Time To Make Some Money, Gang!!

By Tim St.Sauver
Love of Sports Correspondent

If you want more action than filling out a bracket can provide, here’s some food for thought on other types of March Madness wagers.

Here’s a quick refresher course for some of you beginners. Advanced students - feel free to skip a couple steps!

How to read the odds

Point Spreads

Team A (-5.5 points) – This would mean Team A would have to win by 5.5 points or more to ‘cover the spread’ and win the bet.

Team B (+10) – This would mean Team B would cover if they were within 10 or less points, or if they win the game outright.

Money Lines

All you have to do here is pick which team will win the game, straight up.

+450 – This means you’d profit $450 on a $100 dollar wager.
-230 – This means you’d have to risk $230 to profit $100.

When betting on a point spread, you’re generally making a -110 wager. Now on to some old bets, some new bets and some interesting info on this year’s tourney.

The #12 seeds vs. #5 seeds

It’s a tournament betting classic. The principle behind this play is that a #12 seed always manages to upset a #5 in the first round of play. If that #12 is +300 or higher, you’d cover all of your bets if just one of the #12 seeds were victorious. If two #12’s pull it off, you start to see a solid profit. The problem is, #12’s aren’t that big of long shots anymore. First round money lines for this year’s #12 seeds:

Western Kentucky +170 over Drake
Villanova + 230 over Clemson
Temple + 240 over Michigan State
George Mason + 250 over Notre Dame

If only one #12 was to pull it off, you’d still be down money. Last year, the #12 seeds were 0-4. Stay away from this trap.

Underdogs?

#9 Kent State, #9 Texas A&M and #10 Davidson are all two-point favorites over their higher seeded opponents.

Largest Spread

UCLA’s favored by 32 points in their opening round matchup with Mississippi Valley State. The fact that the Delta Devils got crushed 71-26 against Washington State may have a little something to do with that. However …

Lower Seed Dominance

I’m talking about the #15 and #16 seeds here, folks! Sure, they lost every game they’ve played in the last three years, but in that same time, they’re a whopping 18-5-1 against the spread. This is as easy as it gets. Place money on those huge dogs to cover the enormous spreads and laugh all the way to the bank.

First Round Futility

Speaking of money trends, let’s look at the over/under in first round games. Whether it’s because of nerves on the big stage, or the fact they’re seeing a defense they haven’t played all year, but the under has hit exactly 18 times in each of the last four tournaments. That is consistency! Bet the under on each and every game, no questions asked, and you’ll be all right.

Futures Betting

Here are some interesting facts about the odds on each team to win the entire tournament. The four #1 seeds are on top, coming in between +400 and +600. The two seeds all come in right after that between +1400 and +2000. Then things start to get pretty wacky. Vegas doesn’t care what seed you are. They care about how good you are, and where the money is. How else can you explain #6 USC at +5000 being so far ahead of #4 Vandy at +15000 and #5 Drake at +15000 and fellow #6 seed Oklahoma at +17500?

Vandy also has a #11 seed in Kansas State (+10000) ahead of it. I suppose that should be a sign not to put too much stock in Vanderbilt’s seed, because Vegas sure as hell isn’t.

Conference Odds

I have no real insight here. I just thought it was interesting to see the odds on which conference the winner will come out of.

ACC - (Clemson, Duke, Miami, North Carolina) +285
Pac-10 - (Arizona, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington State) +290
Big 12 - (Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M) + 350
Big East - (UConn, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pitt, Villanova, West Virginia) +575
Conference USA - (Memphis) +600 – same as Memphis’ odds.
SEC - (Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Vandy) +1000
Big Ten - (Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin) +1500

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The once dominant Big Ten is on the bottom of the big boys. Ten years ago, if you would’ve told Bobby Knight the Big Ten would be an underdog against Conference USA, he’d have thrown a chair at you.

Elite Eight Money

Here’s your chance to earn back all the money you’ve lost up to this point in the tourney. Over the last 10 years, the lower seed in the Elite Eight’s 26-12-2 against the spread. Bet on the lower seed to cover!

The Rest of the Way

Favorites have covered the spread two thirds of the time in the Final Four and championship games. Bet on the best and let them bring you to the top!

There you have it. Some sure fire plays to make all of your March Madness dreams come true.