Best First-Round March Madness Bets
The first round of March Madness starts this Thursday, and if you are anything like me, you may want to put some money into the games. It can be difficult looking at 32 games to bet, so that is why I am here to let you know of my three favorite bets in this year's first round. They include one of the most exciting players in the country, an underdog, and a surprising under to some. Below, I will include my thought process as to why these are my three favorite bets this weekend.
The first bet is Bennett Stirtz over 27.5, total points + rebounds + assists. Looking at the numbers, he averages 19 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game this season. The Drake point guard has been one of the most surprising players this season after transferring from Division II school Northwest Missouri St. He won conference player of the year in the Missouri Valley after leading the league in points, assists, and steals and leading his team to a regular season and conference tournament title. Stirtz is the catalyst for the entire Drake offense, and during this tournament, coach Ben McCollum will make sure the ball is in his hands late into the shot clock, which has been Drakes forte all season. Additionally, Missouri ranks 165 in defensive efficiency; while those numbers might be skewed from playing in arguably the best conference of all time, it could indicate what is to come. Watch for Bennett Stirtz to take over this first-round matchup against Missouri if the Bulldogs want to advance.
My second favorite bet is Memphis’ money line at +106 against Colorado St. This has been one of the most picked upsets regarding lower seed over higher seed, with Memphis being the fifth seed and Colorado St. being 12. This isn’t surprising, as Colorado St. comes into this matchup scorching hot, having won 10 in a row, and Nique Clifford is playing some of the best basketball in the country. Memphis guard Tyrese Hunter is questionable for the game and will be a massive miss for the team if he isn’t available. That said, Memphis still has too much firepower for this Colorado St. team. PJ Haggerty has been one of the best players in the country all season and was just announced on the AP All-American Second Team. Memphis is experienced, and this year alone has beaten Missouri, Ole Miss, UConn, Michigan St, and Clemson. They are battle-tested, and they are also coming into this game, winning eight in a row. If Tyrese Hunter can’t play, look for the line to move in favor of Colorado St, but I am still looking at Memphis to advance in the first round.
The third bet in the first round is Clemson vs. McNeese St. under 134.5. Clemson ranks 28th in defensive efficiency, while McNeese St. ranks 18th. Additionally, both defenses are in the bottom 20 in the longest average possession length, meaning they make the other team's offense hold onto the ball, which usually leads to tough shots, especially this time of year. Both of these teams also tend to press their opponents, but as mentioned, it is more to slow the other team down so they aren’t able to flow into their half-court offenses. This could be a slow-paced game with many shots coming at the end of the shot clock. Clemson does a great job at not letting teams get into the paint, which is what McNeese will want to do; if they are forced to shoot over the top, it could lead to them struggling on the offensive end as they shoot just over 35% from three. Both teams are physical and will want to slow the other team down; if that is the case, look at the under for this game.
With March Madness kicking off, these three bets offer a mix of excitement, value, and strategy for the first round. Whether it’s Bennett Stirtz for Drake, Memphis proving its toughness against Colorado St, or Clemson and McNeese State grinding out a low-scoring battle, each pick has a strong case. Betting on March Madness is never a sure thing, but these selections provide a solid blend of player performance, matchup dynamics, and game tempo. If you want to make your first-round bets count, these are three wagers worth considering.
