NCAA Favorites Surge: Duke Leads Public Picks After Selection Sunday
The public's betting trends are taking shape after Selection Sunday's 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket reveal. Here's a comprehensive analysis of where the money is flowing.
Paolo Banchero in Duke basketball jersey
Most Popular Moneyline Picks:
- Texas A&M (-340) vs Yale leads public betting despite Yale's upset history
- No underdogs feature among top public moneyline picks
- Yale returns three key players from last year's Auburn upset: Poulakidas (19.2 PPG), Mbeng (13.4 PPG), and Townsend (15.4 PPG)
Top Against The Spread (ATS) Bets:
- Michigan (-2.5) vs UC San Diego is the public's favorite spread bet
- North Carolina (-3.5) vs San Diego State in First Four seeing heavy action
- Line movement reflects strong public backing for major programs
Championship Favorites:
- Duke commanding 40% of championship handle
- Cooper Flagg expected to return from ankle injury
- Florida second-most backed at 21%
- Combined, Duke and Florida account for 61% of championship bets
Key Betting Trends:
- Public heavily favoring known programs over smaller schools
- Recent performance weighing heavily on betting decisions
- Major line movements already recorded in several first-round matchups
This early betting data suggests strong public confidence in traditional powerhouses, though historical tournament results often favor a more balanced approach to March Madness betting.
Note: Recent form shows Texas A&M losing five of their last seven games, potentially creating value in their matchup against Yale.