March Madness Predictions & Picks for Every NCAA Tournament Game
Ahead of March Madness 2025, we'll be making our best March Madness predictions and national championship picks for the NCAA Tournament based on the top college basketball odds from our best March Madness betting sites.
There's no better time to be a college basketball bettor than during March Madness, when the entire sports world is focused on three weeks of unbridled chaos.
You can expect free college basketball picks from our expert staff all season long, but the action truly heats up with the NCAA Tournament and Final Four odds. Ahead of the 2024 tournament, we highlighted our best picks and predictions throughout the postseason - including giving out UConn as our favorite title bet before Selection Sunday.
The opening March Madness odds for 2025 have already been released, and we broke down our favorite 2025 March Madness predictions right after those odds came out. We'll update this page as we get closer to the 2024-25 college basketball season, too. But here's a look at some of our 2024 coverage and key details ahead of March Madness 2025:
March Madness predictions, picks, full schedule
They call it the greatest three weeks in sports for a reason, and it's not just all those buzzer-beaters and crazy upsets.
Sure, those add to the excitement and mystique of the NCAA Tournament, but March Madness is also the perfect opportunity to lay down a few bucks on the most thrilling tournament in all of sports. It's an event known for shocking upsets and long-shot winners, which makes it accessible for veterans and newcomers alike.
Whether you're a regular sports bettor or simply looking for a way to profit off your best March Madness upset picks, we have you covered with our best picks and predictions for the Big Dance.
March Madness national championship pick
Ahead of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, we recommended betting on UConn when the Huskies were still +850 to cut down the nets. That sure looked prescient when they won it all a few weeks later, and we found similar success backing the Huskies ahead of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Entering the tournament, it appeared to be a three-team race between UConn, Purdue, and Houston, which had earned a distinct gap over the other top-seeded teams by the Final Four odds. Even amid one of the most unpredictable seasons in college basketball history, those three advanced to the Sweet 16, and the first two reached the Final Four.
We highlighted the Huskies when they were still plus-money to win the title ahead of Selection Sunday. And we kept the faith through every subsequent round. Here's a look at our write-up ahead of the Final Four:
Our best pick: UConn
Best odds: -185 via bet365
Coming off last year's national title, Dan Hurley's program has been even better this season. It earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, ranks first on KenPom, scores 81.5 points per game, and holds opponents to 64.4 points.
UConn is the most well-rounded squad in the country, and that's why its March Madness odds were as short as +200 to win it all during the first weekend. For context, those +200 odds carried an implied probability of 33.33% that the Huskies will cut down the nets again this April, and they're now priced with a probability of roughly 65% to win it all for the second straight season.
If they do, they'd become the first back-to-back NCAA Tournament winner since the Florida Gators in 2006-07. Even at such short odds, we're drinking the Kool-Aid on their championship prospects heading into the Final Four.
2025 March Madness schedule, key dates
| Date | Round / Event |
|---|---|
| March 16 | Selection Sunday |
| March 18-19 | First Four |
| March 20-21 | First Round |
| March 22-23 | Second Round |
| March 27-28 | Sweet 16 |
| March 29-30 | Elite Eight |
| April 5 | Final Four |
| April 7 | National Championship Game |
March Madness strategy, betting tips
The NCAA Tournament is one of the few sporting events on the calendar that welcome sharp bettors alongside those who have never watched sports in their life. In many ways, that's the beauty of March Madness and what makes it such a galvanizing event each year across the nation.
That said, there are ways to learn how to bet on college basketball and better prepare yourself for a profitable run through the tournament. As always, we're here to help you get a step ahead as you fill out your brackets and make your own March Madness picks and predictions.
Where can I make March Madness picks?
All of our best March Madness betting sites feature odds - and March Madness betting promos - for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Those same books will also offer lines on the games in the following rounds within minutes of the matchups being set.
We'll also continue to preview every game of the NCAA Tournament to go along with our first-round predictions (including the First Four), so be sure to check back here for all of our best college basketball picks.
What are the best March Madness bonuses?
We're committed to helping you get the most out of your college basketball bets, and that doesn't end with picks and predictions. In addition to previewing all 67 games of the NCAA Tournament, we've also rounded up all of the best sportsbook promos for March Madness from our best sports betting sites.
Always be sure to shop around for the best college basketball odds. Lines can move quickly with such a short turnaround between games during the NCAA Tournament. Getting the best possible odds from the best sportsbooks is one of the top ways to ensure a profitable run through March Madness.
How do you make March Madness predictions?
Our team at Sportsbook Review is dedicated to making smart, accurate predictions throughout the college basketball season, and not just for a few weeks in March and April.
That process includes closely following the top teams and dark-horse contenders during the regular season and studying each matchup. And breaking down all the March Madness trends and potential matchups that could define each region, and ultimately the entire tournament.
For more on how to bet on March Madness, check out our guides on how to bet on college basketball and how to fill out a March Madness bracket.
Past March Madness winners
| Year | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | UConn | +2000 |
| 2022-23 | UConn | +8000 |
| 2021-22 | Kansas | +1400 |
| 2020-21 | Baylor | +800 |
| 2019-20 | Cancelled | |
| 2018-19 | Virginia | +1350 |
| 2017-18 | Villanova | +2700 |
| 2016-17 | North Carolina | +1900 |
| 2015-16 | Villanova | +2500 |
| 2014-15 | Duke | +900 |
| 2013-14 | Connecticut | +6500 |
| 2012-13 | Louisville | +700 |
March Madness FAQs
What are March Madness betting picks?
As the NCAA Tournament gets underway, we'll be previewing all 32 first round games (and each First Four matchup) to help you make the best bets for March Madness. We'll be covering all of the 67 games throughout the tournament, all the way through the national championship game on April 7.
Who makes your March Madness predictions?
We pride ourselves on having a team full of college basketball betting experts who approach every game with detail in mind and a level of preparation that rivals anyone else in the industry. That doesn't mean we're correct with every pick, of course, but we aim to provide the best possible information to make your March Madness picks better.
How many March Madness predictions will you make?
We'll be covering every single game during the NCAA Tournament with previews of all 67 March Madness contests and our best predictions and picks for the winners of each region and the tournament overall.
March Madness betting odds pages
Here are our best March Madness betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetRivers Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Related pages
- Best Live Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)
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