BETTING CBB NCAA NCAAM
11:47 AM, March 17, 2023

NCAA Tournament Betting Insights: Alabama Drawing Most March Madness Interest

author-icon Zachary Cook

The Alabama Crimson Tide might be known as a football school, but they’re entering the NCAA Tournament as the top seed and are getting backed as such. Led by head coach Nate Oats, the Crimson Tide finished the year with a 29-5 record en route to a blowout victory over Texas A&M in the SEC Championship. 

BetMGM NCAA Line Movement (Open to Current) 

  • Houston +2000 –> +500 | Alabama +2500 –> +500
  • Purdue +3000 –> +1100 | UCLA +1400 –> +1100 
  • Texas +4000 –> +1200

BetMGM NCAA Highest Ticket%

  • Alabama 10.4%
  • Kansas 9.3%
  • Houston 7.5%

BetMGM NCAA Highest Handle%

  • Alabama 14.2%
  • Kansas 10.7%
  • Houston 9.9%

There’s been some controversy surrounding the Crimson Tide, but that hasn’t deterred bettors. With wins over fellow 1-seed Houston on the road, Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Kentucky, Alabama has demonstrated that they can beat the top teams in the nation. That’s giving bettors confidence in the Tide to capture their first National Championship in school history.

Top 2023 NBA draft prospect Brandon Miller and ‘Bama opened the year with +2500 odds to win the Natty, which has ultimately been bet down to +500, where they sit tied for the shortest odds with Houston (+500).

The Crimson Tide have registered the highest ticket and handle percentages, which has seen them compile 10.4% of tickets for 14.2% of the handle. With the interest they’ve generated, some big-money bets have been going the way of the Crimson Tide. 

In addition to Alabama, the odds-on favorite Houston Cougars have been getting backed to cut down the nets. The top seed in the Midwest Region has drawn in the third-highest ticket and handle percentages. The Cougars have gathered 7.5% of tickets for 9.9% of the handle.

Houston entered the season with top ten odds at +2000, which has shifted to +500, with the Cougars earning favorite status. 

The Alabama Crimson Tide are joined by blue bloods, the Kansas Jayhawks and Duke Blue Devils, as the book’s biggest liabilities to win the Men’s NCAA Tournament.