Betting Stuff: Your ultimate gambling guide to the NCAA Tournament – Saturday Tradition

Betting Stuff is a regular sports gambling column here at Saturday Down South with a focus on college football wagering (though dont be surprised to see some college basketball insights from time to time, especially now during March Madness). Did you know that sports betting is now legal in Tennessee? You can view the best Tennessee sportsbook appshere.

If youre wondering if this is your moment to really go wild with upsets on your March Madness bracket, well, I have some good news. The last 5 months have proven that no team and no lead are safe. Want proof? Since they began tracking the stat in 2008, no season produced a higher percentage of games in which a team has blown a 20-point lead.

Then you have COVID issues hobbling a few bluebloods overnight with Kansas and Virginia reportedly down contributors ahead of their tricky matchups with Ohio and Eastern Washington, respectively. The Jayhawks and Cavaliers wont be the only teams dealing with these issues, which has the potential to level the playing field instantly.

And lastly, we have the top 8 teams in this years field. Are the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds truly rock-solid or are they primed for a massive letdown? Michigan, the top seed in the East, is down its heart-and-soul senior Isaiah Livers and enters the tournament on a 2-3 run. Iowa and Alabama have shot their way past top-10 opponents and gone cold enough to lose to teams that didnt even make the NCAA field. My point being, for a group that should be unassailable, at least for the first weekend, these eight teams dont feel like ironclad clocks to make the Sweet 16.

So now that you know we have some history (20 point+ comebacks), some noted distractions (COVID), and some shaky top seeds in the mix, how do you go about filling out your bracket and betting individual games? Why dont we start with my favorite March Madness system? Specifically titled, the 12-5/13-4 chaos system.

Each year the 12-5 and 13-4 matchups produce 8 games in total. And every year since 2008, I have played every one of those games on the moneyline and against the spread. Yes, that means I shell out cash for 16 separate bets (8 ML, 8 ATS). It may seem like a burdensome tactic, but the results have been tremendous. In the last 12 years, this system has been profitable 9 times (75%) and returned an average +3.16 units per tournament (+19.75% ROI). The results have broken down in this way:

ATS

Moneyline

What we know right off the bat is that the 12-5 matchup has a rich upset history. Since the tournament expanded and allowed 12 seeds to compete in 1980, the higher seeds are 107-53 straight up (66.9%). Five years later the field expanded to 64 teams, which set up the first 4-13 matchup. Since 1985, 4 seeds are 111-28 (79.9%) against the plucky upstarts on the 13-line.

If those outright winning percentages scare you, let me remind you that as the number of Division I teams has grown, the quality of the 12 and 13 seeds has increased. As a result, weve seen more competitive games and more upsets in recent years. Since 2000, 12-seeds teams have been a winning proposition at the betting window going 46-34 ATS (57.5%). The 12-seeds are what give this system stability because theyve been reliable against the spread and have outperformed their market value by winning outright more than the public expects.

But its the 13-seeds that really make this system shine. The payouts are tremendous when a 4 seed falls in the Round of 64. Lets take a quick look at the current prices for the 13-seeds: Ohio (+320) vs. Virginia, Liberty (+380) vs. Oklahoma State, UNC Greensboro (+510) vs. Florida State, North Texas (+285) vs. Purdue. Hitting a single one of these games is a massive boon and has the potential to turn this system into a huge moneymaker.

Its time to talk about teams and not systems for a minute. Im pleased to report that this years field is loaded with really strong mid-majors. Heres a quick rundown on my favorites to bust some brackets.

Iona (No. 15, East Region) 12-5 SU, 12-5 ATS

Rick Pitino is back and his team has a surprising amount of talent. Nelly Junior Joseph is a freaky athlete and the Rookie of the Year out of the MAAC. The 6-9 freshman from Nigeria gives them a shot to defend Alabama. Isaiah Ross gives a major offensive weapon (18.4 ppg) because he can be a one-man show. In nearly a third of the Gaels games this season he went for 25 or more.

Colgate (No. 14, South Region) 14-1 SU, 10-5 ATS

If you like teams that can run-n-gun, then the Raiders are for you. Four guards shoot 35% or better from 3-point land and theyre led by senior point guard Jordan Burns (17.1 ppg, 40% 3P). This team threw a scare into Tennessee as a 15-seed back in 2019, and they have the firepower (86.4 ppg, 2nd) to do it here against Arkansas.

Ohio (No. 13, West Region) 16-7 SU, 14-7 ATS

Five starters average double figures and theyre led by do-everything point guard Jason Preston (16.6 ppg, 7.2 apg, 6.8 rpg). They played top-seeded Illinois in Champaign and nearly upset the Fighting Illini, falling by 2. Theyve won 9 of their last 10, and are the 15th most efficient offense in college basketball. Lookout, Virginia. Also, get a load of Prestons journey to the tourney below.

Georgetown (No. 12, East Region) 13-12 SU, 16-9 ATS

To the naked eye, a 13-12 record may seem horrific, but in a year like this, you should only care about how a team is playing right now. Since the start of February, GU is 9-3 with 3 wins against AP Top 25 teams. Theyre lights out from long range and are drawing a Colorado team that is nothing special away from Boulder (6-6 on the road).

Utah State (No. 11, South Region) 20-8 SU, 15-11 ATS

If youre looking for a March Madness superstar, you could a lot worse than Neemias Queta. The Mountain West Player of the Year also took home DPOY honors while averaging a double-double and 3.2 blocks per game. They absolutely kill teams on the glass, from both an offensive and defensive rebounding perspective, and they have the 7th-best defense in the nation. Theyll grind teams into dust.

St. Bonaventure (No. 9, East Region) 16-4 SU, 15-5 ATS

The Bonnies, from a sleepy town in Western New York, are primed for a deep run. They have scoring balance (5 starters 10+ ppg), a superstar point guard (Kyle Lofton), and a defensive stopper with a 7-8 wingspan. Osun Osunniyi is a one-man block party, and the reason the Bonnies have the nations 17th-ranked defense. KenPom has these guys ranked 25th in the country, and I have them in my Elite Eight.

Utah State+4.5 vs. Texas Tech

As I mentioned, Utah State is absolutely devastating on the glass. This provides them with a level of stability most teams simply do not have. When their shots arent falling, they stay in games by gaining extra possessions (19th). Every starter for Texas Tech is between 6-2 and 6-7, which means that Queta (7-0) and Justin Bean (6-7) have a chance to impose their will. In terms of an official recommendation, the Chris Beard factor scares me off the outright upset, but Ill gladly take the points in what should be a lower-scoring affair.

Over 162.5 Colgate-Arkansas

Two teams that want to play really fast and love to score in transition. Colgate is the No. 3-ranked offense in the country, in terms of efficiency, and Arkansas is downright special after the break (43.8 ppg in the 2nd half, 4th). I foresee Colgate speeding up the tempo in this one and Moses Moody and JD Notae generating a lot of open looks for a talented Razorbacks team. And remember, life is too short to bet the under.

Oral Roberts+16.5 vs. Ohio State

This is a motivational play, as Ohio State is coming off of an emotionally draining loss in OT to Illinois. They can roll out of bed and beat the Golden Eagles, so Im not sure youll get a super-focused performance from Ohio State out of the starting blocks. Oral Roberts, if given the chance to hang around, has the offense to do it. Max Abmas leads the nation in scoring (24.2 ppg) and has a stud playing alongside him on the low block. Kevin Obanor is averaging nearly 18 and 10 this season and can kill teams from the perimeter when he lets it fly (46.9% 3P). The Buckeyes were just 10-10 ATS as a favorite this season, including narrow victories over UMass-Lowell and Cleveland State. They should let ORU hang around here.

Abilene Christian+350 vs. Texas

The Wildcats are the most disruptive defense in college basketball, forcing turnovers on nearly 24% of their opponents possessions. These turnovers lead to easy baskets and when they are forced to shoot in the half-court, they enjoy great success from 3-point range (37.7%, 21st). Texas has been sloppy with the basketball at times this year and has struggled from the line (70.8% 187th). Thats a bad recipe against the Southland champs. One added bonus for ACU is Kolton Kohl. The 7-footer gives them a shot against a fearsome Texas frontcourt. Need more convincing? After his miracle trip to the Final Four with VCU in 2011, Shaka Smart is just 2-6 SU in the NCAA tournament with 4 straight first-round exits.

The committee took care of Gonzaga and Baylor, rewarding them for their tremendous seasons. Both teams have red carpets to the Elite Eight. I dont foresee Gonzaga breaking much of a sweat, given their elite play on both ends of the floor. And while Im intrigued by Ohio State in the South Region, Im going to stick with Scott Drew and Baylor. As for the other two teams, I believe Houston has a much more manageable road than Illinois in the Midwest Region and the defense to flummox Ayo Dosunmu and company should they lock horns in the Elite Eight.

The East is where I believe things will get nuts, and Im going out on a limb with UConn. Since James Bouknights return, the Huskies are 7-2 SU in their last 9. As a team, theyre ferocious on the offensive glass (36%, 6th) and make opponents really earn every bucket inside the arc. Teams are making just 45.6% of their twos against UConn, while getting 5.3 of their shots blocked per game (8th). I see UConn upsetting Alabama and facing an upstart that has dispatched Michigan before arriving in the Final Four.

It wouldnt be March Madness without the Cinderellas, so here are three teams that I think are undervalued.

Oregon has simply been a different team since Will Richardson returned. The Ducks are 11-2 in their last 13, and 5-1 ATS in their last 6. Dana Altman has taken the Ducks to the Elite Eight, Final Four and Sweet 16 in his last 3 Big Dance appearances. They have the talent, the coaching, and a second-round opponent (Iowa) that is just dreadful on defense. I can see a run coming.

This tournament is about matchups and USC has a matchup nightmare in Evan Mobley. The 19-year-old just won the Pac-12 POY award and averaged 22 and 10 in the conference tournament. Hes a monster and is the type of player that can carry USC to the second weekend for the first time since 2007.

The Bonnies may have a tougher draw against a red-hot LSU team than they do against No. 1 Michigan, should they advance. But if they can get past Will Wades surging Tigers, they have a chance to become the first A-10 team to play in the Elite Eight since Dayton in 2014. They are my favorite longshot because of their experience, their game-changer in the middle (Osunniyi), and the fact that they wiped the floor with a very deep A-10 this year. KenPom rated the A-10 the best mid-major conference in America.

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Betting Stuff: Your ultimate gambling guide to the NCAA Tournament - Saturday Tradition