Early Public Betting Shows Heavy Money on Duke, Texas A&M After March Madness Selection
After 24 hours of betting activity following Selection Sunday, clear patterns have emerged in public March Madness picks for the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Here's what bettors are targeting according to ESPN Bet's data.
Paolo Banchero in Duke basketball jersey
Most Popular Moneyline Picks
- Texas A&M (-340) over Yale is the public's top choice, despite Yale's upset history
- Yale returns three key players from last year's Auburn upset: Poulakidas (19.2 PPG), Mbeng (13.4 PPG), and Townsend (15.4 PPG)
- Public bettors are avoiding all underdogs in moneyline bets
Top Against The Spread (ATS) Picks
- Michigan (-2.5) vs UC San Diego leads public ATS bets
- Michigan's momentum from Big Ten Tournament victory driving heavy action
- North Carolina (-3.5) vs San Diego State seeing significant public support in First Four matchup
Championship Futures
- Duke commands 40% of championship handle
- Florida follows at 21% of total bets
- Remaining 66 teams share just 39% of championship betting action
- Cooper Flagg's return from ankle injury boosting Duke's appeal
Key Takeaway: Public bettors are heavily favoring big-name programs and recent hot teams, while potentially overlooking dangerous underdogs like Yale who have proven tournament success.
Note: Betting lines and percentages current as of March 17, 2025. All bets should be placed responsibly and within one's means.
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