March Madness First Round Odds 2025: Here’s My Handpicked Selection of the Best Bets for March Madness of 2025
The best bets for the March Madness first round can be placed at top-rated sportsbooks like Stake.com, BC.Game, and Bet365. Why? Because they have the best odds and lines out there.
In this guide, I’ll explain the March Madness first round in more detail. Plus, I’ve got some expert tips for you. These nuggets of wisdom are based on common patterns we’ve seen in the tournament’s first round over the years, giving you the insights needed to make well-informed wagers.
March Madness first round explained
The first round of March Madness is where the tournament really kicks into gear. After the dust settles from the First Four, the field narrows down to 64 teams, and this is where every college basketball fan’s bracket starts to take shape. It’s the most action-packed stage of the tournament, with 32 games played over two days. Talk about March Madness…
This round is famous for its upsets, buzzer-beaters, and the birth of Cinderella stories that we chat about for years to come, such as when UCLA went from the First Four to the Final Four in 2021. Every year, without fail, there’s at least one lower-seeded team that defies the odds and busts brackets across the nation. It’s what puts the “mad” in “March Madness.”
The best bets for the March Madness first round: My top tips and tricks
Based on common trends and patterns that we’ve seen over the years, here are the best bets for the March Madness first round.
Favor #1 seeds to reach the sweet 16
One of the best bets for the NCAA tournament first round is to favor #1 seeds to reach the Sweet 16. Historically, #1 seeds have dominated the first two rounds. Since 1985, their win-rate in the second round is over 85%. This makes them a safer bet to reach the Sweet 16 compared to #2 seeds, which have a much lower win-rate in the same round.
UCLA’s journey from the First Four to the Final Four in 2021 will be remembered for years to come. They defeated a #6 seed Alabama on their journey, proving that First Four teams can be viable dark horses worth betting on for higher potential returns.
Bet on #1 seeds, and watch the spread
In 2018, #16 UMBC made history by defeating #1 Virginia, marking the first time a #1 seed lost in the first round. Despite this outlier, #1 seeds have a stellar record against #16 seeds. When betting, if the spread is under 20 points, history shows #1 seeds are very likely to cover, so this is always one of the best bets for the March Madness first round.
#7 vs #10 matchups: Not the upset you might expect
Contrary to popular belief, #7 seeds hold a significant win-rate advantage over #10 seeds, winning around 60% of their matchups. This trend suggests that betting on #7 seeds might offer a better return than expected, despite their perceived closeness.
#8 vs #9 games: First round betting odds worth considering
The #8 and #9 seed matchups are historically close, with #9 seeds slightly edging out #8 seeds since 1985. However, underdogs in these matchups have covered the spread over 50% of the time over the last 13+ tournaments, making them NCAA first round betting odds worth considering.
#11 Seeds: Famous in the first-round
#11 seeds have a knack for first-round upsets, like when Xavier, USC, and Rhode Island all won as #11 seeds in 2017. These seeds have performed well against #6 seeds in the past, making them prime candidates for upsets in the first round.
Tread carefully with #13 seeds and beyond
While #12 seeds have a respectable upset rate against #5 seeds, the story is different for #13 seeds and beyond. The win-rate plummets for #13 seeds in the Round of 64, so you should tread carefully here.
The best social sportsbooks and DFS sites for First Round betting
I’ve chosen my favorite social sportsbooks and fantasy sports brands who can be counted on for betting on the First Round of March Madness. Each of these brands will give you a different way to play, but they can all help you celebrate the arrival of this epic college basketball tournament:
Pros & Cons of Fliff
- Great NCAA First Round coverage
- Redeem real money prizes
- Play for free
- Generous welcome offer
- Only available in certain states
I have found that Fliff is a
great social sportsbook
for March Madness, and it’s particularly good for the First Round. Here you will find plenty of betting lines for all of the massive number of games taking place so that no one gets left out. Plus you can use that welcome offer that gives you 600,000 Fliff Coins and 100 Fliff Cash to play for fun and potentially redeem cash prizes. A good example of what you should be looking for in a social betting platform.
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 – Full range of NCAA social betting options
Pros & Cons of Sportzino
- Good range of NCAA betting lines
- Big welcome offer
- Redeemable cash prizes
- No purchase necessary
This is another great social sportsbook who can be counted on for every round in March Madness. As a result, you can sign up here and enjoy money lines, spreads and totals for all of the massive number of First Round games. All of these bets can be made for free at Sportzino and you can even redeem cash prizes here. There’s also a welcome offer to give you a great start with your GC 150,000 and six SC.
Get
10 SC
+ 220K Gold Coins for free
Sportzino Highlights
- Game lobby lets you filter games based on game type and provider
- Casino games are powered by leading providers
- Features exciting jackpot slots with Sweeps Coins prizes
- You get to try unique fish games, keno, and bingo
ParlayPlay – Super-simple DFS provider
Pros & Cons of ParlayPlay
- User-friendly DFS platform
- Matched deposit sign up offer
- Two simple fantasy modes
- Full coverage of March Madness
I have had plenty of fun using the More or Less and Hit It DFS options at ParlayPlay, and the good news is that you can do it on the First Round of March Madness. These fantasy betting options just require you to make some stat-based predictions and the whole thing gives you a fair chance of winning – definitely not something that’ll happen at some DFS sites I can think of. Sign up to ParlayPlay and you can get your first deposit matched by 100% up to $100 and see why this is the rising star of the DFS scene.
100% First Deposit Match up to $100 in Promo Funds
ParlayPlay Highlights
- Great sports and esports coverage
- Simple selection process
- Huge potential payouts
OwnersBox – Two ways to enjoy fantasy First Round betting
Pros & Cons of OwnersBox
- Quality SuperFlex DFS format
- Entertaining LightningLineups option
- Good fantasy basketball service
- Competitive matched deposit bonus
- DFS might not be available in your state
OwnersBox has assembled a formidable fantasy sports platform that you can use for college basketball. Most players will opt to use the SuperFlex DFS option, but there are also some great Lightning Lineups that offer you a whole new way to play. Signing up here will let you get your opening deposit matched by 100% up to $500 which could give you plenty of extra credit to use on all of those paid tournaments. Perfect for getting a better chance of winning one of those prize pools.
100% First Deposit Match up to $100 in Promo Funds
ParlayPlay Highlights
- Great sports and esports coverage
- Simple selection process
- Huge potential payouts
Sleeper – Good choice of tournaments for your First Round fantasy bets
Pros & Cons of Sleeper
- Top NCAA daily drafts
- Innovative Sleeper Picks
- 100% matched deposit bonus
- Quality fantasy basketball platform
- Few promos for existing customers
This is a fantasy sports platform that has already commanded an impressive reputation for the NBA, and there’s no reason why it can’t do the same for the First Round of March Madness. The brand has just revamped its welcome offer to match your first qualifying deposits by 100% up to $100, and from here you’ll find a broad range of tournaments – often with some refreshingly modest entry fees. So that whether you are doing your daily drafts or are checking out the Sleeper Picks option, you’ll have great fun here.
100% First Deposit Match up to $100 in Promo Funds
ParlayPlay Highlights
- Great sports and esports coverage
- Simple selection process
- Huge potential payouts
Sites with the best first-round bets for March Madness outside the US
Looking for the best NCAA first round bets and odds available? I’ve got you covered. After carrying out thorough reviews and weighing all the options, I’ve handpicked Stake.com, BC.Game, and Roobet as the best options for anyone who is living outside of the US.
| Sportsbook | Welcome offer | Best for |
| Stake.com | 200% up to $2,000 (Code: GAMECHAMPIONS) | Live streaming |
| BC.Game | 180% up to $20,000 | Large bonuses and betting limits |
| Bet365 | $100 in bet credits | Mobile betting |
Pros & Cons
- Live betting and streaming
- Some of the best odds available
- Claim an exclusive bonus code
If I could only recommend one sportsbook for the March Madness first round, it would be Stake.com. Why? It’s because you’ll find some of the best first round betting odds, and they stay consistent throughout the tournament.
From the First Four to the
Final Four bets
and the Championship Game, Stake.com offers some of the best returns on your successful wagers. Haven’t joined this sportsbook yet? Dive in with an exclusive offer – use the promo code
CHAMPIONS
to claim a cool 200% bonus up to $2,000 on your first deposit.
BC.Game – Plenty of NCAA first round betting lines
Pros & Cons
- Loads of March Madness lines
- No maximum bet limits
- Huge welcome offer
BC.Game has got you covered with a ton of March Madness first round betting lines, and let me tell you, their odds are on point. One thing I really like about BC.Game is how they don’t cap your bets, whether it’s for NCAA or any other sports betting markets.
Plus, they’re throwing in a massive
March Madness betting promotion
that can go up to $20,000. This makes BC.Game a top pick if you’re looking to go big on the best NCAA first round bets. The only catch? It’s all about crypto here, no regular cash allowed. So, if that’s a dealbreaker for you, you might want to check out Stake.com. It’s still in the crypto betting scene but gives you the option to deposit regular money too.
Bet365 – Great for March Madness first round betting on mobile
Pros & Cons
- Intuitive mobile app
- Extensive betting lines
- Highly competitive odds
- Generous bonus offers
As you’d expect from one of the most well-known and recognizable gambling brands in the world, the March Madness first round betting odds at Bet365 are some of the best out there. It’s a
betting odds March Madness winner, and you’ve got a wide range of betting lines to choose from.
What really caught my eye, though, is their mobile app. It’s slick, responsive, and a breeze to navigate. And with cool features like live betting and streaming right at your fingertips, it’s ideal for laying down your March Madness first round bets on the go.
You’re ready to bet on the March Madness first round
And there you have it, just about everything you need to know about the best bets for the March Madness first round. When you’re ready to get in on the action, I’d highly recommend sticking with Stake.com, BC.Game, and Bet365. This way, you’ll be able to get the best odds and bonuses, which results in even bigger wins.
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Best bets for the March Madness first round FAQ
❓ How do I choose the best bets for the March Madness first round?
Choose the best bets by studying past performances, such as the dominance of #1 seeds and the upset potential of lower seeds, and consider the current form and matchups. Also, it’s best to choose sportsbooks with competitive odds for the best returns.
👍 Which sites have the best betting odds for the March Madness first round?
Stake.com, BC.Game, and Bet365 stand out with some of the best betting odds for March Madness. Also, they have live betting features and generous bonuses to enhance your betting experience.
✍️ What are the best first round bets on March Madness?
The best bets include favoring #1 seeds, betting on potential dark horses from the First Four, and identifying value in #7 vs. #10 and #8 vs. #9 matchups. Betting on #11 seeds is also worth considering because the trends show that they have a knack for first-round upsets.
