The betting public has had approximately 72 hours to place their bets on March Madness first-round games, with billions of dollars already wagered across North America. Here's a comprehensive analysis of public betting trends for the 2025 NCAA Tournament's first round.

Notable Betting Trends

Over/Under Betting Patterns:

• The public heavily favors "over" bets in 9 of 30 first-round matchups
• Most games show higher KenPom projections compared to listed totals
• Key over bets include:
  • Drake vs Missouri (Over 132.5)
  • UNCW vs Texas Tech (Over 143.5)
  • Creighton vs Louisville (144.5)
  • McNeese vs Clemson (Over 133.5)
  • Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary's (Over 135.5)

Underdog Value Picks:

• Six underdogs at +750 or longer are receiving majority of ATS (Against The Spread) handle
• Recent tournament history supports this strategy:
  • 2024: #14 Oakland (+575) beat #3 Kentucky
  • 2023: #15 Princeton (+700) defeated #2 Arizona
  • 2022: #15 St Peter's (+1400) reached Elite Eight

Top Public Pick: Arkansas (+4.5) vs Kansas

• Receiving 94% of ATS handle
• Kansas enters with poor form (lost 5 of last 9 games)
• KenPom projection: Kansas by 4 points (73-69)

These betting patterns suggest the public is more confident in high-scoring games and potential upset victories compared to previous years. Bettors appear to be heavily influenced by recent tournament history and late-season team performance when making their selections.

Note: All betting percentages current as of 10:00 am ET, March 19, 2025. Lines and odds subject to change.

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