March Madness Betting Info

[New York Knight]

Kansas vs Villanova O/U = 155


The LAST time a Final 4 game topped 155 points was in 2005 with Michigan St vs NC.

That's 25 Final 4 games in a row where the final score did not top 155 points.

Average final score the last 13 years = 135.4 ppg

[New York Knight]

Under is 3-0 the last 3 times Jay Wright has faced Bill Self (2008, 2013 and 2016).

Final scores: 129, 122, and 123

Covers by 15, 32 and 22

[New York Knight]

BetOnline ...


Updated Action Report ... Bet count

52% on Michigan vs Loyola +5
61% on Kansas vs Villanova -5

[New York Knight]

Top Bet Sports ... on KAN / VILL


"No sharp action on this game, as both the spread and total remain at their respective opening numbers of Villanova -5 and 155."

"Despite the fact that Villanova is a perfect 4-0 ATS in the tournament, the Wildcats are only getting 34% of the cash and 38% of the bets on the spread"

Total stuck on 155 all week ... 54% of cash on the Under ... 57% of bets on the Over

[New York Knight]

Six #1 seeds have been a dog of at least 5 points in the Final Four.

Have gone 4-2 ATS / 2-4 SU ... Last such instance - 2015 Wisconsin +5 beat Kentucky outright ... Other one to win outright - 1993 Michigan +6.5 vs Kentucky.

[New York Knight]

This is the 7th time Kansas has been an underdog in the NCAA Tournament under Bill Self.

Jayhawks have won 4 of the previous 6 games outright.

[New York Knight]

Caesars Palace Books ...


As of early this morning 4x as much money had been bet on Kansas as had been bet on Villanova ... The number of bets were close to even.

[New York Knight]

Loyola-Chicago the most popular bet in Vegas to win NCAA title



The most popular Final Four bet this week in Las Vegas is longshot Loyola-Chicago to win the whole thing.

Since Sunday, more bets have been placed on Loyola-Chicago to win the NCAA tournament than Villanova, Kansas or Michigan at multiple sportsbooks. Around 50 percent of all bets placed this week at both William Hill and Caesars Palace books were on the underdog Ramblers, who are listed around 8-1.

"They're loving Sister Jean and Loyola," Jay Rood, vice president of MGM race and sports, said on Friday. "We did well on them in the previous games of the tournament. The public didn't buy in, but they have now."

Not everyone's on board with Sister Jean and the Ramblers. On March 3, Derek Stevens, owner of The D Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, placed a $25,000 bet on Michigan to win the tournament at 40-1 odds. The ticket would net $1 million, if the Wolverines prevail.

Stevens, who is known to place big wager around town, made the bet at the Golden Nugget sportsbook. He told Vegas Stats and Information Network's Brent Musburger that he placed two separate $25,000 hedge bets on Loyola-Chicago, one on the Ramblers to beat Michigan straight-up and the other plus 5.5 points. If Loyola-Chicago were to spring the upset over the Wolverines, Stevens would end up with a $50,000 net profit from his bets. He says he'd prefer the $1 million.

"These are my two biggest bets I've ever made," Stevens told Musburger on Saturday, "and I hope I lose."

Loyola-Chicago is looking to become the first team seeded 9 or lower to reach the national championship game. The Ramblers began the tournament as 300-1 longshots at some books. William Hill took 32 bets on Loyola-Chicago to win the tournament at 300, including a $150 bet that would net $45,000 with a Ramblers title.

[New York Knight]

In his career, Bill Self is 8-3 SU and ATS in the NCAA Tournament when facing a coach who has won a national championship

[New York Knight]

In Final Four and championship games since 2005, favorites of -250 or greater (such as Michigan) have gone 10-1 straight up

[New York Knight]

Sports Insights ...


Final Four Morning Update


57% tickets on Michigan (-5.5)
71% tickets on Over (129.5)

56% tickets on Kansas (+5)
61% tickets on Over (154.5)

[New York Knight]

William Hill ... on LOY-CHI / MICH


Wolverines open -6, quickly dip to 5, at 5.5 last 24 hours.

"We’re dead-even to the game. Decent action, and it’s two-way action,"

"We’d lose on the futures book with Loyola winning the title, but we are still rooting for Loyola. It’s too good a story not too.”

Total opened at 128.5 and has climbed to 130

“We definitely need the Under right now, but that could change,”

[New York Knight]

Top Bet Sports ...


"We got sharp bets (this morning) on both Final Four totals. Loyola-Michigan game just went from 129.5 to 130.5, and Kansas-'Nova game just went from 155 to 154."

[New York Knight]

Bookmaker ... on LOY-CHI / MICH


"The sharp action has already come in, so today we are looking for the public to weigh in. Smart money took advantage of early line movements, as we have wiseguys holding both Loyola +6 and Michigan -5."

"We may move half a point in either direction today to try to write back a bet, but 5.5 is where we want to be. We have seen the total inching up to 130.5, as a slight consensus on the Over seems to be forming.”

[New York Knight]

Bookmaker ... on KAN / NOVA


“The smart money remains divided, and that means an easy day at the office. Balanced action from the wiseguys, so as long as final score doesn't fall on 5, we get to sit back and let pros bet against each other."

Line opened 'Nova -5, stayed there all week, briefly up to 5.5 this morning, then back to 5.

"The lack of a consensus from both public and pros has made this one of the easier Final Fours to book in recent years.”