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March Madness Betting Tips & Strategies for 2025: Three Tips to Consider for the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Last Updated: Mon Feb 03, 2025, 16:17 PM
Read Time: 11 minutes
Whether you are betting on each March Madness game or making March Madness futures bets, there is a lot to take into consideration as you determine which direction to go with your picks.
There is no perfect science to making winning bets. That applies to all sports and sporting events, whether it’s March Madness, the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby, college football, MMA, or NASCAR.
However, there are a lot of notable trends, tips, and strategies, some general and some sport or event-specific, that can help maximize your chances of coming out a winner.
What are some tips and strategies that can help with your March Madness betting this year? Read on.
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Men’s March Madness Betting Tips and Strategies to Consider This Year
63% of Men’s March Madness Winners Have Been #1 Seeds
Are you wagering on tournament futures odds? Backing a #1 seed might be your best betting strategy. However, there might be one team to avoid out of the quartet.
In 2023, UConn, who cut down the nets in Houston, Texas with a championship game win over San Diego State, emerged victorious after being the #4 seed in the West Regional.
That was the first time since 2016, when Villanova (South #2) defeated North Carolina on Kris Jenkins’ buzzer-beating three, that a #1 seed did not win the title.
In fact, of the seven times it has happened in the last 20 editions of men’s March Madness, four have been by UConn (2004 as the Phoenix #2, 2011 as the West #3, 2014 as the East #7, and last year), and two of the other three have been by Big East schools (Syracuse as the East #3 in 2003 and Villanova in 2016).
This year, UConn beat out Houston, North Carolina, and Purdue for the #1 overall seed after sweeping the Big East regular season and tournament titles.
Historically, the overall percentages indicate that one of the #1 seeds is likely to come out on top on April 8 in Glendale, Arizona.
However, the Huskies have won the title only once in five attempts as a #1 seed (1999), So, you might have a tough decision on your hands about whether to back the Huskies to achieve glory again.
Here is the breakdown of championship winners by seed since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985 (no tournament was held in 2020 due to COVID-19).
NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Champions by Seed (1985-Present)
- #1 seed: 24 times (1987, 1990, 1992-96, 1999-2002, 2005, 2007-10, 2012-13, 2015, 2017-19, 2021-22 – 63.2%)
- #2 seed: 5 times (1986, 1991, 1998, 2004, 2016 – 13.2%)
- #3 seed: 4 times (1989, 2003, 2006, 2011 – 10.5%)
- #4 seed: 2 times (1997, 2023 – 5.3%)
- #6 seed: 1 time (1988 – 2.6%)
- #7 seed: 1 time (2014 – 2.6%)
- #8 seed: 1 time (1985 – 2.6%)
History may not be in their favor, but the top team in the men’s March Madness bracket has quite the compelling resume. They are 31-3, have won seven straight and 21 of 22, and they are an elite team on both ends of the court.
Selection Sunday is approaching–who are the favorites to take home the title on the men’s side? Keep track of the latest 2024 men’s March Madness future odds.
History Indicates to Fade Arizona
For much of the season, the Wildcats, in their final year in the Pac-12, were on track to be a #1 seed.
That didn’t come to pass, as Arizona, who was upset by Oregon in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, is instead a #2 seed for the ninth time. The Wildcats are the #2 seed in the West Regional, where North Carolina is the top seed.
If they are to win their first national championship since 1997, the Wildcats must buck some serious history.
Their history as a #1 seed isn’t great, but if you think that means they dodged potential disaster, their history as a #2 seed is filled with disappointment as well.
In 2001, Arizona made a run to the national championship game as a #2 seed then fell to Duke. There was also a Final Four appearance as a #2 seed in 1994, along with an Elite Eight appearance in 2015. The other instances include some of Arizona’s biggest March Madness disappointments: first round losses in 1993 (Santa Clara) and 2023 (Princeton), a 22-point second round loss to Alabama in 1990, and a Sweet Sixteen loss to #11 seed Xavier in 2017.
March Madness History for Arizona as a #2 Seed
- 1990 (West): lost in the second round to #7 Alabama
- 1991 (West): lost in the Sweet Sixteen to #3 Seton Hall
- 1993 (West): lost in first round to #15 Santa Clara
- 1994 (West): lost in the national semifinals to Midwest #1 Arkansas
- 2001 (Midwest): lost in the national championship game to East #1 Duke
- 2015 (West): lost in the Elite Eight to #1 Wisconsin
- 2017 (West): lost in the Sweet Sixteen to #11 Xavier
- 2023 (South): lost in the first round to #15 Princeton
Additionally, no team has won the national championship when the Final Four was held in their home state since UCLA in 1975. That year, the Bruins defeated Kentucky in San Diego to send out the retiring John Wooden with his 10th and final national title.
No home state team has even reached the championship game since Butler in 2010, when the Final Four was held in their home city of Indianapolis. Since UCLA’s title in 1975, only three home state teams have reached the championship game: Butler in 2010 (lost to Duke), Duke in 1994 (lost to Arkansas in Charlotte), and Michigan State in 2009 (lost to North Carolina in Detroit).
Home State Teams to Reach the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship Game
- 1945 (New York City): NYU (lost to Oklahoma A&M – now Oklahoma State)
- 1950 (New York City): CCNY (defeated Bradley)
- 1958 (Louisville, Kentucky): Kentucky (defeated Seattle University)
- 1960 (Daly City, California): Cal (lost to Ohio State)
- 1968 (Los Angeles, California): UCLA (defeated North Carolina)
- 1972 (Los Angeles, California): UCLA (defeated Florida State)
- 1974 (Greensboro, North Carolina): North Carolina State (defeated Marquette)
- 1975 (San Diego, California): UCLA (defeated Kentucky)
- 1994 (Charlotte, North Carolina): Duke (lost to Arkansas)
- 2009 (Detroit, Michigan): Michigan State (lost to North Carolina)
- 2010 (Indianapolis, Indiana): Butler (lost to Duke)
Even though history isn’t on Arizona’s side, college basketball odds will still have the Wildcats as favorites in most, if not all, of their March Madness games. But will college basketball computer picks be in their favor? It will be interesting to see what the numbers say.
Don’t Bank on All Four #1 Seeds to Reach the Final Four
If you think are betting on Final Four futures odds and feel that the four number one seeds are the likeliest group to make it to Glendale, you might want to pause before locking in your bets.
Since the men’s tournament expanded to 64 teams, all four top seeds have reached the Final Four in a tournament only once. In 2008, Kansas, Memphis, North Carolina, and UCLA all made the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.
It also isn’t likely that #1 seeds will make up three-fourths of the 2024 men’s Final Four teams. The last time three #1 seeds reached the Final Four was 2015. That year, East #2 Michigan State was the out only non-#1 in the Final Four field. The other three teams were Duke (won the title), Kentucky, and Wisconsin (who lost in the title game),
Here is the rundown of how many number one seeds have reached the men’s Final Four in the 64+ team era:
How Many Number One Seeds Have Reached the Men’s Final Four? (1985-Present)
- All four #1 seeds: 1 time (1985 – 2.6%)
- Three #1 seeds: 4 times (1993, 1997, 1999, 2015 – 10.5%)
- Two #1 seeds: 14 times (1985-88, 1991, 1996, 2001-02, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2017-18, 2021 – 36.8%)
- One #1 seed: 17 times (1989-90, 1992, 1994-95, 1998, 2000, 2003-04, 2006, 2010, 2012-14, 2016, 2019, 2022 – 44.7%)
- No #1 seeds: 2 times (2011, 2023 – 5.3%)
Is UConn going to become the first back-to-back men’s national champion since Florida in 2006 and 2007? Will Purdue or Houston cut down the nets for the first time? Will top seeds be shut out of the Final Four for the second straight year? Don’t miss any of our mass of our college basketball and March Madness coverage over the coming weeks.
More March Madness Betting Information
Where Can You Bet on March Madness This Year?
Each year, millions upon of millions of March Madness bets are placed at the top online sports betting sites.
Most March Madness betting takes place around and at tournament time, which is from mid-March to early April. But throughout the year, you can bet on who you think will win the college basketball national championship.
Along with men’s college basketball odds, most good sportsbooks now carry women’s college basketball national championship odds, which are drawing a lot of attention this season with the likes of South Carolina, Iowa, and LSU vying to cut down the nets in Cleveland, Ohio on April 7.
Numerous sportsbooks are good for March Madness betting, but in addition to BetOnline, here are some of the books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:
If you are unfamiliar with any of the above sites, check out our sportsbook reviews to learn more about them. Speaking of offers, keep an eye on the latest sportsbook offers from these books and others as the countdown to the opening tip of March Madness continues. That way, you will not miss out on any special sports betting promos and bonuses to pad your bankroll for March Madness betting.
Other March Madness Content at Betting News
If you’d like to check out our other March Madness content, our March Madness guide is where you can find it all in one tidy place. But here’s a rundown of some of what we have put together to help you with your NCAA Tournament betting this year.
We’re also covering the 2024 NIT, so check out that content as well.
- Men’s March Madness Futures Odds
- Women’s March Madness Futures Odds
- 2024 Men’s Final Four Odds
- Six Men’s March Madness Sleepers for 2024
- March Madness Betting Trends & Stats to Know for 2024
- Where to Find the Best March Madness Betting Picks
- Best March Madness Betting Sites for This Year
- This Year’s Best March Madness Bracket Challenges
- Betting News Bracket Mania (Our FREE March Madness Bracket Challenge!)
Interested in Learning More About Betting on March Madness & NCAA Basketball?
If you are interested in learning more about betting on men’s or women’s NCAA basketball, check out our college basketball betting guide. It covers the basics of wagering on March Madness, the Mountain West, the MAAC, McNeese State, and beyond.
Also, follow Betting News on X/Twitter, Twitch, and TikTok to get more March Madness and NCAA basketball insight from myself and the rest of our team. We’re cooking up a lot of great NCAA Tournament content for both the men’s and women’s tournaments, so hit those links so you don’t miss out on any of it.
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