Analyzing the March Madness Odds for the 2024 First Round Games: Spreads, Totals, and Moneyline Odds for the Round of 64

• The First Four and 28 the first-round matchups are set for the 2024 NCAA Tournament
• Colorado State vs Virginia headlines the First Four matchups on Tuesday, March 19
• Below, see the opening March Madness first round odds for all available games

The 2024 March Madness bracket is set and odds have been released for all the First Four and first round matchups.

The table below lists the odds for all games that are currently set, including the First Four on Tuesday and Wednesday (odds are only available for 28 of 32 first-round matchups as the remaining four won’t be set until the First Four games conclude).

The games below are listed in chronological order (as far as the schedule is known at 7:00 pm ET on Sunday).

March Madness First Round Odds

Odds as of March 17 at DraftKings. Claim a DraftKings Sportsbook promo to bet on March Madness. 

Defending Champion UConn the Biggest First Round Favorite

The defending national champions from UConn – the #1 seed in the East –  are the biggest favorites in the round of 64, laying 26.5 points against #16 Stetson. The only other spread that’s north of 20 at the moment is #1 Houston laying 22 against #16 Longwood in the South Region.

Of course, two 1-vs-16 matchups are yet to bet set: #1 North Carolina will face the winner of Howard vs Wagner, while #1 Purdue will face the winner of Montana State vs Grambling.

UConn is also the outright favorite in the latest March Madness championship odds at +479. Houston is second-favorite at +629, while Purdue (which lost in the first round as a #1 seed just last season) is third at +729.

Houston was the top-rated team at KenPom for most of the season, but a blowout loss to Iowa State (69-41) in the Big 12 title game allowed UConn to sneak into the top spot in KP’s efficiency ratings. UConn finished last season as the top team at KenPom, as well, but was only #4 when the 2023 NCAA Tournament commenced.

Two Worse Seeds Favored in First-Round Matchups

Excluding the 8-vs-9 games, the opening March Madness first-round odds see a couple worse seeds favored in their matchups. In the West region, #10 Nevada is a 1.5-point favorite over #10 Dayton.

Also in the West, #11 New Mexico is 1.5-point chalk over #6 Clemson.

Colorado State and Colorado Both Favored in First Four

Both the Colorado State Rams and Colorado Buffaloes were relegated to the First Round, where they will face Virginia and Boise State, respectively.

The Rams have opened as 1.5-point favorites over Virginia and -125 on the moneyline.

The Buffs are two-point chalk over Boise State, which has never won an NCAA Tournament game (0-for-9).

March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for college basketball fans, as 68 teams compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion. As the tournament kicks off with the Round of 64, bettors are eagerly analyzing the odds for each game to try and make some money on their picks.

One of the most popular ways to bet on March Madness games is by looking at the point spread. The point spread is a way for oddsmakers to even out the playing field between two teams by giving one team a certain number of points as a handicap. For example, if Duke is favored by 7 points over Michigan State, Duke would need to win by more than 7 points for bettors who wagered on them to win their bets. On the other hand, Michigan State would need to either win the game outright or lose by less than 7 points for bettors who wagered on them to win.

In addition to the point spread, bettors can also look at the totals for each game. The total is the combined number of points scored by both teams in a game, and bettors can wager on whether they think the total will be over or under a certain number set by the oddsmakers. For example, if the total for a game between North Carolina and Kentucky is set at 150 points, bettors can wager on whether they think the total points scored will be over or under that number.

Another popular betting option for March Madness games is the moneyline odds. The moneyline is a way for bettors to simply pick which team they think will win the game outright, regardless of the point spread. Each team is assigned odds based on their perceived chances of winning, with favorites having negative odds and underdogs having positive odds. For example, if Gonzaga is -200 on the moneyline against UCLA at +150, bettors would need to wager $200 on Gonzaga to win $100 if they win, while a $100 bet on UCLA would win $150 if they pull off the upset.

As bettors analyze the odds for the Round of 64 games in the 2024 March Madness tournament, they will be looking at a variety of factors such as team statistics, injuries, and recent performance to make their picks. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just looking to have some fun during March Madness, analyzing the odds for each game can add an extra level of excitement to watching the tournament unfold. Good luck with your bets!