March Madness First Four Predictions 2025: Here’s My Handpicked Selection of the Best First Four Bets
This will be the 13th NCAA Tournament that has a First Four. If you’re on the hunt for the best spots to place your March Madness First Four bets, look no further.
Stake.com, BC.Game, and Roobet top the list as my go-to sportsbooks and in this guide, I’ll show you why these platforms stand out and are highly recommended. Plus, I’ve included expert tips on making successful First Four predictions. This should help you gain an edge during one of college basketball’s most exciting phases.
March Madness First Four explained
The First Four is a preliminary round that marks the kickoff to March Madness. It was first introduced in 2011 to accommodate the tournament’s expansion to 68 teams. Before this, the NCAA faced a challenge with an odd number of teams (65) after adding the Mountain West Conference in the early 2000s. Initially, they solved this by having the two lowest-seeded teams play one another.
But as the tournament grew, a new approach was needed. Nowadays, the First Four includes eight teams: the four lowest-ranked automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-ranked ‘at-large’ bids. These teams are split into two groups, with automatic qualifiers playing against each other and at-large teams doing the same. This setup decides who moves forward into the main bracket, reducing the main field to 64 teams.
Where to bet on the March Madness First Four in the US
You can expect all top DFS platforms and social sportsbooks to be gearing up for March Madness by providing a range of First Four betting options. So here are five brands who can be relied upon for fantasy and social betting on the First Four:
Fliff – A great introduction to social betting
Pros & Cons of Fliff
- Redeem Fliff Cash for prizes
- Play for fun with Fliff Coins
- Trusted social sportsbook
- Quality NCAA odds
This is always a great place for social betting, and Fliff excels when it comes to March Madness. Here you’ll be able to bet against friends on the First Four and find the full range of basketball odds. As a social sportsbook, Fliff lets you play for free and if you win enough Fliff Cash, you can redeem it for cash prizes. The best part is that the brand has a welcome offer that will give you 600,000 Fliff Coins and 100 Fliff Cash to get you going.
Spend $50, Get up to $100 in Fliff Coins
+ Get up to $5 Per Day
Fliff Highlights
- Completely free sporting predictions.
- Climb the leaderboard and achieve legendary status!
- Real cash rewards available
Sportzino – Get top First Four odds here
Pros & Cons of Sportzino
- Full range of basketball bets
- GC and SC welcome offer
- Top March Madness coverage
- User-friendly social betting site
I have spent many happy hours betting socially at Sportzino, and the brand has quality coverage of all basketball including March Madness. This means that you can sign up here and bet on moneyline, spread and totals odds for the First Four and then get the bragging rights over your friends. Like all good social sportsbook, you can redeem real money prizes at Sportzino, and the brand even has a generous welcome offer that gives you GC 150,000 and six SC.
Get up to 10 SC FREE + 220,000 Gold Coins
Sportzino Highlights
- More than 40 sports to play
- Frequent rewards
- Free sportsbook
ParlayPlay – Make your fantasy First Four predictions
Pros & Cons of ParlayPlay
- Simple DFS tournaments
- Great for fantasy March Madness betting
- Handy matched deposit bonus
- Low entry fees
I would totally recommend ParlayPlay to anyone looking to take their first steps in the fantasy sports realm. It features two kinds of tournaments called More or Less and Hit It that both let you make some statistical predictions about things like the First Four and you could win a cash prize if you get it right. ParlayPlay isn’t just easy to play at as it also has low entry fees for those tournaments and your first deposit here will be matched by 100% up to $100.
ParlayPlay Highlights
- Great sports and esports coverage
- Simple selection process
- Huge potential payouts
OwnersBox – Quality DFS product for First Four betting
Pros & Cons of OwnersBox
- Massive welcome offer
- Fun SuperFlex DFS contests
- Simple Lightning Lineups options
- Good coverage of college basketball
- DFS might not be available in your state
This is a great fantasy sports provider that can be counted on for each round of March Madness – especially the First Four. You can sign up to OwnersBox and get a massive matched deposit bonus of 100% up to $100, and from here use the extra credit to play a huge range of SuperFlex DFS contests. There are also some Lightning Lineups contests here that are handy if the DFS tournaments are available in your state.
OwnersBox Highlights
- 2 x $5 free DFS entries no deposit
- 100% deposit match up to $500
- Two unique takes on traditional DFS contests
Sleeper – Good choice for quality fantasy basketball
Pros & Cons of Sleeper
- Three fantasy sports modes
- Good range of tournaments
- Quality basketball coverage
- 100% matched deposit bonus
- Only available in 28 states
All college basketball fans will like what they find at Sleeper. This is a fantasy sports platform where you get three different ways to assemble your line-ups for your preferred basketball event. It’s got a good range of tournaments with varying entry fees, and some of the prize pools will definitely make your gameplay worthwhile. Don’t forget that signing up here could see you getting a 100% matched deposit bonus up to $100.
Sleeper Highlights
- Free-to-play and paid contests
- Daily picks for multiplier winnings
- 100% deposit match for new players
Where to place March Madness First Four bets outside the US
Good at making March Madness First Four predictions? That’s great. However, let’s make sure you cash in on those with the best
betting odds for March Madness winner
bets. The trick? Check out top-notch sportsbooks like Stake.com, BC.Game, and Roobet. Here’s a quick look at what they have to offer to customers outside the US.
| Sportsbook | Welcome offer | Best for |
| Stake.com | 200% up to $2,000 (Code: GAMECHAMPIONS) | Live betting |
| BC.Game | 180% up to $20,000 | High rollers |
| Roobet | N/A | Ongoing bonuses |
Pros & Cons
- Exclusive welcome bonus
- Live betting and streaming
- Fast and responsive website
Looking to start
betting on March Madness? Stake.com is the perfect place to do it. They’ve got a sweet welcome bonus waiting for you, a super user-friendly design, and highly competitive odds that are hard to beat. They also offer live betting and streaming. That means you can watch the action and place your bets in real time. Sign up and use code
GAMECHAMPIONS
for a 200% bonus up to $2,000.
BC.Game – No maximum limit March Madness First Four bets
Pros & Cons
- Highly competitive odds
- No maximum bet limits
- Generous welcome offer
BC.Game is where it’s at for your First Four bets and beyond. They’ve got some of the best odds I’ve seen anywhere, including everything from the First Four to the
NCAA championship game odds. Plus, I like the fact that there aren’t any maximum bet limits on NCAA basketball and other sports.
Roobet – Get bonuses for your March Madness First Four bets
Pros & Cons
- User-friendly design
- Regular odds boosts
- Trusted platform
Roobet is killing it as one of the top sportsbooks right now. If you’re all about that NCAA action and looking for some sweet odds for your March Madness First Four bets, this is your spot. In fact, Roobet offers the most competitive , offering some of the best possible returns for successful wagers. Sure, Roobet might not have a welcome bonus, but this sportsbook more than makes up for it with a bunch of other promotions. We’re talking odds boosts and special deals just for March Madness.
How to make March Madness First Four predictions
Picking the right teams to go from the First Four to farther on in the tournament is tricky. Just because a team ends the season strong doesn’t mean they’ll keep up the pace. And while experience is always a good indicator, it’s no guarantee of success in March Madness. Sometimes, though, teams do make an unexpected run, like VCU in 2011 and UCLA in 2021, who both made it from the First Four to the Final Four.
Here are some tips on how to make successful March Madness First Four predictions:
Looking at past tournaments can give you some clues as to which First Four bets could be the best. Take VCU in 2011 and UCLA in 2021, for example. Both teams started in the First Four and made incredible runs all the way to the Final Four.
Don’t underestimate automatic qualifiers (AQ)
The victory of FDU over No. 1 seed Purdue in 2023 showcases the potential of AQ teams to pull off major upsets. This goes to show why it’s important not to overlook AQ teams that have fought hard to secure their spot in the tournament.
Teams that make it past the First Four often go on to pull off upsets in the later stages. For instance, the 2010-11 VCU team’s ability to dominate higher-seeded teams like No. 1 Kansas and No. 3 Purdue highlights the importance of considering how a team matches up against certain opponents.
Check recent performance and momentum
Teams entering the tournament with positive momentum can be primed for success. For example, Pitt in 2023, after winning their First Four game against a higher seed (No. 6 Iowa State), showcased the importance of paying attention to teams that enter the tournament with momentum behind them.
Despite being lower-seeded, teams like 2013-14 Tennessee, an 11-seed, managed to win against higher-seeded teams (No. 6 UMass and No. 14 Mercer) before narrowly losing to No. 2 Michigan. This shows why seed numbers alone shouldn’t deter you from considering a team’s potential to advance to the later stages of the tournament.
Teams with prior tournament experience or veteran players often perform better under pressure than teams with newer recruits in the squad.
Public sentiment vs reality
History has shown that the public often underestimates teams like FDU or overlooks the potential of at-large teams such as UCLA. Because of this, it can be a good idea to go against the grain.
Good luck with your March Madness First Four bets
And there you have it. As we gear up for another exhilarating round of March Madness, be sure to keep these tips and insights in mind. Who knows? With a bit of luck, you could be making successful March Madness First Four predictions and potentially walk away with some handsome payouts.
But remember, choosing the right sportsbook is just as crucial as picking the winning team. Stake.com, BC.Game, and Roobet have proven themselves as top contenders in the world of sports betting, each offering some of the best odds and bonuses for your March Madness First Four bets.
Try one of our top bonus offers for March
1.
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March Madness First Four predictions FAQ
❓ What are the best bets on the First Four?
The best bets on the First Four often involve identifying underdogs with the potential to cause upsets, teams with strong momentum, and those with historical success in the tournament.
👍 Where can I place March Madness First Four bets?
You can place March Madness First Four bets at leading sportsbooks like Stake.com, BC.Game, and Roobet. These platforms offer competitive odds, generous bonuses, and features tailored to enhance your betting experience.
✍️ How do I make successful First Four March Madness predictions?
To make successful First Four March Madness predictions, focus on recent performances, momentum entering the tournament, and historical performance in similar situations. Considering underdog potential and matchup styles can also provide valuable insights into the best betting choices to make.
