Identifying Value in Early March Madness Bets: Three First-Round Underdogs to Consider

• The 2025 NCAA Tournament Brackett has been released so it’s time to start getting to work
• The best two days of the year in terms of gambling is the first Thursday and Friday of this tournament
• See my favorite NCAA Tournament bets for the first round

It’s finally here! We’ve been waiting and our patience has paid off. We’ve got a printable March Madness bracket to fill out. While we have a few more days before our final brackets need to be turned in, we should be getting our first bets down now. We’re going to see line moves so getting in early is the smart move. My favorite thing to do the second the bracket is released is to find underdogs that can win straight up. Lucky for us, I found three in the first two minutes of looking at the bracket. This could be the greatest tournament of our lives. Keep reading.

Best March Madness Picks to Target Early

Odds as of March 16 at FanDuel & DraftKings. Claim the FanDuel promo code to get a bonus for these college basketball games.

Drake Might Get Loose

The first line I looked for is the Drake/Missouri matchup. My brain had it as Drake +2.5 so if we got anything better than that, then I was smashing. Guess what, the game opened at Drake +5.5. If we’re being honest, I probably should have waited since this number could actually rise.

Nobody is giving Drake a chance in this game.

Mizzou basketball opens as a sizable favorite against Drake in the NCAA Tournamenthttps://t.co/KaUNOH3fzf

— Erik Hall (he/him) (@HallErik) March 16, 2025

Sure, I get that Missouri played in the SEC and their offense is the 5th best in the country according to KenPom. Still, we’re talking Drake here people. These kids are legit and they play defense. We’re talking the 8th best defense in the country over the last three games. All they have to do is keep this thing close and honestly, I think they can win.

Getting 5.5 points is a literal gift from the sportsbooks. Feels right.

• The Bet – Drake +5.5 (-102) – DraftKings

Yale Is A Smart Bet

In order to be effective in the NCAA tournament, you have to be smart. It’s just the way it is. And if we’re being honest, there isn’t a smarter team in the field than the kids from Yale. They legit go to Yale. They have to be smart.

Anyone who has seen them play this season knows, all these kids needed was a spot in this field. (They have one)

See you in Denver. #ThisIsYale pic.twitter.com/bIYVhnL0F7

— Yale Men’s Basketball (@YaleMBasketball) March 16, 2025

My honest opinion, Texas A&M is not that good. They’re obviously good enough to be in this field but to be almost 8-point favorites over Yale is crazy. We’re talking Yale here people.

For starters, the Bulldogs shoot 37% from three-land. The Aggies sport one of the worst three-point defenses in the country. In a slow-paced game like this one, all we need for Yale to do is have an average day from deep and they should be able to keep it close enough. Feels right.

• The Bet – Yale +7.5 (-110) – FanDuel

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

My favorite team in the tournament is Liberty. They’re just fun. Not Florida Gulf Coast fun from about a decade ago, but fun nonetheless. They just operate differently than anyone else in the field and if we’re being honest, I don’t think people even know what we’re about to see.

All these kids needed was a chip and a chair and they have that.

Let the madness begin! 🏀

🎟️ https://t.co/lZAXX3TCm7 pic.twitter.com/FRUeI5aGho

— Liberty Men’s Basketball (@LibertyMBB) March 16, 2025

Liberty is going to win this game straight up. Oregon is going to have a very hard time putting up their normal 76 points per game against a team that plays at a snail’s pace. Liberty won’t allow the Ducks to run and they will shut down their three-balls.

On the flip side, the Flames have the best effective field goal percentage in the nation. Their offense is very unconventional which makes them tough to prepare for. They could easily win this game straight up so taking them at +5.5 feels like a no-brainer.

• The Bet – Liberty +5.5 (-110) – DraftKings

As March Madness approaches, many sports bettors are looking for value in their wagers. While favorites often dominate the early rounds of the tournament, there are always a few underdogs that manage to pull off upsets and provide bettors with a nice payout. Here are three first-round underdogs to consider when placing your bets this year.

1. Loyola Chicago Ramblers
The Loyola Chicago Ramblers have become known for their Cinderella runs in the NCAA tournament, most notably their Final Four appearance in 2018. This year, they are once again a team to watch as they enter the tournament as a lower seed. Led by senior guard Lucas Williamson and head coach Porter Moser, the Ramblers have a strong defense and efficient offense that could give higher-seeded teams trouble. They are a solid underdog pick to consider in the first round.

2. Winthrop Eagles
The Winthrop Eagles are another team to keep an eye on in the first round of March Madness. They have had a strong season, winning the Big South Conference tournament and earning a spot in the NCAA tournament. Led by senior guard Chandler Vaudrin, the Eagles have a high-powered offense that can keep up with any team in the tournament. They are a dangerous underdog pick that could surprise some higher-seeded teams in the first round.

3. Colgate Raiders
The Colgate Raiders are a team that has flown under the radar this season but could make some noise in the NCAA tournament. They have one of the best offenses in the country, led by senior guard Jordan Burns and junior forward Nelly Cummings. The Raiders have the ability to shoot lights out from beyond the arc and could catch higher-seeded teams off guard in the first round. They are a sneaky underdog pick that could provide bettors with a nice payout.

When identifying value in early March Madness bets, it’s important to look for teams that have the potential to pull off upsets and provide bettors with a nice return on their investment. The Loyola Chicago Ramblers, Winthrop Eagles, and Colgate Raiders are three first-round underdogs to consider when placing your bets this year. Keep an eye on these teams as they could make some noise in the tournament and provide bettors with a profitable outcome.