Sports betting roundup: March Madness is picking up with major conference tournaments ahead
Sports betting roundup: March Madness is picking up with major conference tournaments ahead
Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford (0) drives to the basket around Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Alabama forward Grant Nelson (4) shoots over Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Duke forward Cooper Flagg (2) tries to control the ball as he is defended by North Carolina guard Drake Powell (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Duke guard Sion James (14) drives against North Carolina guard Seth Trimble, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin (22) looks to pass against Duke forward Cooper Flagg (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) drives on Mississippi guard Jaylen Murray (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, center, shoots over the Los Angeles Lakers defense during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, dribbles around Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Russell Henley hits from the 16th fairway during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford (0) drives to the basket around Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford (0) drives to the basket around Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Alabama forward Grant Nelson (4) shoots over Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Alabama forward Grant Nelson (4) shoots over Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Duke forward Cooper Flagg (2) tries to control the ball as he is defended by North Carolina guard Drake Powell (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Duke forward Cooper Flagg (2) tries to control the ball as he is defended by North Carolina guard Drake Powell (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Duke guard Sion James (14) drives against North Carolina guard Seth Trimble, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Duke guard Sion James (14) drives against North Carolina guard Seth Trimble, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin (22) looks to pass against Duke forward Cooper Flagg (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin (22) looks to pass against Duke forward Cooper Flagg (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) drives on Mississippi guard Jaylen Murray (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) drives on Mississippi guard Jaylen Murray (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, center, shoots over the Los Angeles Lakers defense during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, center, shoots over the Los Angeles Lakers defense during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, dribbles around Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, dribbles around Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Russell Henley hits from the 16th fairway during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Russell Henley hits from the 16th fairway during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
March is in full swing with plenty of college basketball action.
The major conferences in men’s college basketball ended their regular seasons over the weekend, producing a number of thrilling finishes. Their conference tournaments will get going this week, before the March Madness brackets get unveiled on Sunday night.
As of Monday at the BetMGM online sportsbook, Auburn has the best odds to win the men’s national championship at +325, followed closely by Duke at +350. Florida (+600), Houston (+800) and Alabama (+1200) round out the top five.
Trends of the Week
St. John’s-Marquette was one of the most exciting games Saturday, with the Red Storm winning 86-84 in overtime. St. John’s, which closed as a 3.5-point underdog, was the most bet team in terms of bets and money for the day, with the Red Storm accounting for 71% of spread bets.
North Carolina and Duke continued their rivalry Saturday from Chapel Hill, with the Blue Devils pulling away in an 82-69 win. Duke closed as a 9.5-point favorite, and was popular among bettors, drawing 70% of the money.
In the NBA, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers met at TD Garden on Saturday night, with the Celtics winning 111-101. Boston closed as a 7.5-point favorite, so the team won and covered. The Lakers drew significant action, though, accounting for 74% of the bets and 64% of the money in against-the-spread betting.
There were a few big NFL moves over the weekend, with the Los Angeles Rams signing Davante Adams, the Pittsburgh Steelers trading for DK Metcalf and the Las Vegas Raiders trading for Geno Smith. These moves impacted Super Bowl odds, with the Raiders going from +15000 to +12500, the Steelers +8000 to +5000 and the Rams +2500 to +2200.
Upsets of the Week
Perhaps the biggest upset of the weekend was Alabama beating Auburn at the buzzer on the road, 93-91. The Crimson Tide closed as 7.5-point underdogs and were a big public play — 70% of bets and 74% of the money came in on Alabama to cover the spread.
On the PGA Tour, Russell Henley came from behind to top Collin Morikawa at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Morikawa had a one-shot lead heading into the 16th hole, but Henley chipped in for eagle to take the lead. Going into the tournament, Henley was +4000 to win. He drew 1.7% of the bets and 1.2% of the money in pretournament betting.
Coming Up
NFL free agency could alter Super Bowl odds some more, but going into the week the top teams are: the Philadelphia Eagles (+650), Baltimore Ravens (+700), Buffalo Bills (+750), Kansas City Chiefs (+750) and Detroit Lions (+800).
Detroit is the most popular team in terms of bets (11.7%), while the Eagles are the most popular team in terms of money (17.6%).
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports