Does Betting Every Underdog in March Madness Work?

Does Betting Every Underdog in March Madness Work?

Betting on every underdog in March Madness sounds like a crazy idea, but there might be something to it! The NCAA Division I Tournament is known for its wild nature, so it’s an interesting plan worth considering.

I’ve tested this approach in the past two years, with 2024 showing some promise before 2025 completely destroyed my bankroll! Still, this was one of the worst years ever for betting on underdogs, and I’m not ready to call it quits yet.

I will test this approach again in 2026 by betting on all underdogs during March Madness, so stay tuned! I will only back moneyline wins this year to keep it simple. I will be adding all my picks and tracking my results in this post, starting from the First Four, so if you’re interested, make sure to visit after each round.

Also, adding some ground rules would be helpful, so let’s start there.

Betting Every March Madness Underdog – The Rules

Backing all underdogs during March Madness is going to be a crazy adventure, so I want to bring at least some order to this type of March Madness bracket betting. Let me explain the plan by going through every major aspect of my idea.

Rule 1: Game Selection

I will be betting on all games, including the First Four, as long as the moneyline for one of the teams is higher than +100. If the odds for both sides are lower than that, which happened a few times last year, I will exclude the game.

I thought about adding more criteria, like only gambling on at least 5-point underdogs and such, but I decided against it. I want to keep it simple and simply bet on every team that’s expected to lose.

Rule 2: Market of Choice: Moneyline

I tried both moneylines and spreads last year but wasn’t happy with the latter. That’s why I’m sticking with moneyline wagers on March Madness underdogs in 2025. Nice and simple!

Rule 3: Line Shopping

Using a single sportsbook for underdog betting would be very limiting, so I will use multiple March Madness betting sites. At the same time, I want to keep it fairly simple and easy to replicate for a regular college basketball fan.

That’s why I decided to limit the number to three bookmakers: Bovada, BetUS, and BetOnline. They are my favorite US sportsbooks and consistently deliver high odds, as well as cool March Madness bonuses and promos.

I won’t use any offers, though, I want to see how this works without any extra help. I will simply check the bookies and get the best March Madness odds and lines for the purpose of my approach.

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Rule 4: Stakes

I only bet $10 per game last year because I targeted both spreads and moneylines, but I’m raising the stakes to $100 per wager in 2025! With the March Madness underdog betting spreads out of the way, the risk will be more manageable, so I’m happy to give it a proper go!

Rule 5: Results and Tracking

I will track my March Madness underdog betting results by posting every single bet in this article before the games (odds and lines included) and updating the outcome when the game is finished. I will provide updates after each round of the competition, showing my results and providing commentary on how the whole test is going in this March Madness bracket betting.

Moneyline Betting on All March Madness Underdogs in 2026

I’ve added two underdog bets for the First Four, but the other two don’t have a clear favorite, so you won’t find them in the table below. I will keep monitoring the odds in case that changes.

Also, I’ve added all Thursday underdogs to the table. I didn’t the ones from Friday since the moneyline odds are not available for all of them, but they will be included on Wednesday.

BetOddsBookieResult
Prairie View to beat Lehigh+145BovadaPending
Miami Ohio to beat SMU+260BovadaPending
First Four Ends Here
TCU to beat Ohio State+125BovadaPending
Troy to beat Nebraska+661BetOnlinePending
South Florida to beat Lousiville+186BetOnlinePending
High Point to beat Wisconsin+390BetUSPending
Siena to beat Duke+2500BetOnline
Pending
McNeese State to beat Vanderbilt+475BovadaPending
North Dakota State to beat Michigan State+1000BetUSPending
Hawaii to beat Arkansas+795BetOnlinePending
Virginia Commonwealth to beat North Carolina+130BetOnlinePending
Texas A&M to beat Saint Mary’s CA+140BetOnlinePending
Pennsylvania to beat Illinois+2000BetOnlinePending
Saint Louis to beat Georgia+122BetOnlinePending
Kennesaw State to beat Gonzaga+1450BetOnlinePending
Idaho to Beat Houston+2000BetOnlinePending

Excluded Games

The following games were excluded, because they were too close (no team available at +100 or higher):

  • UMBC vs. Howard (First Four)
  • Texas vs. NC State (First Four)

March Madness Underdog Betting from 2025 Summary

Here’s what happened when I bet on all March Madness underdogs in 2025.

2025 Underdog Betting Summary

  • Total bets: 64
  • Bets won: 13
  • Bets lost: 51
  • Total staked: $6,400
  • Total Returned: $3,017
  • Balance: -$3,393
BetOddsBookieResult
San Diego State to beat North Carolina+160BovadaLost
St. Francis PA to beat Alabama State+145BetOnlineLost
Mt. St. Mary’s to beat American+120BovadaWon
Texas to beat Xavier+125BetOnlineLost
First Four Ends Here   
McNee State to beat Clemson+282BetOnlineWon
High Point to beat Purdue+295BetOnlineLost
Arkansas to beat Kansas+165BetOnlineWon
Nebraska Omaha to beat St. John’s+1500BetUSLost
Creighton to beat Louisville+130BovadaWon
Utah State to beat UCLA+193BetOnlineLost
Wofford to beat Tennessee+1500BetUSLost
SIU Edwardsville to beat Houston+3500BovadaLost
Georgia to beat Gonzaga+130BetUSLost
Drake to beat Missouri+225BovadaWon
NC Wilmington to beat Texas Tech+1025BetUSLost
UC San Diego to beat Michigan+125BovadaLost
Yale to beat Texas A&M+270BetOnlineLost
Va Commonwealth to beat BYU+138BetOnlineLost
Montana to beat Wisconsin+1150BetUSLost
Baylor to beat Mississippi State+105BetUSWon
Norfolk State to beat Florida+3500BovadaLost
Oklahoma to beat Connecticut+170BetOnlineLost
New Mexico to beat Marquette+155BetOnlineWon
Bryant to beat Michigan State+1250BetOnlineLost
Vanderbilt to beat Saint Mary’s CA+150BovadaLost
Robert Morris to beat Alabama+1725BetUSLost
Lipscomb to beat Iowa State+790BetOnlineLost
Troy to beat Kentucky+500BetOnlineLost
Liberty to beat Oregon+265BetOnlineLost
Akron to beat Arizona+750BetUSLost
Memphis to beat Colorado State+120BetUSLost
Grand Canyon to beat Maryland+445BetOnlineLost
Alabama State to beat Auburn+2800BovadaLost
Mississippi to beat North Carolina+112BetOnlineWon
Xavier to beat Illinois+135BetOnlineLost
Round 1 Ends Here   
Creighton to beat Auburn+320BetOnlineLost
Gonzaga to beat Houston+190BovadaLost
McNeese State to beat Purdue+215BetOnlineLost
Arkansas to beat St. John’s+275BovadaWin
UCLA to beat Tennessee+185BovadaLost
Drake to beat Texas Tech+250BovadaLost
Michigan to beat Texas A&M+130BetOnlineWon
Baylor to beat Duke+550BetOnlineLost
Connecticut to beat Florida+410BetOnlineLost
Saint Mary’s CA to beat Alabama+195BovadaLost
New Mexico to beat Michigan State+270BetOnlineLost
Mississippi to beat Iowa State+190BetOnlineWon
Kentucky to beat Illinois+130BovadaWon
Colorado State to beat Maryland+255BovadaLost
Oregon to beat Arizona+165BetOnlineLost
Round 2 Ends Here   
BYU to beat Alabama+190BetOnlineLost
Maryland to beat Florida+230BetOnlineLost
Arizona to beat Duke+390BetUSLost
Arkansas to beat Texas Tech+200BetUSLost
Mississippi to beat Michigan State+148BetOnlineLost
Kentucky to beat Tennessee+170BetUSLost
Michigan to beat Auburn+355BetUSLost
Purdue to beat Houston+320BetUSLost
Sweet 16 Ends Here   
Texas Tech to beat Florida+275BetOnlineLost
Alabama to beat Duke+270BetOnlineLost
Michigan State to Auburn+200BetOnlineLost
Tennessee to beat Houston+150BetOnlineLost
Elite 8 Ends Here   
Auburn to beat Florida+134BetUSLost
Houston to beat Duke+220BovadaWon
Final Four 4 Ends Here   

Note: The March Madness 2025 final was one of the games excluded from this experiment because there was no clear underdog (odds of +100 or higher).

March Madness Underdog Betting from 2024 Summary

Here’s a full timeline with my comments and results summary of my March Madness underdog betting experiment in 2025. In that year, I actually targeted both spreads and moneylines.

Moneyline Betting Summary

Summary

    • Total bets: 63
    • Bets won: 20
    • Bets lost: 43
    • Total staked: $630
    • Total Returned: $640.55
    • Balance: +$10.55
BetOddsBookieResult
Wagner vs. Howard+145BetUSWon
Virginia vs. Colorado State+120BovadaLost
Grambling vs. Montana State+150BovadaWon
Boise State vs. Colorado+120BetOnlineLost
Washington State vs. Drake+105BetUSWon
Akron vs. Creighton+600BetOnlineLost
Long Beach State vs. Arizona+1300BovadaLost
McNeese State vs. Gonzaga+222BetOnlineLost
Morehead State vs. Illinois+565BetOnlineLost
NC State vs. Texas Tech+180BetUSWon
Oakland vs. Kentucky+700BovadaWon
Oregon vs. South Carolina+110BovadaWon
Samford vs. Kansas+265BovadaLost
South Dakota State vs. Iowa State+1000BetUSLost
St. Peter’s vs. Tennessee+1300BovadaLost
Duquesne vs. BYU+315BetUSWon
UAB vs. San Diego State+230BetUSLost
Colgate vs. Baylor+750BetUSLost
Coll Charleston vs. Alabama+395BetOnlineLost
Grand Canyon vs. Saint Mary’s CA+200BovadaWon
James Madison vs. Wisconsin+195BetOnlineWon
Longwood vs. Houston+1300BovadaLost
Clemson vs. New Mexico+105BetOnlineWon
Northwestern vs. Fla Atlantic+125BovadaWon
Stetson vs. Connecticut+1600BovadaLost
Utah State vs. TCU+140BetUSWon
Vermont vs. Duke+520BetUSLost
Western Kentucky vs. Marquette+750BetOnlineLost
Yale vs. Auburn+615BetOnlineWon
Wagner vs. North Carolina+1700BetOnlineLost
Colorado State vs. Texas+115BetOnlineLost
Grambling vs. Purdue+1600BovadaLost
ROUND 1 ENDS HERE (BALANCE: +$118.05!!!)   
Dayton vs. Arizona+360BetOnlineLost
Kansas vs. Gonzaga+170BetOnlineLost
Michigan State vs. North Carolina+155BetOnlineLost
Washington State vs. Iowa State+230BetUSLost
Oakland vs. NC State+220BovadaLost
Texas vs. Tennessee+220BetOnlineLost
Duquesne vs. Illinois+395BetOnlineLost
Oregon vs. Creighton+180BetOnlineLost
Clemson vs. Baylor+165BetOnlineWon
Colorado vs. Marquette+145BovadaLost
Northwestern vs. Connecticut+950BetOnlineLost
James Madison vs. Duke+245BetOnlineLost
Texas A&M vs. Houston+360BetOnlineLost
Yale vs. San Diego+200BovadaLost
Utah State vs. Purdue+430BetOnlineLost
Grand Canyon vs. Alabama+190BetOnlineLost
ROUND 2 ENDS HERE (BALANCE: -$15.45)   
Alabama vs. North Carolina+165BetOnlineWon
Clemson vs. Arizona+250BovadaWon
Illinois vs. Iowa State+115BetUSWon
San Diego State vs. Connecticut+460BetOnlineLost
NC State vs. Marquette+235BetOnlineWon
Gonzaga vs. Purdue+195BetOnlineLost
Creighton vs. Tennessee+135BetUSLost
Duke vs. Houston+165BetOnlineWon
SWEET 16 ENDS HERE (BALANCE: +$47.55)   
Clemson vs. Alabama+140BetUSLost
Illinois vs. Connecticut+365BetOnlineLost
Tennessee vs. Purdue+150BetOnlineLost
NC State vs. Duke+230BetOnlineWon
ELITE 8 ENDS HERE (BALANCE: +$40.55)   
Alabama vs. Connecticut+615BetOnlineLost
NC State vs. Purdue+365BetOnlineLost
FINAL FOUR ENDS HERE (BALANCE: +$20.55)   
Purdue vs. Connecticut+260BovadaLost
FINAL BALANCE: +$10.55   

Spread Betting Summary

Summary

    • Total bets placed: 63
    • Bets won: 26
    • Bets lost: 37
    • Total staked: $620
    • Total Returned: $497.97
    • Balance: -$133.13
BetOddsBookieResult
Virginia (+2) vs. Colorado State-102BetOnlineLost
Wagner (+3.5) vs. Howard-115BetOnlineWon
Boise State (+2.5) vs. Colorado-110BetUSLost
Grambling (+4) vs. Montana State-110BetOnlineWon
Washington State (+1.5) vs. Drake-105BetOnlineWon
Akron (+12.5) vs. Creighton-110BovadaLost
Long Beach State (+21) vs. Arizona-110BetUSWon
McNeese State (+6.5) vs. Gonzaga-110BovadaLost
Morehead State (+12) vs. Illinois-110BetUSLost
NC State (+5) vs. Texas Tech-110BetUSWon
Oakland (+14) vs. Kentucky-115BetOnlineWon
Oregon (+1.5) vs. South Carolina-110BovadaWon
Samford (+7.5) vs. Kansas-110BovadaWon
South Dakota State (+16.5) vs. Iowa State-110BetOnlineLost
St. Peter’s (+21.5) vs. Tennessee-110BovadaLost
Duquesne (+8.5) vs. BYU-110BetUSWon
UAB (+7) vs. San Diego State-115BetUSWon
Colgate (+14) vs. Baylor-115BovadaLost
Coll Charleston (+9.5) vs. Alabama-110BovadaLost
Grand Canyon (+5.5) vs. Saint Mary’s CA-105BovadaWon
James Madison (+5.5) vs. Wisconsin-103BetOnlineWon
Longwood (+24.5) vs. Houston-110BetUSLost
Clemson (+1.5) vs. New Mexico-110BetUSWon
Northwestern (+2.5) vs. Fla Atlantic-110BovadaWon
Stetson (+26.5) vs. Connecticut-110BovadaLost
Utah State (+3.5) vs. TCU-110BetOnlineWon
Vermont (+12) vs. Duke-110BovadaLost
Western Kentucky (+14) vs. Marquette-110BetUSLost
Yale (+13) vs. Auburn-110BetUSWon
Wagner (+25) vs. North Carolina-115BovadaLost
Colorado State (+2) vs. Texas-105BovadaLost
Grambling (+26.5) vs. Purdue-110BovadaLost
ROUND 1 ENDS HERE (BALANCE: -$14.32)    
Dayton (+4.5) vs. Arizona-110BetUSLost
Kansas (+4.5) vs. Gonzaga-110BetUSLost
Michigan State (+4) vs. North Carolina-110BetUSLost
Washington State (+6.5) vs. Iowa State-110BovadaLost
Oakland (+6.5) vs. NC State-110BetUSWon
Texas (+6.5) vs. Tennessee-105BovadaWon
Duquesne (+10.5) vs. Illinois-115BovadaLost
Oregon (+5) vs. Creighton-113BetOnlineLost
Clemson (+4.5) vs. Baylor-110BetOnlineWon
Colorado (+3.5) vs. Marquette-105BovadaLost
Northwestern (+14.5) vs. Connecticut-110BetUSLost
James Madison (+7) vs. Duke-110BetOnlineLost
Texas A&M (+9.5) vs. Houston-110BovadaWon
Yale (+5.5) vs. San Diego-110BovadaLost
Utah State (+10.5) vs. Purdue-110BetOnlineLost
Grand Canyon (+6) vs. Alabama-110BetOnlineLost
ROUND 1 ENDS HERE (BALANCE: -$97.43)    
Alabama (+4.5) vs. North Carolina-110BovadaWon
Clemson (+7) vs. Arizona-108BovadaWon
Illinois (+2) vs. Iowa State-110BetUSWon
San Diego State (+11) vs. Connecticut-108BetOnlineLost
NC State (+6.5) vs. Marquette-105BovadaWon
Gonzaga (+5.5) vs. Purdue-110BetOnlineLost
Creighton (+3) vs. Tennessee-110BetOnlineLost
Duke (+4) vs. Houston-107BetOnlineWon
SWEET 16 ENDS HERE (BALANCE: -$81.18)   
Clemson (+3) vs. Alabama-110BetUSLost
Illinois (+8.5) vs. Connecticut-107BetOnlineLost
Tennessee (+3.5) vs. Purdue-115BetOnlineLost
NC State (+6) vs. Duke-110BetUSWon
ELITE 8 ENDS HERE (BALANCE: -$103.17)   
Alabama (+11.5) vs. Connecticut-105BovadaLost
NC State (+9.5)-110BetUSLost
FINAL 4 ENDS HERE (BALANCE: -$123.17)   
Purdue (+7) vs. Connecticut-110BetUSLost
FINAL BALANCE: -$133.17   

Final Thoughts

I feel obliged to share some predictions and a warning for this March Madness underdog betting experiment. For a start, please, gamble responsibly if you decide to follow me and bet on all March Madness underdogs this year. It’s a tricky system that could easily go wrong, so don’t risk money you can’t afford to lose!

My expectations last year were to lose money from the spreads and win from the moneylines, which is exactly what happened. This is why we will only target the moneylines in 2025.

We’ll see what happens, and I promise to analyze the results thoroughly when the tournament is over. Good luck to everyone on your March Madness underdog betting in 2025!

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About the Author
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Petko Stoyanov
Editor, Sports and Casino
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Petko Stoyanov is a prolific content writer in the online gambling industry and a lifelong fan of card games and the English Premier League. He’s interested in all aspects of betting, from psychology to data analysis to bankroll management. Anything that can impact your results. When he’s not watching sports or playing online poker, Petko loves hiking, soccer, and playing hard support in Dota 2.
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