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March Madness

Final Four Announced: 2019 NJ Online Sportsbook Tournament Bracket

April 2, 2019

Recently, our team here at NJ Gambling Websites put together a 2019 NJ Online Sportsbook Tournament Bracket Championship in honor of this year’s March Madness tournament.

We ranked the top eight NJ online sportsbooks & sports betting apps and placed them in a March Madness-style bracket.

After announcing our little tournament to the masses, we took to Twitter to let the people (aka YOU) decide.

For each matchup, we created a poll, and let the people of Twitter decide the fate of each NJ online sportsbook.

 


After all the votes were tallied, here’s how the first round played out:

No. 1 seed DraftKings defeats No. 8 seed William Hill

Yes, DraftKings is currently the leading daily fantasty sports (DFS) operator, but how did they take down a legit sports-betting giant like William Hill so easily?

DraftKings’ three keys to victory 

  1. Preparation: DraftKings had been eyeing up the competition long before sports betting was legalized in NJ, and it became the first fully legal NJ online/mobile sports betting platform.
  2. Integration: The DraftKings’ DFS platform and its online sportsbook share the same interface and online wallet, making it convenient for customers in more ways than one.
  3. Easy, fast and fun: DraftKings break down any complicated subject matter into simple terms, and it offers a ton of betting options, including both traditional and modern bets to keep everyone happy.

No. 2 seed BetStars defeats No. 7 seed 888sport

The company known for its PokerStars platform becomes a No. 2 seed and dominates 888sport.

 

BetStars’ three keys to victory

  1. Mobile app: Downloading the BetStars app is significantly quicker than most NJ sports betting apps, which inspires confidence in the security of the platform.
  2. Promos and bonuses: When it comes to player promotions, BetStars is at the top of its game. From huge new player sign-up bonuses to simplified matched bets, it does it all.
  3. Customer service: The parent company for BetStars, the Stars Group, strives to provide quality service to its players, across all the platforms. This type of customer support goes a long way, obviously.

No. 6 seed SugarHouse upsets No. 3 seed FanDuel

SugarHouse looks to be the next Cinderella story as it stuns FanDuel in a photo-finish upset.

 

SugarHouse’s three keys to victory

  1. OG of Integration: SugarHouse was the first of its kind to merge its NJ online casino and sports betting app on creating the shared wallet.
  2. Betting innovators: SugarHouse Sportsbook is well-known for its in-game betting, bet variety and innovative options, like the ever-popular jackpot parlay.
  3. New player bonuses: SugarHouse treats its new players quite well with a generous first-deposit bonus of up to $250. Use promo code PLAY250 to claim yours. However, FanDuel does have a $500 bonus bet offer, but sometimes less is more.

No. 5 seed PointsBet defeats No. 4 seed Caesars

 

Even though they came in as a small underdog, PointsBet embarrassed Caesars without even breaking a sweat.

PointsBet’s three keys to victory

  1. Spread betting specialist: PointsBet is well-known for its unique wagering option to betting the spread, in which it provides added benefits. For example, bettors have the opportunity to increase its winnings based on the size of the team’s lead.
  2. Attractive welcome bonus: PointsBet offers a huge welcome bonus worth up to $1,050 in bonus bets. Use promo code PLAY50.
  3. Winning opportunities: PointsBet offers high-risk, high-reward wagering, and NJ bettors can’t get enough.

Click below and make your vote count to see which NJ online sports betting site wins it all!

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2019 March Madness Odds In NJ For Every Team: West Region

March 20, 2019
March madness odds west region Gonzaga

March Madness is here. You can now legally bet on the games in New Jersey for the first time in the history of the NCAA tournament.

The top NJ online and mobile sportsbooks are ready and willing to take all your action on the games. However, should arm yourself with a little college basketball betting knowledge first.

We’ve put together a guide to help you make better choices. It’s a region-by-region list of betting tips on each of this year’s March Madness competitors.

Other regions:

Here’s a look at the West Region’s No. 1 through No. 16 seed teams, including the current odds on each team to win it all:

No. 1 Gonzaga

Gonzaga took over the top spot AP Top 25 Poll: Week 17 college basketball rankings in February and held on to it through the end of the regular season.

However, the Bulldogs fell to fourth in the final poll released March 18 thanks to a loss to Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference tournament final. Gonzaga is still a No. 1 seed, but it may be faltering at the wrong time of the year.

No. 2 Michigan

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +2000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +2200
  • BetStars NJ +1600

The Michigan Wolverines made it to the 2018 NCAA Tournament Championship game before losing. The team has done almost everything it could to get back there this season, except beat fierce state rival Michigan State. In fact, the Wolverines have lost to the Spartans three times, including the Big Ten tournament title game.

Michigan, now in the West Region, and won’t have to face Michigan State again until the Final Four. However, it will have to get through top-seeded Gonzaga, and another 30-plus win team in Buffalo first. Plus, there’s a strong likelihood they will meet a 29-4 Nevada team in the second round, and that could spell trouble.

No. 3 Texas Tech

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +3000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +3300
  • BetStars NJ +2200

Texas Tech was upset by West Virginia in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament. However, just like it did in a run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament last year, the team plays tough defense. We all know defense wins championships, so don’t count out another deep run for the Red Raiders this year.

No. 4 Florida State

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +4000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +6500
  • BetStars NJ +3300

Florida State shocked top-seeded Virginia en route to an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) tournament championship game appearance. Then Duke rained on its parade in the final. This marks the third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance for the Seminoles. In fact, head coach Leonard Hamilton has taken the team to the tournament seven times since he took over the program in 2002, the most of any coach in school history.

No. 5 Marquette

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +8000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +10000
  • BetStars NJ +6600

The Marquette Golden Eagles put together a 24-9 record this season. They fell to Seton Hall in the Big East Tournament. However, junior guard Markus Howard averaged averages 25.1 points per game this year en route to Big East Player of the Year honors and is just the kind of player who can have a big impact on March Madness games.

No. 6 Buffalo

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +10000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +10000
  • BetStars NJ +10000

Buffalo beat Bowling Green to win the Mid-American Conference tournament title. This season marked the first ever that the Buffalo Bulls were nationally ranked. They finished the season at No. 18 with a 31-3 record and designs on shocking the world come March Madness.

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No. 7 Nevada

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +6000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +7000
  • BetStars NJ +8000

The Nevada Wolf Pack would probably have been seeded higher if they had managed to win the Mountain West Tournament. However, top-seeded Nevada lost to San Diego State in the semifinals. Now, Nevada is a seven seed that will have to face a tough Florida team in the first round, and most likely Michigan in the second. The team’s 29-4 record this year tied a program high and they have even higher hopes, despite a tough road to the Sweet 16 ahead.

No. 8 Syracuse

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +15000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +16000
  • BetStars NJ +8000

The Syracuse Orange ran into the Duke juggernaut in the ACC tournament. Now they’re in the West Region with Gonzaga and looking to prove even the ACC also-rans are tough to beat.

No. 9 Baylor

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +25000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +19000
  • BetStars NJ +35000

Baylor is another school where the women’s program seems to be outshining the men these days. In fact, this Baylor men’s team has been pretty much playing out the string since losing its best player, Tristan Clark, to a season-ending injury in January. Do you hear that? Yes, it’s the sound of people writing Syracuse into the second round on brackets across the country.

No. 10 Florida

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +20000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +18000
  • BetStars NJ +15000

Florida lost to Auburn on its way to a shocking SEC Tournament title win. A No. 10 seed, the Gators will make a bid to be this year’s Cinderella behind the play of a talented backcourt.

No. 11 Arizona State/St. John’s

Arizona State

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +30000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +25000
  • BetStars NJ +35000

Arizona State finished second in the Pac-12, then lost in overtime to a surprising Oregon team in the Pac-12 tournament. Now they’re trying to play their way into a first-round matchup with a 30-win Buffalo team that is looking well beyond that game. By the way, Arizona State’s coach is former Bulls coach and Duke legend Bobby Hurley.

St. John’s

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +35000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +25000
  • BetStars NJ +35000

At press time, St. John’s still needed to beat Arizona State to get into the first round of the NCAA Tournament and a game with a 30-win Buffalo team that will be tough to beat. This is what happens to seven-seeds in the Big East Tournament that lost to Marquette by more than 30.

No. 12 Murray State

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +25000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +20000
  • BetStars NJ +20000

Murray State is a No. 12 seed looking to become Cinderella behind the stellar play of 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Ja Morant. Morant is averaging a stellar 24.6 points and 10 assists per game this year, and he is projected to be on of the top three picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. A deep March Madness run can only make his stock go up.

No. 13 Vermont

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +50000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +25000
  • BetStars NJ +100000

Vermont won the America East Conference and tournament this year. The Catamounts’ reward is a matchup with a Florida State team that made it to the final of the ACC tournament, a conference that spawned three No. 1 seeds this year. Can you say Cinderella?

No. 14 Northern Kentucky

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +50000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +50000
  • BetStars NJ +50000

Here comes Northern Kentucky, winners of the Horizon League and Horizon League tournament. It’s The Norse’s second NCAA bid in three years and the truth is, they’re just happy not to have to play Kentucky in the first round.

No. 15 Montana

  • DraftKings Sportsbook +50000
  • FanDuel Sportsbook +50000
  • BetStars NJ +100000

Montana won the Big Sky Conference and tournament this season. The Grizzlies now face Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. However, experts say the Wolverines may be the weakest No. 2 seed in the field, giving Montana at least a shot at the upset.

No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson Knights

(Off the board)

New Jersey law doesn’t allow bets on Fairleigh Dickinson games. The Knights played their way into the first round with a win against Prairie View A&M. Now Gonzaga and a likely loss awaits.

Go Mad With Bonus Offers This March At Virgin Casino NJ

March 12, 2019

Virgin Casino NJ March Madness bonus offer

With NCAA basketball fans preparing to lose their minds over March Madness, Virgin Casino is looking to restore some order with a nice playback bonus.

Known as the Virgin Casino Mad March Rebound, this week’s offer is a chance for you to re-inflate your flailing finances.

Naturally, like all playback promos, the benefits only kick in if luck isn’t on your side.

Known for being one of the more generous NJ mobile casino apps, Virgin wants you to play without fear of losing for the next few days. Cool, huh?

Certain games and stakes will unlock this bonus

To shoot for glory, you’ll need to wager at least $50 before 11:59 pm EST March 14. That’s easy enough, but like any basketball play, you need to make the right moves.

Play these slots to activate the bonus:

  • Family Feud
  • Deal or No Deal
  • Secrets of the Phoenix
  • Tiki Totems
  • Tiki Island
  • Tiki Island Mini
  • Agatha Christie’s Mystery Wilds
  • Diamond Bonanza
  • Bubbly Wild
  • Wonderland
  • Cats
  • Cleopatra
  • 88 Fortunes
  • Raging Rhino

Assuming you play one or more of the games above and you don’t get the run of the court, Virgin Casino’s bonus team will give you a 15 percent rebate. Now, the important thing to understand here is that playback bonuses only count if you finish the playing period with a net loss.

In practice, this means you have to lose more than you win between now and March 14.

“A net loss is equal to your total wager minus your total win each qualifying day during the promotional period.”

To put this in context, let’s assume you deposit $50 and take a turn or two on Raging Rhino. Things start well, but after an hour or so, you’ve wagered $40 and not made a profit.

You take a break and, with your final $10, you take your balance to $30. In total, you’ll have wagered $50 and made $30.

Doing the math, your final balance is -$20. Based on this week’s playback percentage, you’ll get $3 back.

Now, that’s not a king’s ransom. However, anything is better than nothing. What’s more, the size of your rebate is always based on your losses.

It’s a win-win

In reality, you’d prefer not to receive a playback bonus at all this week. However, if you have to and luck isn’t on your side, you’d like your losses to be as small as possible.

If that’s the case, why are we promoting this promo? Simple: any deal that gives you a chance to reduce your losses is worth talking about.

Even with all the planning and strategy in the world, casino gaming is unpredictable. Because of that, it’s great to have a proverbial safety net there to catch you if you fall.

Of course, we don’t want you to lose at all. Unfortunately, that’s something we can’t control.

In fact, if you’re going to place bets of any kind, you have to be prepared for the worst. Only by accepting that losses can and do occur can will get the most out of your online gaming experience.

Virgin Casino NJ can ease your pain

With all that being said, Virgin Casino is there this week to help you get over a bad run of luck ahead of March Madness. Anyone that does earn a playback bonus will receive their refund in the form of bonus cash.

These credits aren’t cashable. However, you can use them to play any real money games and, in turn, win real money.

If that happens, you can withdraw your profits once you meet the 1X playthrough. Other than that, there’s not much else you need to know.

As long as you log in and wager $50 or more on the right games before the close of play on March 14, you’ll activate the Mad March Rebound NJ online casino bonus offer.

The 2019 NJ Online Sportsbook Tournament Bracket Championship

March 11, 2019

The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament will be as exciting as it ever in New Jersey this year.

That’s because of the plethora of NJ online and mobile sportsbooks now available to anyone with an internet connection.

The list of operational NJ mobile sportsbook market is now up to 13. Plus, there are more on the way.

Therefore, in the spirit of March Madness, NJ Gambling Websites has decided to rank NJ mobile sportsbooks from No. 1 to No. 8 and place them in a March Madness-style bracket.

However, ALL OF YOU will decide the tournament fate of each NJ online sports app.

Throughout the next few weeks, we’re going to create polls on our PlayNJ Twitter Page to determine the winners of each match-up… and ultimately the overall champion.



But first, let’s take a closer look at our top four seeds.

Check below for detailed descriptions of all the new player bonuses and March Madness promos the top-ranked mobile sportsbooks in the state have to offer.

Plus, discover why these particular  NJ mobile sportsbooks rose to prominence and how they’re planning to stay there.

No. 1: DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook gave itself a head start on the rest of the NJ mobile sportsbook market by launching first. It quickly became the top-grossing sportsbook in the state and still holds that position now.

However, the reason it’s the No. 1 seed is clearly the user-friendly nature of its software. DraftKings Sportsbook employs software with its own sports betting language that is far easier to follow than most typical sports betting jargon. The app asks questions of its users and turns the answers into bets. Users have what seems like a simple two-way conversation about a wager and the traditionally complicated process of placing a bet is transformed.

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It’s an innovative approach to sports betting that goes beyond just posting the odds and the numbers prove its working.

DraftKings Sportsbook has all kinds of sports and bet types available and the lines are competitive enough that the app appeals to hardcore sports bettors. However, its unique approach to betting is clearly drawing in novices as well.

The app is also as quick and responsive as any on the market.

Signing up is a simple process, and if you do it through this exclusive DraftKings Sportsbook link, and you’ll get $25 in bonus bets. Plus, DraftKings Sportsbook will match your first bet up to $500 when you make a deposit.

Additionally, partner Resorts Casino Hotel is running a free-to-enter bracket challenge out of DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts retail sports betting operation. There’s $1 million up for grabs if you can pick all 63 March Madness games correctly and various other prizes available for advancing to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and Final Four with a perfect bracket.

DraftKings Sportsbook is currently dominating the mobile sportsbook market and would have to be considered the No. 1 seed in any legitimate ranking.

No. 2: BetStars

BetStars is the No. 2 seed on the NJ mobile sportsbook market side of the bracket primarily because it leads the league in promotions.

Sign up for an account through this exclusive BetStars NJ link, and you’ll be entitled to up to $500 in bonus bets.

BetStars will match your first bet up to $50. Then, they’ll give you another $50 in bonus bets every time you bet an additional $150 until you’ve reached $500 in bonus bets.

But there’s more. In March, BetStars is offering the following promotions:

  • Tuesday Sports bonus Bet: Place a bet between 6 and 7 pm on Tuesdays and get a bonus bet up to $100.
  • Bet of the Day Challenge: Complete a daily challenge and win up to $1,000 in bonus bets.
  • Bet $25, Get a $5 bonus Bet: Bet $25 throughout the week and get a $5 bonus bet.
  • Protect Your Bet from Late Goals: Get a refund of up to $20 if a late goal turns your bet into a loser.
  • Up to 100 Percent Added to Winnings: A parlay bonus adding a bonus bets bonus to all winning parlays with three or more legs.
  • NBA Free-Bet Refund Up to $20: Get a refund of up to $20 if the NBA team you bet on loses in overtime.
  • LeBron Lifeline: Bet on the Lakers’ moneyline and get a bonus bet up to $20 if they lose and if LeBron James scores 35 points or more.
  • Bet $50, Get $50: Bet $50 on an NBA game on Friday and get a $50 In-Game bonus bet.
  • Lock in your Profits: A cash-out option to ensure you get paid before a comeback turns a winning bet into a loser.

A solid No. 2 seed

Don’t be surprised if BetStars eventually runs one, but so far there’s no word on a March Madness promotion.

Other than that, the app features easy-to-use software and a massive menu of sports and betting options.

Add it up, and BetStars is a solid No. 2 seed in the NJ mobile sports betting market.

No. 3: FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook is the online and mobile arm of NJ’s top-grossing retail sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook at the Meadowlands.

It’s no surprise to see FanDuel as the No. 3 seed, considering how easy the app is to navigate and how welcoming it is to both novice and expert bettors.

There have been a few hiccups with the lines, but FanDuel Sportsbook is now settling into a spot among the top NJ mobile sportsbooks.

FanDuel’s daily fantasy sports site ran a massive free-to-enter NCAA brackets contest in 2018, so don’t be surprised to see FanDuel Sportsbook take up that mantle this year.

The site already runs a plethora of promotions, including one for college basketball regular season games. FanDuel Sportsbook’s College Basketball Halftime Insurance gives players up to $25 in site credit back if any moneyline bet lost when the team held a halftime lead.

Additionally, FanDuel Sportsbook offers new players signing up for an account through our FanDuel Sportsbook link a $500 bonus bet. It comes in the form of a refund of up to $500 if you lose your first real-money bet.

The app is user-friendly, and the betting process is simple and well laid out. All factors that help make FanDuel Sportsbook the No.3 seed in the NJ mobile sports betting market.

No. 4: Caesars Sportsbook

The No. 4 seed in any March Madness bracket may not wow anybody, but it should be a solid performer that is grounded and consistent. Caesars Sportsbook fits in well in this spot.

Its promotions include only the standard stuff.  New players who sign up using the promo code BETFREE10 will get $10 in bonus bets with no deposit required. Plus, a 100 percent, first-deposit bonus of up to $300.

Caesars Sportsbook and online casino are completely integrated. Players share a wallet, making the transition between sports betting and casino games completely seamless.

Caesars has all the college basketball standards covered as well. That means Caesars will post competitive lines on all March Madness games. Plus, in-game betting will be available as well as NCAA basketball futures.

All in all, Caesars Sportsbook isn’t a No. 1 seed quite yet. However, it is a solid performer that displays the kind of consistency you should expect from a No. 4 seed in the NJ mobile sports betting market.

@PlayNJcom

 

Tips For Winning Your 2019 March Madness Bracket Pool

February 28, 2019

The American Gaming Association estimates approximately 10 percent of Americans over the age of 21 fill out an NCAA bracket every year. Then they pay to enter it in a pool at the office or a local bar or social club.

These paid pools are a form of sports betting that is against the law in 37 of 50 states. However,  this type of NCAA March Madness betting is so ingrained in American culture no one is about to start enforcing the law.

Don’t worry; we won’t tell anybody what you’re up to. Plus, the chances of getting arrested for filling out an NCAA tournament bracket stand between incredibly slim and none.

If you are concerned about it, stick to one of the many free-to-enter NCAA bracket online contests held every year. FanDuel hosted a massive one in 2018.

In the meantime, if you are in a pool, or planning to be, you won’t be able to fill out a bracket until the NCAA announces the teams in the field this year. That’ll happen on Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 17.

However, the beginning of March is a good time to start paying a little attention to college basketball. Get to know who the real contenders are for a National Championship this year. Look around for teams that are heating up as the regular season winds down.

Perhaps even watch a few games in the mid-March conference tournaments ahead of Selection Sunday.

All these activities will give you a clear advantage when it comes time to sit down and pick winners on a 63-game NCAA bracket sheet.

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Here are some general tips that might help as well:

No. 1 seeds (almost) always win the first few rounds

Maryland-Baltimore County beat Virginia 74-54 in the first round of the 2018 NCAA tournament. This marked the first time since the NCAA tournament went to 64 teams in 1985 that a No. 16 seed beat a No. 1 seed.

That means the No. 1 seeds enjoyed a 135-game winning streak before Maryland-Baltimore County shocked the world. The Maryland-Baltimore County win proved March Madness miracles could happen.

But it also proved they don’t happen all that often.

When you make your picks for the NCAA tournament this year, you’re going to want to look for possible upsets and identify the teams that could be this year’s Cinderella story.

Just remember the chances a No. 16 seed can do it again this year aren’t very good.

Lightning doesn’t usually strike twice

Upsets were in the offing at the 2018 NCAA tournament. In fact, all four of the top-seeded teams in the South region got knocked off before the Sweet 16, marking the first time in NCAA history that had happened in any region.

There was even a regional final match-up of between a No. 9 seed and a No. 11 seed for the first time. That No. 11 seed was Loyola-Chicago who became the real Cinderella of the 2018 NCAA tournament by reaching the Final Four.

There have been years with more upsets, including 1985 and 2014 where there were 13 total upsets in 63 games. But, for the most part, 2018 was an outlier in NCAA history because so many top seeds failed to go deep.

Don’t get caught up in thinking the same thing is bound to happen this year.

The search for Cinderella starts at No. 12

Identifying where the biggest upsets are going to happen should be your No. 1 goal in putting together your NCAA tournament bracket.

The difference between winning and losing any pool can be correctly picking this year’s Cinderella. Plus, you’re not likely to win anything backing the same favorites everyone else does the whole way.

In your search for underdogs that stand a real chance, begin with the No. 5 vs. No. 12 matchups. The truth is that No. 12 seeds historically win close to two-thirds of these games. Most of the time, the lower seed is a dog on paper only here.

The search for Cinderella continues with No. 11

The No. 6 versus No. 11 and No. 7 vs. No. 10 games are usually better matchups than the seeding suggests. While the lower seeds don’t win these games at the same incredible clip No. 12s beat No. 5s, if there’s a Cinderella to be found, it might be found here.

Loyola-Chicago became the Cinderella story of the 2018 NCAA tournament by reaching the Final Four as a No. 11 seed.

However, they were actually the fourth No. 11 seed in history to advance to the Final Four, the lowest seeds ever to go that far.

Momentum is real

Picking upsets in first round games is only half the battle. You have to identify the teams that are capable of making a run at the title.

As you weave your way through the later rounds on your NCAA bracket sheets, a little pre-tournament research can help.

The truth is the teams that win in the second, third and fourth round of the NCAA tournament aren’t always the higher seeds. The winners are the teams that are playing the best.

First, identify teams with momentum on their side. There are only a few ways to identify who these teams are likely to be ahead of the NCAA tournament’s first round.

The first is looking around at the most talented teams in the nation and seeing who is actually living up to the hype. Look for teams that earn the top spot in a conference tournament and run away with the tournament itself.

The second is paying attention to the teams that make a big jump up on the coaches and press polls at the end of the regular season. This is where you might find a hot-playing dark horse to back.

Finally, look for the teams that make surprisingly deep runs in conference tournaments. They may not get the seeding love from the NCAA, but they have already proven they can put a few wins together.

The NCAA selection committee knows what it’s doing

While there are always upsets and surprises throughout the tournament, The NCAA selection committee does know what it’s doing when it comes to seeding. Nothing proves this more than the Final Four.

The fact is, the higher-seeded team wins close to 75 percent of the time in the Final Four.

After you’ve done your picks through the first four rounds of the NCAA tournament, and the names of just four teams remain on your bracket, remind yourself of where the NCAA selection committee originally seeded these teams.

Then, be very careful before you pick an underdog to go to the Championship game.

No. 1 seeds win it all a majority of the time

Yes, there are upsets. The top seeds don’t always win. There have been National Championship winners who surprised everybody even to make the final game, let alone win it.

However, in the 34 years since the NCAA tournament was expanded to 64 teams, a No. 1 seed has won it all a majority of the time. Twenty-one out of 34 to be exact.

No. 2s have come through five times in that span and No. 3s four times. A No. 4 seed won it once, and although no No. 5 seed has ever won, a No. 6 and No. 7 seed have each won it once as well.

Finally, the lowest seed ever to win the NCAA tournament was the No. 8 seeded 1985 Villanova Wildcats.

Of course, this is just a long-winded way of saying don’t second guess yourself if your bracket has a top seed winning it all. It happens almost every year.

Bet on March Madness games

Maybe your bracket isn’t working out, or you just can’t be bothered with picking all 63 games before the tournament begins. Either way, you can still enjoy three weeks of betting on US college basketball at NJ sportsbooks and NJ gambling websites, online and off.

NJ sportsbooks are going to have moneyline, spread and totals lines you can bet on for every NCAA tournament game that doesn’t include a NJ-based team.

Plus, using NJ casino mobile apps, you can bet futures on who will win the title, and put together March Madness parlays to give yourself a bit of an odds boost without having to pick all 63 games.

Get in on all this March Madness action at any of the NJ online sportsbooks on this list:

Online SportsbookSports Betting Partner(s)Land-Based PartnerLaunch DateiOS?Android?
DraftKings SportsbookSBTechResorts ACAug. 6YesYes
BetStars NJNAResorts ACSept. 13YesYes
FanDuel SportsbookBetfair/IGTMeadowlandsSept. 1YesYes
Caesars SportsbookScientific GamesCaesars ACSept. 6YesYes
SugarHouse SportsbookKambiMonmouth ParkAug. 23YesYes
888 SportKambiCaesarsSept. 10YesYes
playMGMIGTBorgata ACAug. 22YesYes
William Hill NJNAMonmouth/Ocean ResortSept. 1YesYes
PointsBetNAMeadowlandsDec. 11YesYes
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