March Madness Odds Say at Least Three 1st-Round Games Go to OT
- Only two games went to overtime in the Round of 64 in March Madness 2018
- The last time more than two games went to overtime in the round of 64 was 2014
- The NCAA March Madness tournament begins March 19th
March Madness is right around the corner. We’re all scouring the stat pages and preparing to fill out our winning brackets. But as well all know, it’s extremely likely they blow up early and we’re going to need new reasons to tune in to all the excitement.
Online sportsbooks have released a unique prop that will keep you invested and, more importantly, glued to your seat for all of the opening round games.
March Madness Overtime Prop
| How Many Round of 64 Games Will Go to Overtime? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 2 | -180 |
| Under 2 | +140 |
Odds taken 2/19.
When you think about the tournament, nostalgic buzzer beaters and epic finishes surely come to mind. The reality, however, is that those games are fewer and further between than most viewers realize. For all of the classic moments that replay on the highlight shows, there are many more that don’t come down to the wire.
Oddsmakers have set the line at 2 overtime games for the 2019 tournament. The snap judgement is, if 2 overtimes gets me a tie, you have to bet -180 and take the over. When you look deeper, however, the under becomes an intriguing play.
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? https://t.co/NyZYKZtOah pic.twitter.com/NpWY4pm3Qc— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 18, 2019
Last year, two games in the opening round went to OT: Nevada beat Texas 87-83 and Rhode Island took out Oklahoma with an 83-78 victory. That would’ve earned a push this year and given you entertainment but nothing else.
Let’s go back farther. In 2017, exactly 0 games went to overtime in the opening round. For all the great memories, not once did a game push past the 40 minute mark.
In 2015 and 2016, like last year, two games went to overtime and would’ve only earned you a push. You have to go back to 2014 to find the last time an OVER bet on this prop would’ve given you a winner. That year, five games went to OT in a wild first round.
Happy Birthday to the man who hit the game-winner for @UNC_Basketball in the 1982 National Championship… Michael Jordan! ? pic.twitter.com/WcAI5UR0X7
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 17, 2019
NCAA Overtime: Entertaining but Rare
To be successful picking props, you need to rely on one very simple rule, bet with the numbers not your gut. As much as you might think it’s more entertaining to bet on overtimes to happen, ignore that feeling and take the other side.
“I love everything about him from the outside looking in… I think that Duke program right now is special.”@ZionW32 & @DukeMBB earning some respect from @KingJames!
? x ?? (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/6ksHo7mytJ— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 16, 2019
Really it shouldn’t change anything for you: when you’re watching the game cheer for a buzzer beater to avoid overtime instead. You don’t need extra basketball to enjoy the game, especially when you’re raking in cash at a +140 clip.
PICK: UNDER 2 OVERTIME GAMES IN ROUND OF 64 (+140)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
