March Madness Day 1 betting picks, top odds & parlay tips

The 2025 NCAA Tournament is here! Find out the top seeds, betting favorites, schedule, and our March Madness Parlay of the Day for the opening round.

March Madness - NCAA Tournament

March Madness has arrived, and the brackets for the 2025 NCAA basketball tournament are officially set for both the men’s and women’s competitions.

On the men’s side, Duke, Florida, Houston, and Auburn have secured the four No.1 seeds, with Auburn earning the top overall spot.

Florida enter the tournament as the betting favorite to win it all at +350 with Nags.bet, followed closely by Duke (+360) and Auburn (+400).


How March Madness works

The NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness, is a single-elimination competition featuring 68 teams battling for the national championship.

The tournament begins with the First Four, where eight teams compete for the final four spots in the Round of 64. After that, the main bracket is set, and teams must win six straight games to claim the title.

The tournament is divided into four regions, each with 16 teams seeded from No.1 to No.16.

Higher seeds face lower seeds in the early rounds, with matchups like No.1 vs No.16 and No.2 vs No.15. The action unfolds across four main rounds before the Final Four:

First Round (64 teams) – March 20-21

Second Round (32 teams) – March 22-24

Sweet 16 (16 teams) – March 27-19

Elite Eight (8 teams) – March 29-30

The Final Four, held on April 5, determines which two teams will compete for the National Championship on April 7.

Teams earn tournament bids either by winning their conference championship (automatic bid) or through an at-large selection by the NCAA Selection Committee, which evaluates a team’s performance throughout the season.

The final bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday, marking the start of one of the most exciting sporting events of the year — as well as plenty of betting opportunities with top online sportsbooks.


March Madness Parlay of the Day

March Madness 2025 tips off on Tuesday, March 18, with several marquee matchups, including some potential bracket-busting upsets. Here’s a look at the March Madness Parlay of the Day to consider for the opening day of the tournament.

Parlay of the Day


Parlay of the Day

Team Odds
Oklahoma State ML -277
Alabama State -3.5 -121
Santa Clara -11.5 -111
Middle Tennessee -2.5 -112

Total return: $8.88


Oklahoma State ML (-277)

The Cowboys come into this matchup as favorites, boasting a strong home record and superior roster depth. With a solid defensive unit and efficient scoring, they should handle business against an inferior opponent.

Alabama State -3.5 (-121)

Alabama State have been performing well against the spread, covering in recent games. Their defensive pressure and rebounding edge give them an advantage in this matchup, making them a strong pick to cover the spread.

Santa Clara -11.5 (-111)

Santa Clara face a weaker opponent and should dominate in both pace and scoring efficiency. They’ve been covering large spreads consistently, making this a solid bet against an outmatched team.

Middle Tennessee -2.5 (-112)

Middle Tennessee have been playing well, particularly in close contests. Their ability to close out games and execute in late-game situations gives them an edge to cover the small spread.

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