We’ve got some great sleeper picks for March Madness 2023 right here. If you’ve been on the search of the best value bets for this year’s NCAA Division I tournament, then you’ve certainly landed in the right place.
Each of the picks featured here will give you that awesome combination of having a fair chance of winning while including relatively long odds. After all, not everyone is going to want to back favorites like Houston. Our guide simply gives you the best sleeper picks for March Madness so that you spot this tournament’s surprise packages.
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A sleeper pick is simply where a team performs better than expected. For example, if there was a college basketball team who were way down at the bottom of the NCAA rankings and they ended up winning March Madness, this would be considered to be a sleeper pick.
Why it’s worth betting on NCAA sleepers
Sleepers picks tend to have long odds to win things like March Madness. Sportsbooks give them long odds because they believe that these lowly-ranked teams have little chance of progressing very far.
The good news is that while these sleeper picks might be risky, they can pay off in the long-run. This is because the longer odds mean that you will get more returns should you win your bet on a sleeper pick.
As such, we can see that betting on sleeper picks is all about balancing risk and reward. While favorites usually win tournaments like March Madness, there is always the chance that an underdog could cause some big upsets.
Perhaps you’ve already made your bracket or placed a few bets. Or maybe you’re waiting to get things started until minutes before the action begins. Either way, I’ve got one sleeper pick from each bracket region to share with you.
As with any sleeper pick, take these with a grain of salt. On the other hand, should any of these teams make an against-the-odds run, you could possibly make a buck or two, or even upset some of your bracket-challenge competitors. Let’s get right to it.
South: 6-Seed Creighton Bluejays
Creighton faces off against NC State in the first round, a relatively weak 11 seed. It’s the Bluejays’ game to lose, and I don’t think they will. A solid performance will deposit them into the round of 32 where they’re likely to play 3-seed Baylor (provided Baylor doesn’t lose to UC Santa Barbara in the first round). Baylor, too, represents an achievable hurdle for Creighton.
Things get dicier when you look ahead to a possible Sweet Sixteen meet-up with Arizona, assuming the Wildcats handily win their first game and take down the winner of a 7-10 face-off between Utah State and Mizzou.
The bottom line? Creighton has a strong three-point shooting corps and a real shot at making a run deep into the bracket. It’s hard to recommend them beyond the first two wins, especially if Arizona comes out swinging, but they’re a solid option as a sleeper in the early aughts of March Madness this year.
Midwest: 12-Seed Drake Bulldogs
A 12-seed is just about as low as I’ll drop for a sleeper pick, and even going down that far has me shaking in my boots. Still, the Bulldogs of Des Moines are coming off a hot streak at the Missouri Valley tournament.
In truth, this pick lies as much in the hands of 5-seed Miami as it does in Drake’s. Norchad Omier is recovering from an ankle injury. He’s Miami’s biggest weapon and could give Drake ample trouble. If he’s out, it’s worth giving the Bulldogs a look.
Even with an upset win against Miami, Drake would face a tough second match-up. 4-seed Indiana awaits if the Hoosiers can beat out Kent State in round one. I like Drake for a 12-5 upset, but I wouldn’t risk betting on them further down the line.
East: 8-Seed Memphis Tigers
Talk about an uphill battle. But hey, this is a sleeper picks article, after all.
Memphis takes on Florida Atlantic University in an 8-seed vs. 9-seed match-up in the first round. FAU comes to the tournament with a 31-3 overall record compared to Memphis' still-respectable 26-8.
I’m relying somewhat on Memphis’ momentum for this pick. The Tigers won their final three games of the season, nabbing more than 80 points in two of them. FAU, meanwhile, managed an average of 78.8 points per game. It’s bound to be a nail-biter. Memphis has a real shot, despite FAU’s deep bench.
Should Memphis win, though, all signs point to a second-round bout against 1-seed Purdue.
West: 9-Seed Illinois Illini
I fully acknowledge my bias here; I’m married to an Illinois alumnus, and many more grads are counted among my friends. I just can’t resist the hype. Before you discount this pick, though, there’s good reason to believe the Illini could make a solid effort this year.
Illinois’ first battle against Arkansas will be an excellent proving ground. Arkansas suffers from a season of injuries and an on-again, off-again relationship with deep shooting. Illinois could take full advantage and put the nail in Arkansas’ coffin, overcoming a tough early-bracket match-up. I like Illinois to nab that first win.
Could they put pressure on the reigning champion Arkansas Jayhawks? Tough one, but it’s possible. Illinois is a volatile team, and if they find themselves with the momentum, we could see the Illini surprise March Madness viewers this year.
Examples of sleeper picks for March Madness in years gone by
We’ve seen lots of examples of sleeper picks coming good in recent years. So if you’re ever worried about backing an underdog, take a look at these moments when March Madness showed that even a complete outsider can cause a few surprises:
Amazing sleeper picks in 2022 March Madness
Last year was a truly crazy year for March Madness. Not only did the tenth seed Miami Hurricanes make the Elite Eight, but 15th seed Saint Peters’ also made this round. This marked the first time that a team with a seeding like this had reached the Elite Eight.
Stunning sleeper picks in the 2021 March Madness
We also saw some incredible sleeper picks in the 2021 March Madness. First of all, there was the 12th seed Oregon State Beavers reaching the Elite Eight, and then there was the 11th seed UCLA Bruins who went on to reach the Final Four. This was only the second time that a First Four team had reached that stage.
Some alternative sleeper picks to win March Madness overall
Let’s face it, the chances are that the 2023 March Madness title is going to go to either Houston Cougars, Alabama Crimson Tide, Kansas Jayhawks or UCLA Bruins. However, we still think that there is a slim hope that one of these sleeper picks might claim the NCAA Division I title:
Purdue Boilermakers: Can a team with a 24-5 record be considered a sleeper pick? We think so.
Arizona Wildcats: The Wildcats just lost their last game which means that their odds have just slipped a bit. Perfect for your March Madness sleeper bets.
Baylor Bears: Given that the Bears have a 22-8 record, it means that their inconsistency makes them perfect for our list of sleeper picks.
Tennessee Volunteers: At just 12th place in the NCAA rankings, the Volunteers are another good example of a sleeper pick who could go far.
Our sleeper picks for March Madness 2023
While all of the teams listed above are valid sleeper picks, they still have relatively short odds. So we think that each of the following teams give you a good example of a sleeper pick with longer odds but still a reasonable chance of going far in March Madness 2023:
Texas Longhorns: With a playing record of 22-7, the Longhorns are unlikely to win this year’s March Madness. However, it could be worth betting on this sleeper pick to make the Elite Eight.
Gonzaga Bulldogs: We think that the Bulldogs are unfairly ranked at just 10th place in the NCAA rankings. While this is unfair, it means that you’ll get more for your bets when backing Gonzaga.
Connecticut: The fact that Connecticut have a 22-7 record means that they are worthy of inclusion here. After all, few people would predict them to go all the way, but they are good enough to cause a few upsets.
Marquette Golden Eagles: Marquette are currently sixth place in the NCAA rankings which is a bit generous in our eyes. Still, it does mean that the Golden Eagles could be a sleeper pick to win this year’s March Madness.
More extreme sleeper picks for March Madness 2023
OK for all of those college basketball fans who aren’t afraid of risk, we’ll give you some of our serious sleeper picks for this year’s March Madness. Remember that because these teams have long odds, it means that you can bet with very modest stakes and still get a decent return should you win your bets:
Xavier Musketeers: With a record of 21-8 there’s a fair chance that Xavier might get dumped out early, but with that big recent win over Seton Hall, we think that the Muskateers could cause some trouble.
Indiana Hoosiers: Indiana are 15th place in the NCAA rankings which means that they fit the bill in terms of serious sleeper picks.
TCU Horned Frogs: No one is going to back the Horned Frogs to reach the Final Four but we think that their 19-10 record means that TCU could be worth a closer look.
Virginia Cavaliers: With a record of 22-6, we’re surprised that the Cavaliers are just in 13th place in the NCAA rankings. Definitely a team to consider for your sleeper bets.
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Tips for making your own sleeper March Madness picks
Everyone will have their own favorite underdogs that they want to go far in this year’s March Madness. So consider these points before you make your own sleeper picks:
Bet on rounds
Betting on a sleeper pick doesn’t necessarily mean that you are expecting that the team will win March Madness overall. Instead, it could be safer to just bet on that team to reach a certain round such as the Sweet 16 or even the Elite Eight.
Evaluate recent form
Even outsiders can have a good run of form which could work to propel them into the later stages of March Madness. For example, Kentucky are on a four-game winning streak that could set them up nicely despite their relatively low place in the NCAA rankings.
Note tournament history
Certain teams always seem to perform well at March Madness regardless of their form in the regular season. You only have to look at UCLA’s performance in the 2022 March Madness for a good example of this.
Check tournament routing
Because March Madness features a single-game eliminator format, it means that certain teams might face an easier route to the later rounds than others. So do your research into who is playing in each bracket to see how far that underdog might get.
Conclusion - Check back for more sleeper picks for March Madness 2023
We’ve given you some great ideas for backing those underdogs who could cause some big surprises in this year’s March Madness. While some of these teams might fall by the wayside, they all have the potential to knock out some of the favorites and give you more for your bets.
Of course, the odds for these outsiders will change as the tournament progresses and we’ll be sure to update this resource accordingly. So watch this space to be the first to see the best sleeper picks for March Madness 2023.
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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+
Check out our guide to see the best sleeper picks for March Madness 2023. After all, March Madness finals gambling is about so much more than just backing the favorites.
🔮Where can I find good NCAA basketball sleeper predictions?
Be sure to come to our site to see all you need to know about making sleeper picks for March Madness 2023. Perfect for getting the best possible March Madness odds for your college basketball bets.
🏀How can I find the NCAA basketball rankings?
Take a look at our guide to the best sleeper picks for March Madness and we’ll reveal how you can access the latest NCAA rankings. Essential for formulating reliable March Madness picks.
❓Who are the underdogs in March Madness 2023?
Don’t miss out on our guide to the sleeper picks for March Madness where you’ll get to see all of the underdogs who could go far. While they might not be good for March Madness Final 4 gambling, they could definitely cause an upset or two.
💪What are the best March Madness 2023 picks?
Check out our guide to see the best sleeper picks for March Madness 2023. Each of these picks will give you great value regardless of whether you are using one of the many March Madness betting apps or are playing from your computer.
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
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+
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