The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee just dropped their first bracket preview, giving fans an early look at how the top 16 teams stack up. Among the four No. 1 seeds are Duke, Auburn, Alabama, and Florida—setting the stage for what could be a wild March Madness.
Duke has been knocking on the door under Jon Scheyer, reaching the Round of 32 and the Elite Eight in his first two seasons. But anything short of a Final Four run feels like a letdown for a program with five national titles, and this year’s Wooden Award favorite. The Blue Devils’ last championship came in 2015 when they beat Wisconsin 68-63.
While Duke isn’t the odds-on favorite to cut down the nets, bettors are showing plenty of faith in the Blue Devils. Auburn, the nation’s current No. 1 ranked team, leads the title odds race at +325, with Duke close behind at +425. Houston and Alabama sit further back at +900 each at BetMGM.
What’s really catching attention, though, is the betting action. Despite Auburn holding the shortest odds, Duke is drawing the most money (19.0% of handle) and the highest ticket percentage (13.4%)—a clear sign that the public is backing the Blue Devils. Auburn follows at 9.1% of handle and 7.4% of tickets, while Kansas sneaks into the top three with 5.6% of handle and 6.3% of tickets.
Perhaps the most telling sign of Duke’s hype? They’re BetMGM’s biggest liability. If the Blue Devils go all the way, the books could take a serious hit. UConn (+3300) and Florida (+900) also pose major risks for sportsbooks, but neither is drawing action quite like Duke.
With just a few weeks left before the madness begins, Duke is shaping up to be one of the most polarizing teams in the field—both on the court and at the betting window.
Related
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)
21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.