by Darren Moore
March Madness is almost upon us. More correctly known as the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, it features 68 college teams from Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Bettors can now wager on a number of NCAAB betting markets including the Championship Winner, Conference winners, Award winners and odds on which teams will reach the ‘Final Four’ in the 2021 NCAA Tournament come April.
You can find all the latest NCAAB game-lines and odds here while the College Basketball Futures are here.
2021 NCAA Bracket: March Madness seeding changes
With the entire tournament taking place in Indiana the NCAA bracket will be a little different this year. Read our guide – How Do March Madness Brackets Work.
There is no change to the top four seeds which will be the same (as will the ‘First Four’). However, the rest of the bracket will be based on rankings without the usual geographic considerations.
Who are the favorites to win March Madness 2021?
The Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Baylor Bears are the two favorites with the sportsbooks ahead of the tournament.
The other leading contenders include the Michigan Wolverines, Villanova Wildcats, Iowa Hawkeyes, Ohio State Buckeyes, Houston Cougars, Alabama Crimson Tide, Illinois Fighting Illini and (the 2019 champions) Virginia Cavaliers.
Latest March Madness Odds courtesy of Bovada Sportsbook
- +250 Gonzaga Bulldogs
- +300 Baylor Bears
- +300 Michigan Wolverines
- +1300 Illinois Fighting Illini
- +1500 Ohio State Buckeyes
- +1800 Villanova Wildcats
- +1800 Iowa Hawkeyes
- +1800 Houston Cougars
- +2000 Alabama Crimson Tide
- +2000 Florida State Seminoles
- +2500 West Virginia Mountaineers
- +3300 Creighton Bluejays
- +3300 Virginia Cavaliers
- +4000 Wisconsin Badgers
* NCAAB odds quoted were correct at time of article publication. All odds are subject to change.
When and where does March Madness 2021 take place?
March Madness 2021 is scheduled to begin on March 18, with the National Championship Final set to conclude on April 5 at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The ongoing pandemic means that, for the first time in its history, the entire tournament will be held in a single state, with Indiana hosting all the games.
March Madness format, schedule and venues
First Four – Thursday, March 18
- Purdue University (Mackey Arena, West Lafayette)
- Indiana University Bloomington (Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington)
First Round – Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20
- Purdue University (Mackey Arena, West Lafayette)
- Indiana University Bloomington (Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington)
- Ball State University (Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
- Butler University (Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
- IUPUI (Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis)
- Horizon League (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis)
Second Round – Sunday, March 21 and Monday, March 22
- Ball State University (Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
- Butler University (Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
- IUPUI (Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis)
- Horizon League – two courts (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis)
Regional Semifinals (Sweet Sixteen) – Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28
- Ball State University (Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
- Butler University (Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
Regional Finals (Elite Eight) – Monday, March 29
- Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
National Semifinals (Final Four) – Saturday, April 3
- Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Championship – Monday, April 5
- Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Visit Official NCAA March Madness Website
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is March Madness?
It’s a single-elimination tournament played each spring (predominantly in March as the name suggests) to determine the national championship and has become one of the most popular annual sporting events in the USA. The tournament was based on an idea by Ohio State coach Harold Olsen and was created by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 1939.
-
Which schools have won the most titles?
- UCLA Bruins – 11
- Kentucky Wildcats – 8
- North Carolina Wildcats – 6
- Duke Blue Devils – 5
- Indiana Hoosiers – 5
- UConn Huskies – 4
- Kansas Jayhawks – 3
- Villanova Wildcats – 3
- UCLA Bruins – 11
Darren lives & breathes sports betting and is always sniffing out his next value bet. His favourite sports to bet on are the NFL, horse racing and UFC but he will bet on anything if he thinks the odds are favourable.
