The NCAA Tournament bracket has been revealed following the Selection Sunday show, and bettors are already lining up their plays for this year’s March Madness tournament. Some massive wagers have started to come in at sportsbooks, with the early NCAA Tournament betting trends & biggest bets showing that the Kansas Jayhawks are a popular team once again.
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NCAA Tournament Bets: Kansas Already Getting Heavy Attention
Per BetMGM data analyst John Ewing, the most bets are on Kansas (+800) to win the tournament. The top three most bet teams to win the title are Kansas (11.6%), Houston (7.1%) and UCLA (6.8%). The most bet teams in handle percentage are Kansas (15.8% of money), Houston (10.8%) and UCLA (6.8%).
Biggest NCAA Tournament Bets
The report would include that the three biggest bets on the NCAA Tournament at BetMGM are as followed
- $10,000 to win $250,000 on Gonzaga +2500
- $1,000 to win $125,000 on Texas A&M +12500
- $10,000 to win $90,000 on Kansas +900
Since opening at the beginning of the college basketball season, Kansas has moved from 12-1 to 8-1, Houston moved from 20-1 to +550 and Alabama has moved from 25-1 to 8-1.
“This year’s NCAA tournament is wide open. We are expecting more action than ever, with a large number of contenders in the field. We’re crossing our fingers that we don’t get cleaned out by a massive underdog making a run, like Saint Peter’s did last year.” said Seamus Magee, a Sports Trader at BetMGM.
Kansas earned a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big 12 regular season title. They have been led by junior forward Jalen Wilson (20.1 points per game), and have seen tremendous growth from freshman shooting guard Gradey Dick. The young sharp-shooter was named to the 2023 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Top 10 list after his strong first season in Lawrence.
But the main concern from Jayhawks nation centers around head coach Bill Self, who missed the Big 12 Tournament due to a health concern that left him hospitalized. Self has recently been released from care, and interim head coach Norm Roberts said he expects to have Self back for the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m so thankful for the amazing staff at the University of Kansas Health System for the excellent care I received,” Self said on Sunday, per CBS Sports. “I am proud of our team and coaching staff for how they have handled this and am excited to be back with them as the best time of the season gets underway.”
The Jayhawks dropped a dud in the Big 12 Tournament championship game, losing 76-56 to the Texas Longhorns on Saturday night. But they have shown throughout the year that they have the tools to make a deep run in March, and Self has a reputation for getting the most out of his players during this time of year.
Based on the early NCAA Tournament betting trends, the Kansas bets are going to be leading the way as they look to become the first team since the Florida Gators in 2006-07 to win back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. Bettors should check OddsShopper tools to find the best value on college basketball bets throughout the tournament!
