NCAAB · 5 months ago

College Basketball March Madness First Four Betting Trends

Sportsgrid Staff

Host · Writer

College Basketball March Madness First Four Betting Trends

The NCAA Tournament is officially underway with the First Four matchups, setting the stage for March Madness action. Early betting trends reveal shifts in lines, betting percentages, and handle distribution, giving insight into where the money and public bets are flowing. Let’s analyze the key movement in spreads, totals, and moneyline bets at BetMGM ahead of these pivotal games.

Unleash AI power on your March Madness picks. Try our Bracket Pick’em Tool now!

St. Francis PA vs Alabama State

Spread Movement: Opened Alabama State -3.5, now -4.5

Betting Splits: 53% of bets on Alabama State, but only 58% of the handle

-The line shift in favor of Alabama State suggests sharp action backing them, though the public is fairly split.

Total Movement: Dropped from 141.5 to 138.5

Betting Splits: 60% of bets on the under, with 71% of the handle

-The large shift downward indicates smart money backing a lower-scoring affair.

Moneyline Trends: Alabama State (-160 to -190) is receiving fewer bets (30%) but has 45% of the handle, showing sharper action on the underdog.

Level up your college hoops bets with SportsGrid’s free CBB Picks & CBB Player Props.

North Carolina vs San Diego State

Spread Movement: Opened North Carolina -3.5, now -4.5

Betting Splits: 71% of bets and 82% of the handle on North Carolina

-Heavy public and sharp money backing the Tar Heels, driving the line movement.

Total Movement: Stays at 142.5

Betting Splits: 61% of bets on the over, but only 40% of the handle

-Sharper bettors favor the under, while the public leans over.

Moneyline Trends: North Carolina (-185 to -210) getting 48% of bets but 75% of the handle, showing significant sharp action on them to win outright.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.

Mount St. Mary’s vs American

Spread Movement: Opened American -1.5, now -2.5

Betting Splits: 51% of bets on American, but 72% of the handle

-The bigger money is backing American, leading to the line shift.

Total Movement: Dropped from 133.5 to 129.5

Betting Splits: 62% of bets on the under, with 84% of the handle

-This is a strong indicator that the market expects a low-scoring contest.

Moneyline Trends: American (-130 to -145) getting just 24% of bets but 21% of the handle, suggesting limited value in betting their moneyline.

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter.

Xavier vs Texas

Spread Movement: Opened Xavier -1.5, now -2.5

Betting Splits: 62% of bets and 75% of the handle on Xavier

-Strong support from both the public and sharp bettors for Xavier.

Total Movement: Remains at 149.5

Betting Splits: 51% of bets on the under, with 54% of the handle

-No significant lean either way, making it a true toss-up.

Moneyline Trends: Texas (+110 to +125) receiving 75% of bets but only 31% of the handle

-The public is backing Texas, but bigger money is favoring Xavier.

Shoot your shot! Cash in with our four- and five-star College Basketball Picks and buzzer-beating Player Props.

First Four Takeaways

Public vs. Sharp Money: North Carolina and Xavier are seeing strong sharp money, which has moved their spreads.

Unders Getting Action: St. Francis PA vs. Alabama State and Mount St. Mary’s vs. American have seen their totals drop significantly, indicating strong under money.

Line Movement Worth Watching: American and Xavier have both moved from small favorites to slightly larger ones, suggesting sharp confidence in those teams.

With these trends in mind, bettors should consider how line movement, public action, and sharp money impact their wagering decisions. March Madness is full of surprises, but tracking betting trends can offer an edge in finding value plays.

BET365 PROMO CODE – FIRST BET SAFETY NET $1000 IN BONUS BETS