March Madness 2nd Round Betting 2025: Here’s My Handpicked Selection of the Best Odds for March Madness of 2025
I’ve picked out Stake.com, BC.Game, and Bet365 as the best non-US sportsbooks for March Madness 2nd round betting. Why? Because they’re the big names you can trust, and they have the best odds and bonuses.
In this guide, we’re gonna take a closer look at what the March Madness second round, also known as the round of 32, is all about. Plus, I’ll share some insider tips to help you make winning predictions.
March Madness second round explained
The second round of March Madness is where things start to heat up big time. With 32 teams battling it out for a spot in the Sweet 16, the intensity is through the roof. You can think of the second round as the proving grounds. Teams that pulled off an upset in the first round are looking to prove it wasn’t just a fluke, as the top seeds aim to assert their dominance. Sure, it’s mostly the higher seeds that make it to this stage, but this round is still ripe with potential for more upsets.
Take 2018, for instance. Nevada, a 7-seed, was down by 22 points with just over 14 minutes left on the clock against Cincinnati, a 2-seed. And what do they do? They pull off an epic comeback and snatch the win. It was one of the biggest comebacks in NCAA history, and it all went down in the second round. These are the moments that define this stage of March Madness: unexpected, unforgettable, and utterly thrilling.
Top 5 tips for making March Madness second round predictions
There is no foolproof way to make successful second round predictions for March Madness. However, I can give you some practical tips based on historical data to help you make well-informed wagers.
Don’t underestimate the lower seeds
Lower-seeded teams have made it through the second round before, so you can be sure that it can happen again. Take, for example, when the 15th-seeded teams like Florida Gulf Coast in 2013 and Oral Roberts in 2021 made their way past the 7 seeds and proceeded to the Sweet 16. Big upsets clearly happen, and if you can predict them during the March Madness 2nd round betting stage, you’ll be cashing in on some big wins.
The sweet spot for upsets: 10 to 12 seeds
Teams seeded between 10 and 12 have a sweet spot for pulling off second-round upsets. With 24 victories by 10 seeds and 22 by 12 seeds in the second round, it’s clear that these matchups could be worth adding to your March Madness 2nd round betting strategy.
Avoid betting on No. 16 seeds specifically
Despite there being some historical victories of No. 16 seeds in the first round, like UMBC in 2018 and Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023, history is clear: no No. 16 seed has ever won in the second round. Their journey typically ends here, so it’s best to avoid them.
Consider the potential of 8 and 9 seeds
The 8th and 9th seeds have a tough position in the tournament, often facing the 1 seeds if they advance past the first round. However, their victories are not as rare as you might think. Teams like UTEP and Northern Iowa have shown that 9 seeds can take down the top dogs. When betting on these matchups, consider the team’s performance against top-ranked opponents during the season. A strong record against high-quality teams could make it worth adding to your March Madness second round picks.
Teams that pull off an upset in the first round often carry that momentum into the second. For example, when 11th-seeded George Mason famously advanced to the Final Four in 2006, they did so by maintaining their momentum and confidence from one game to the next.
All decent DFS providers and social sportsbooks will let you bet on the second round of March Madness, but you want to make sure that you are getting the best service possible. So what follows are five of
my favorite social betting sites
and fantasy sports brands who can each give you a thrilling way to bet on this most unpredictable round of the NCAA tournament:
Fliff – My favorite site for social betting on the second round
Pros & Cons of Fliff
- Impressive social betting interface
- Redeemable real money prizes
- No purchase required
- Generous bonus for new customers
- Not available in all states
I would recommend Fliff to anyone looking to bet on the second round of March Madness. This is because Fliff manages to give you the total sports betting experience without you having to risk your own cash. Plus when you consider the fact that you can redeem real money prizes here, it really is a win-win situation. What’s best is that you can sign up to Fliff and get a welcome offer that’ll give you 600,000 Fliff Coins and 100 Fliff Cash. Perfect for celebrating the arrival of the second round of March Madness.
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 – Stunning range of DFS NCAA odds
Pros & Cons of Sportzino
- Authentic social betting experience
- Full coverage of NCAA second round
- Won’t cost you a cent to play
- Competitive welcome offer
All college basketball fans will appreciate what Sportzino has to offer. You can sign up here and find yourself faced with money line, spread and totals bets for each game in the second round, and it’s great fun to play here against friends. There is no obligation to have to pay to play at Sportzino, and the brand even has a welcome offer that gives you 150,000 Gold Coins and six Sweepstakes Coins. This is important because those Sweepstakes Coins can be used to potentially redeem some cash prizes.
Get your 10 SC FREE + 220,000 Gold Coins
Sportzino Highlights
- More than 40 sports to play
- Frequent rewards
- Free sportsbook
ParlayPlay – A good choice for fantasy basketball rookies
Pros & Cons of ParlayPlay
- Simple yet effective DFS platform
- More or Less and Hit It contests
- Great coverage of March Madness
- 100% matched deposit bonus
This is one of my favorite DFS brands if I just want a quick and easy way to add an extra dimension to some big sporting encounters. This is because ParlayPlay has some simple statistical based contests called More or Less and Hit It that are just as easy as they sound. You can play these contests for things like March Madness and it means that you can even take a share of some impressive prize pools. Don’t forget that there is also a welcome offer at ParlayPlay that could match your opening deposit by 100% up to $100.
ParlayPlay Highlights
- Great sports and esports coverage
- Simple selection process
- Huge potential payouts
OwnersBox – Enter DFS tournaments for the second round here
Pros & Cons of OwnersBox
- Fun SuperFlex DFS contests
- Unique Lightning Lineups option
- Massive matched deposit promo
- Good range of paid contests
- SuperFlex DFS only in some states
OwnersBox is definitely worth checking out when the second round rolls around. This is because it features a great SuperFlex DFS tournament style where you get to assemble your line-ups in a way much simpler than some rival brands. There is also a Lightning Lineups playing option that is almost as much fun. What’s best is that OwnersBox has a welcome offer that matches your first deposit by 100% up to $500. Good news for anyone looking for extra credit for all of those paid contests.
OwnersBox Highlights
- 2 x $5 free DFS entries no deposit
- 100% deposit match up to $500
- Two unique takes on traditional DFS contests
Sleeper – Enjoy fantasy betting and win prize pools
Pros & Cons of Sleeper
- Top fantasy basketball platform
- Competitive welcome offer
- Generous prize pools
- Free and paid contests
- Only available in 28 states
Finally, I should mention Sleeper as this brand can be counted on for all kinds of fantasy sports. It’s particularly good for the NBA, and so I’d imagine that it would make light work of the second round of March Madness. There is a good welcome bonus here that will match your qualifying deposits by 100% up to $100 and then you can enter a range of free and paid contests. Plus some of those prize pools need to be seen to be believed.
Sleeper Highlights
- Free-to-play and paid contests
- Daily picks for multiplier winnings
- 100% deposit match for new players
The best March Madness second round betting sites outside the US
Before you lay money down on your March Madness second round picks, you’ll want to make sure you’re betting at a legit sportsbook that gives you good odds and bonuses. I get it, looking through all the options on your own can be a total headache. That’s where I can help. I’ve scoped out the scene and Stake.com, BC.Game, and Bet365 are where it’s at for March Madness second round betting if you are based outside the US. Here’s a closer look at what they bring to the table.
| Sportsbook | Welcome bonus | Best feature |
| Stake.com | 200% up to $2,000 (Code: GAMECHAMPIONS) | Live betting and streaming |
| BC.Game | 180% up to $20,000 | No maximum betting limits |
| Bet365 | $100 in bet credits | Mobile app |
Pros & Cons
- Live betting and streaming
- Highly competitive odds
- Exclusive bonus code
If you’re asking me to recommend one sportsbook for March Madness 2nd round betting, I’d point you straight to Stake.com. Why? Well, it’s pretty simple – they’ve got some of the best odds, hands down.
Plus, they’re all about taking your betting game up a notch with some of the
best March Madness betting promos. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can claim a 200% bonus up to $2,000. Just enter the promo code
GAMECHAMPIONS
when you drop your first deposit, and Stake.com will double it in bonus credits.
BC.Game – No maximum winning limits on March Madness second round betting
Pros & Cons
- No maximum bet limits
- Huge range of markets
- Generous welcome bonus
Nailing your March Madness second round predictions could seriously pay off, especially if you back an underdog. But here’s the thing: your payout will vary depending on the odds. That’s why placing bets at a sportsbook like BC.Game can make all the difference.
BC.Game has some of the best
betting odds on March Madness, so you’re in for some of the highest possible returns on your winning bets. And if you’re looking to up the stakes, BC.Game’s the place to be. There is no maximum bet limit for March Madness, letting you wager as much as you want.
Bet365 – Best for second round betting on the go
Pros & Cons
- User-friendly mobile app
- Trusted brand
- Ongoing bonuses
Let’s be real, no list of the best sites for March Madness 2nd round betting is complete without giving Bet365 a shoutout. They’ve got every line you could possibly want, and as you’d expect from such a famous brand, the odds are spot-on.
And if you’re all about betting on your phone, Bet365 is where it’s at. Sure, you can bet on most sites with your mobile, but the Bet365 app? It’s a game-changer. Super sleek and user-friendly, it makes betting on the go a breeze.
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
Bet365 Highlights
- Immense market variety
- Strong odds
- Tons of content
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
March Madness 2nd round betting conclusion
And there you have it. Armed with the tips and insights from this page, you’re all set to dive into March Madness 2nd round betting. With a bit of luck and a solid strategy, you’re in a great position to make winning predictions and bag some impressive wins. Just remember to place your bets at top-rated sportsbooks like Stake.com, BC.Game, and Bet365 because they’ve got the best odds and bonuses.
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March Madness 2nd round betting FAQ
❓ What are the best March Madness second round picks?
For the best payouts, focus on matchups where 10 to 12 seeds face higher-seeded teams, as these have historically been ripe for upsets. Also, just like the
Sweet 16 best bets, don’t overlook strong 8 and 9 seeds, especially those with solid records against top-ranked teams.
👍 Which second round March Madness predictions should I avoid?
It’s wise to steer clear of betting on No. 16 seeds advancing to the Sweet 16, as history has shown they don’t make it past the second round. Also, be cautious about putting too much faith in teams that barely scraped through the first round.
✍️ How do I make the right March Madness second round predictions?
Start by researching team performances, considering momentum from first-round upsets, and looking at historical trends for certain seeds in the second round.
