VA
Contains commercial content
Sports Betting Sites / March Madness finals predictions: Get the best tips here

March Madness finals predictions: Get the best tips here

Last Updated on 03/08/2023
Fact checked by: Vicky Winters

Looking for March Madness finals picks? You’re in the right place. This guide is here to help you make the perfect predictions for this legendary college basketball tournament.

Betting on NCAA basketball is a lot of fun but it can be hard to get right. After all, there are nearly 70 teams to pick and choose from. So this guide is here to give you some solid March Madness finals predictions to see who will win this epic contest.

Read More

How we create our March Madness finals predictions

While anyone can get lucky with their March Madness bets, you’ll need a fair amount of skill to get consistent wins when betting on the NCAA Division I tournament.

Thankfully, we are here to do all of the hard work for you. This means researching the form of each of the 68 teams and seeing how they will fare against each other. Plus you should note the past history of the tournament. Here are the biggest winners of March Madness since the contest began:

  • UCLA — 11
  • Kentucky — 8
  • North Carolina — 6
  • Duke — 5
  • Indiana — 5

Our picks will keep you up to date with all of the injuries to all of the key players, as well as letting you know any juicy bits of locker-room gossip. All of this should be enough to take some of the mystery out of betting on March Madness 2023.

  • Note past form
  • Analyze prior head-to-heads
  • Watch for player injuries
  • Evaluate game context
  • Find the best value bets

The current favorites in March Madness finals betting

It may seem foolish looking this far ahead when the last 68 hasn’t even been decided. However, we believe that the following teams are in with a real chance of winning this year’s March Madness:

  • Houston Cougars: The AAC title-winners are looking seriously strong and are our picks to win 2023 March Madness.
  • Alabama Crimson Tide: While Alabama have been caught up in that Brandon Miller controversy, we think that they could go all the way.
  • Kansas Jayhawks: There is every chance that Kansas can win back-to-back titles thanks to their great form.
  • UCLA Bruins: After winning the PAC-12 regular season title, we think that UCLA could cause a few surprises.
  • Purdue Wildcats: Although Purdue recently lost to Indiana, they have the strength in depth to go far this year.
  • Baylor Bears: An impressive recent win over Oklahoma State means that Baylor will be ones to watch.
  • Tennessee Volunteers: A tough injury record won’t stop Tennessee from being among the favorites for this year’s March Madness.

Spotting those March Madness dark horses

Every March Madness features a handful of teams who, while they aren’t the favorites, always cause big trouble later on in the tournament. It can be pretty hard to spot who these ‘dark horses’ are, but they can be great value in terms of betting because they’ll have longer odds. Here are a few teams that we can imagine going far in this year’s March Madness

  • Texas Longhorns
  • Gonzaga Bulldogs
  • Connecticut
  • Indiana Hoosiers

The best bookmakers

SI Sportsbook
1.
4.9/5
Rating
PayNearMe
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
BET $20 GET $200 IN FREE BETS
SI Sportsbook Sports Bonus
BET $20 GET $200 IN FREE BETS
SI Sportsbook Review
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 21+
Highlights
  • Over 60 years in sports business
  • Quick and easy access to winnings
  • Simple & sleek mobile app
First deposit only | 21+ & located in VA | Promo code as seen| A qualifying bet is $20 or more | Min odds of +120 or more | Free Bet Tokens credited after bet is settled and expire after 7 days | Free Bet stakes not included in winnings | Please Gamble Responsibly - Gambling Problem? VA: CALL 1-888-532-3500 | Full T&C apply
Bet365
2.
4.8/5
Rating
-
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
Bet365 Sports Bonus
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
Bet365 Review
Go to Bet365
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 21+
Highlights
  • Massive range of sports betting markets
  • Quick withdrawals
  • Smooth app to navigate
Bet $1 and Get $365 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
PointsBet
3.
4.7/5
Rating
PayNearMe
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
5 x $50Bet Credits
PointsBet Sports Bonus
5 x $50Bet Credits
PointsBet Review
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 21+
Highlights
  • Fast betting app with "Name A Bet" option
  • Great live betting system
  • King of Points Betting wagers
BetRivers.com
4.
4.6/5
Rating
PayNearMe
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
100% up to
$500
BetRivers.com Sports Bonus
100% up to $500
BetRivers.com Review
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 21+
Highlights
  • Live Streaming option available
  • Impressive Live Betting section
  • Excellent usability in the mobile app
DraftKings
5.
4.6/5
Rating
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
20% up to
$1000
DraftKings Sports Bonus
20% up to $1000
DraftKings Review
Go to DraftKings
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 21+
Highlights
  • Great range of different sports leagues
  • Optimal in-play betting features
  • Easy to use app with fast payouts

Timeline for your NCAA basketball final predictions

You’ll only be able to make a good March Madness final prediction by following the whole tournament. Every year, the March Madness basketball tournament follows roughly the same pattern.

This means that you will get plenty of prior warning about how to research each of the relevant teams and plan your bets accordingly. Here is an overview of how the dates for March Madness 2023 will play out:

Selection Sunday - March 12

This is the day where you’ll find out exactly who the 68 teams are that will be in the NCAA Division I tournament. The announcement will be made after the day’s games have concluded and you can see how each bracket will be filled by the participating teams. This year, CBS will host the Selection Sunday show at 6pm Eastern Time.

First Four: March 14-15

Before the main March Madness begins proper, you get the First Four. These are those four play-in games that determine the final four teams to make the round of 64. This year the First Four takes place at the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio on March 14 and 15.

First round: March 16-17

Now the action really gets going as the 64 competing teams get to play in the single elimination rounds. All of the action takes place at four arenas in the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, and the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.

Second round: March 18-19

The second round winnows things down even further between the 32 competing teams. The games in the second round are also played at the above basketball arenas. This is where you start to see which of the favorites have the mentality and form to put in a title-winning performance.

Sweet 16: March 23-24

Now things get serious as the Sweet 16 games put the teams into regional elimination brackets covering the West, East, Midwest and South regions. These games will be played at the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Madison Square Garden in New York, the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri and the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Elite Eight: March 25-26

By now you’ll definitely have a good idea of who to be backing to go all of the way. These Elite Eight games take place at the above arenas and they always provide some quality betting entertainment.

Final Four: April 1

This is the epic stage where the last four remaining teams are matched against each other on the final weekend of March Madness. In 2023, these games will be played at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

NCAA championship game: April 3

Now is the moment of truth where you get to see which team will follow up Kansas’ win of 2022 to become the winners of this year’s March Madness. Again, the action takes place at the NRG Stadium in Houston and it’s sure to provide yet more quality basketball entertainment.

Tips for making your March Madness final score predictions

There are multiple factors that go into making a good betting pick and things get even more complex when it comes to a massive tournament like March Madness. So here are a few simple tips to help you out when predicting the March Madness final score:

Past form is everything

For example, if Xavier Muskateers have won their last five games, then they’re pretty likely to win their next one. 

Note head to heads

NCAA basketball is full of fascinating rivalries and it’s good to note the previous head to head encounters between two bitter rivals. Essential for those massive games like when Michigan play Ohio State. 

Watch the key players

Every year sees breakthrough players who put in game-winning performances at March Madness. Will it be Oscar Tshiebwe for Kentucky, or Drew Timme for Gonzaga? Keep your eye on these stars as they can disrupt past form. 

Gauge the coach mentality

Top NCAA coaches can make any team more than the sum of their parts. Be sure to check the post-match interviews of these coaches to get clues on how their teams might perform in their next game. 

Conclusion - Keep it here for more March Madness finals predictions

Obviously a lot can happen throughout the duration of March Madness, and so we’ll be keeping this guide updated all the way through to the final game on April 3. This way you’ll be sure to know which teams to back and avoid in each bracket.

Plus we’ll be coming back each and every year to give you predictions and picks for every March Madness in 2023 and beyond. So watch this space to make sure that you always get more when betting on March Madness.

Our best bonus offer

SI Sportsbook
1.
BET $20 GET $200 IN FREE BETS
Bonus Code
Copy
SI Sportsbook Bonus Code
Copy
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bonus Details
Type:
Free Bet
Cashable:
no
Requirements (WR):
1x Deposit
First deposit only | 21+ & located in VA | Promo code as seen| A qualifying bet is $20 or more | Min odds of +120 or more | Free Bet Tokens credited after bet is settled and expire after 7 days | Free Bet stakes not included in winnings | Please Gamble Responsibly - Gambling Problem? VA: CALL 1-888-532-3500 | Full T&C apply
Bet365
2.
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
Bonus Code
Go to Bet365
Bet365 Bonus Code
Go to Bet365
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bonus Details
Type:
Free Bet
Cashable:
no
Requirements (WR):
-
Bet $1 and Get $365 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
PointsBet
3.
5 x $50Bet Credits
Bonus Code
Copy
PointsBet Bonus Code
Copy
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bonus Details
Type:
Free Bet
Cashable:
no
Requirements (WR):
1x Deposit
BetRivers.com
4.
100% up to
$500
Bonus Code
Copy
BetRivers.com Bonus Code
Copy
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bonus Details
Type:
Risk-Free Bet
Cashable:
no
Requirements (WR):
1x Bonus
DraftKings
5.
20% up to
$1000
Bonus Code
Go to DraftKings
DraftKings Bonus Code
Go to DraftKings
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bonus Details
Type:
Deposit Bonus
Cashable:
yes
Requirements (WR):
25x Bonus

March Madness finals predictions FAQ

🏀Who will be the March Madness 2023 Final Four?

Read our resource of March Madness finals predictions to see which teams are most likely to be in the Final Four. Don’t forget that we can also help you out with your March Madness Elite 8 Picks too. 

💪Who is topping the March Madness 2023 rankings?

Make sure that you read our March Madness finals picks to see those teams who are topping the rankings for this year’s March Madness. As well as giving you our March Madness picks, we’ll even point out some excellent sportsbooks where you should put down your college basketball bets.

👀Who is the favorite in the March Madness 2023 predictions?

Check out our March Madness finals picks where we will see which team is currently the favorite to win the NCAA championship. Plus we’ll have a look at the other end of the scale to reveal some interesting March Madness survivor pool picks.

❓Who won March Madness 2022?

We can’t really give you our March Madness finals predictions for 2023 without taking a look back to last year. So read our guide to see who won the NCAA championship in 2022 and get a better idea of who to include in your March Madness Final 4 predictions.

🔮Where can I find March Madness 2023 bracket predictions?

Not only will we give you our March Madness Sweet 16 predictions, but we’ll also give you our picks for each of the hottest brackets that you should be betting on. So check out our March Madness finals picks for all you need to know about betting on this epic college basketball tournament.

Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
SI Sportsbook
SI Sportsbook
SI Sportsbook Review
4.9/5
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.8/5
PointsBet
PointsBet
PointsBet Review
4.7/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.6/5
DraftKings
DraftKings
DraftKings Review
4.6/5
SI Sportsbook
SI Sportsbook Bonus
BET $20 GET $200 IN FREE BETS
T&Cs apply
4.9/5
First deposit only | 21+ & located in VA | Promo code as seen| A qualifying bet is $20 or more | Min odds of +120 or more | Free Bet Tokens credited after bet is settled and expire after 7 days | Free Bet stakes not included in winnings | Please Gamble Responsibly - Gambling Problem? VA: CALL 1-888-532-3500 | Full T&C apply
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.8/5
Bet $1 and Get $365 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
PointsBet
PointsBet Bonus
5 x $50Bet Credits
T&Cs apply
4.7/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Bonus
100% up to $500
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
DraftKings
DraftKings Bonus
20% up to $1000
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Let's start!
Find your Bookie
Best Bonus of the month
BetMGM - Get your welcome offer now! Get your welcome offer now!
Betting Tips
03/28/2023 - 7:30 pm
Scotia Bank Arena
Tip:
Bet the Raptors to cover
-3.0
FanDuel
03/28/2023 - 7:00 pm
Capital One Arena
Tip:
Celtics to cover
-11.5
DraftKings
03/27/2023 - 7:00 pm
Gainbridge
Tip:
Bet the Pacers to cover
232.0
FanDuel
03/24/2023 - 7:15 pm
T-Mobile Center
Tip:
Bet Miami to Cover Spread
230.0
DraftKings
03/23/2023 - 9:45 pm
T- Mobile Arena
Tip:
Bet UCLA to cover the spread
-1.5
BetMGM
Latest News
March Madness Promo Code: NBA SGP Bet & Get
As this year’s edition of March Madness reaches ...
Will Xavier Make The Elite Eight?
This week’s Sweet Sixteen games include two match-ups ...
Can UConn Make It To The Final Four?
The stage is set. The Sweet Sixteen has ...
Will Michigan State Make The Elite Eight?
Hoo boy, it’s been a tough go for ...
Our Team
Allan HoweRichard JanvrinDan TraceyDan HolmesCole Rush
+1
Allan Howe
Allan Howe
Editor
Richard Janvrin
Richard Janvrin
Editor
Dan Tracey
Dan Tracey
Sports Writer
Dan Holmes
Dan Holmes
Sports Writer
Cole Rush
Cole Rush
Sports Writer
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Editor

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
×
Your Bonus Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site