the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. There is tremendous pressure on these 18-22 year old athletes to perform on the big stage of March Madness and it is likely that mature teams will handle it better. College basketball teams from the major conferences will lose scorers to the NBA before their time. That will force managers to replace their higher scores with less experienced players. Teams loaded with senior talent can go far during the NCAA Tournament. Often times, smaller conference teams that have early success during March Madness will be labeled the Cinderella team during the college basketball tournament. Professional bettors have already identified those teams heading into March Madness. That’s because teams in half of the major conferences won’t have impact players leaving school early for the NBA. This allows teams from half of the major NCAA tournaments to play multiple seniors on the court, and in turn will produce a long run during March Madness.
Another thing for the sports betting public to consider is the size and strength of each team. Many early round games involve the top teams in college basketball facing off against teams from very small conferences. There is a tremendous size and strength advantage to the bigger programs in the first round and sports bettors will be looking to bet on the heavy favorite who has scoring production from their front and center position in the paint. Such teams can win by wide margins due to their height and strength advantage will allow them to position themselves for easy baskets.
The NCAA college basketball tournament is a very exciting event. Professional bettors see this event as just another sporting event to bet on and don’t get caught up in all the hype and hysteria that occurs during the media presentation of this tournament. Professional sports bettors will always follow best practices when predicting the NCAA March Madness Tournament.