Sports betting roundup: Florida heads into March Madness as the betting favorite
Sports betting roundup: Florida heads into March Madness as the betting favorite
Florida center Rueben Chinyelu (9) cunte part of the net to celebrate victory over Tennessee after an NCAA college basketball game in the final round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Duke guard Tyrese Proctor celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville in the championship of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Auburn guard Miles Kelly (13) reacts to play against Tennessee during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, putts on the 17th green during a playoff round of The Players Championship golf tournament Monday, March 17, 2025, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) dunks in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Michigan guard Tre Donaldson (3) reacts after an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin in the championship of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Chicago Cubs’ pitcher Shota Imanaga warms up during the official practice of the Chicago Cubs on Monday, March 17, 2025, in Tokyo, as the Chicago Cubs is to play their MLB opening games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Florida center Rueben Chinyelu (9) cunte part of the net to celebrate victory over Tennessee after an NCAA college basketball game in the final round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Florida center Rueben Chinyelu (9) cunte part of the net to celebrate victory over Tennessee after an NCAA college basketball game in the final round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Duke guard Tyrese Proctor celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville in the championship of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Duke guard Tyrese Proctor celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville in the championship of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Auburn guard Miles Kelly (13) reacts to play against Tennessee during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Auburn guard Miles Kelly (13) reacts to play against Tennessee during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, putts on the 17th green during a playoff round of The Players Championship golf tournament Monday, March 17, 2025, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, putts on the 17th green during a playoff round of The Players Championship golf tournament Monday, March 17, 2025, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) dunks in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) dunks in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Michigan guard Tre Donaldson (3) reacts after an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin in the championship of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan guard Tre Donaldson (3) reacts after an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin in the championship of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Chicago Cubs’ pitcher Shota Imanaga warms up during the official practice of the Chicago Cubs on Monday, March 17, 2025, in Tokyo, as the Chicago Cubs is to play their MLB opening games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Chicago Cubs’ pitcher Shota Imanaga warms up during the official practice of the Chicago Cubs on Monday, March 17, 2025, in Tokyo, as the Chicago Cubs is to play their MLB opening games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
March Madness is upon us, and Florida has the best odds to win the men’s national championship.
Going into the tournament, Florida is listed at +350 at the BetMGM Sportsbook.
The 2025 NCAA Tournament in men’s college basketball will get underway Tuesday and Wednesday with the First Four, and the first round will begin Thursday afternoon.
Trends of the Week
While Florida leads the way, Duke is right behind the Gators at +360. That has a lot to do with Cooper Flagg’s status following his ankle injury in the ACC Tournament. Other top teams include Auburn (+400) and Houston (+600).
“Cooper Flagg’s health is a question mark, but we expect action to pour in on Duke if Flagg can play,” BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said. “Along with Duke, Florida and Michigan State are teams we don’t want to cut down the nets.”
As of Monday morning, Duke has the most bets of any team (13.5%) to win the national championship.
Florida won the SEC title game over Tennessee 86-77. The over-under was 141.5 points, meaning the over easily hit. In terms of money, 69% of it was on the over. Overall, overs went 11-4 in the SEC Tournament.
Rory McIlroy won The Players Championship, which was decided Monday morning with a three-hole aggregate playoff with J.J. Spaun. Going into the tournament, McIlroy was +1200, while Spaun was +10000. Both players finished the tournament at 12-under, while McIlroy beat Spaun in the playoff after Spaun put his tee shot on 17 in the water and made triple bogey.
Upsets of the Week
In the NBA, Cleveland’s 16-game winning streak came to an end Sunday in a 108-103 loss to Orlando. The Magic were 10.5-point underdogs and took in just 20% of the money in against-the-spread bets. In terms of the moneyline, Orlando was +375. Cleveland was the most bet NBA team overall on Sunday.
Sunday’s biggest upset in college basketball belonged to Michigan. As a 3.5-point underdog, the Wolverines beat Wisconsin 59-53. Michigan only took in 30% of the money in against-the-spread betting.
Coming Up
The Major League Baseball season will get started this week with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs playing in Japan.
Going into the year, the Dodgers are a massive favorite to win the World Series at +240. The next closest teams are the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees at +900.
The Philadelphia Phillies (+1100) and the New York Mets (+1200) round out the top five.
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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