March Madness Prop Bets

When we think of betting on college sports, there is no bigger college sporting event than March Madness.

What could be better than an abundance of games in a win-or-go-home tournament that is full of betting opportunities?

The Madness is not for die-hard hoopers only.

In fact, the tournament is more famous for its upsets, drama, and, of course, that song.

From a betting standpoint, the March Madness tournament brings about a very creative slate of prop bets.

These creative props can add to the tournament’s overall entertainment and will probably stay alive longer than your tournament bracket.

Unless you were the one who had UConn, Miami, San Diego State, and Florida Atlantic in last year’s Final Four.

How March Madness Prop Betting Works

Although prop bets are offered throughout the college basketball season, once the tournament rolls around, a bettor will see more options and a more extensive prop betting menu.

Unique Tournament Props

Oddsmakers have the ability to separate themselves for their prop-making skills during March Madness.

Creating odds around how seeds perform is always popular at tournament time.

Instead of betting on the 5-seed, why not make a prediction on how all four of the 5-seeds will perform?

A very popular tournament bet each year is: How many number-one seeds will make the Final Four?

The payout was handsome for those with the courage to bet zero last year.

In fact, the 2023 tournament was the first in history with no number one seed playing in the Elite Eight.

If you believe that parity at the collegiate level is here to stay and that upsets will become more mainstream each tournament like they were last year, there will be an opportunity again this March to find some value in the prop market.

Team Futures

By Team Futures, we are talking about odds on a specific team to make the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, or Win the National Championship.

Each school in the tournament will have odds to advance a specific distance.

Obviously, our margin of error goes up when we are betting on teams to make a Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight instead of trying to predict a Final Four or outright Champion.

Betting On Conference Win Totals

Maybe we are fans of Purdue, but we are a little apprehensive about betting on them making a long tournament run after some historic tournament losses recently.

Instead of putting all our eggs on the Boilermakers, why not bet on the Big 10 conference as a whole?

Betting on conferences and seeds, as opposed to individual teams, allows us to keep our bets in play longer and get help from multiple teams instead of just one.

Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Michigan State are all in the tournament, so those who bet on the Big 10 to go OVER their conference win total are still alive, even if Purdue loses in the first round again.

What Is A Prop Bet?

The name prop bet is short for proposition bet, which is still called by its full name in some betting circles.

Contrary to your traditional moneyline, over/under, and point spread wagers, prop bets have nothing to do with the overall outcome of a game or the combined total points scored in that game.

Instead, player prop bets are geared toward individual player performances, such as how many points, assists, or rebounds a specific player will finish with during a game. 

Game props focus on in-game instances, like which team will be the first to reach ten points or how many points one team will score in the first half.

Prop bets can be a fun way to enhance your viewing and betting experience during the Big Dance.

March Madness Player Props

Player props are wagers that focus on an individual player’s statistical performance.

When you bet on a player prop, that player must reach a specific statistical milestone for you to cash your ticket.

Here are a few examples of player props you can bet on during the March Madness tournament:

• Tyson Degenhart Will Record Over 17.5 Points (+100)
• KJ Simpson Will Record Under 4.5 Assists (-105)
• Eddie Lampkin Will Record Over 7.5 Rebounds (+105)

As you can see, the above prop bets have nothing to do with the final score or outcome.

To cash your prop bet ticket with the above wagers, Martin must hit more than two three-pointers, Allen must dish out fewer than two assists, and Cole must get at least five boards.

NCAA Tournament Team Props

Team props are bets geared toward an individual team’s statical performance in a game.

Whether that team wins or loses the game has nothing to do with your team prop bet.

Some team props will include the number of rebounds a team will record in a half or how many points they will score in the game.

Below, I will list a few team props you can bet on during March Madness:

• UConn Alternate Total Points Over 59.5 (-110)
• New Mexico’s Second-Half Total Under 46.5 (-220)
• Creighton Race to 10 Points (-105)

To cash the above betting tickets, UConn must score at least 60 points in the game, New Mexico must score fewer than 46 points in the second half, and Creighton must score 10 points before their opponent reaches 10 points.

March Madness Game Props

Game props are wagers centered around unique stats and happenings during a game.

You will find game props, such as the exact score or exact margin of victory, among many other game prop options.

Here are some game props you can bet on during the March Madness tournament:

• Gonzaga to win by 10
• Highest Scoring Half
• The final Score Will Fall On Odd Or Even Number

Novelty Props

Novelty props are bets that focus on unique occurrences that usually have nothing to do with a game. Instead, they are centered around a specific event.

Some novelty props you may find during March Madness could be conference winners and teams advancing further.

Here are some more examples of March Madness novelty props you will find at your favorite sportsbook:

• National Championship Winner
• Team to Advance To The Final Four
• The Mascot Of The Tournament Winner Will Be Some Kind Of A Cat

March Madness Betting Tips

No matter what kind of sports bet you are making, it is imperative to implement a strategy with each one.

This is even more important when betting on March Madness games since there could be a bunch of blowouts or significant upsets.

Below, I will list some of my top March Madness betting strategies to help you make better decisions.

Wager On Halves

Since there are so many mismatches during the Big Dance, you may like a game to start off close but then expect the score to become increasingly one-sided as the game plays out.

In that case, you could be the team total under in for just the first half, or you could bet their team total over for the second half.

Parlay Boosts

Many sportsbooks will offer parlay boosts for big events like March Madness.

With over 65 million Americans expected to place some form of wager during this year’s tournament, sportsbooks will aggressively seek to earn your business.

Odds boosting is one tool they use to entice you to bet through their online platform.

If you place a March Madness parlay, do some research and find a sportsbook that meets your betting needs, and provides a welcome bonus or odds boost to help earn your business.

You can include prop bets at most of the top sportsbooks, especially player props in your parlays. Boosting them is a terrific way to add profit to your winning ticket.

Always Shop Around

As mentioned earlier, the most significant edge a bettor of any skill level has vs the sportsbooks is our ability to shop around and find the BestOdds available.

For a single bet, the difference in odds may only provide an additional 5% or 10% payout.

However, over time, an extra 10% of profit for winning wagers adds up to be a considerable number.

The ability to shop around and play only the best odds available can often be the difference between being profitable or losing money.

How To Pick The Best Match Madness Prop Betting Sites

When it comes to choosing which sportsbook to place a March Madness prop bet with, there are three factors you must consider:

Betting Odds

Be sure to find the sportsbook with the best odds and lines.

There are features like an Odds Comparison tool that you can find right here at BestOdds.com.

Although spending time researching before placing your bets is always recommended, the reality is our greatest advantage over the sportsbooks is the ability to shop around and bet the BestOdds available.

Prop Betting Markets

While all sportsbooks are similar, they are not created equal, especially when it comes to betting markets.

Some sportsbooks still don’t even offer player props, while others will provide props for just about anything.

If you want variety, be sure to shop around different sportsbooks and check out their prop betting menu.