April 26, 2025

Sport and Betting News

Top March Madness Parlay Picks for Thursday, March 20th

11 mins
  • The 2025 NCAA Tournament goes full swing on Thursday, March 20
  • One of my favorite things to do is parlay two of my favorite underdogs on the moneyline
  • See below for my +1135 March Madness Parlay for Thursday

One thing we absolutely need on the first “real” day of the NCAA Tournament is a 2-leg moneyline parlay on a couple of dogs. Think about it, upsets happen all the time in this tournament. They just do. I’ve been watching this thing for 35+ years and the one thing you can bank on is that there is nothing you can bank on. (Write that down) For that reason, we should throw out a few 2-leg moneyline parlays on the underdogs we like. Books like FanDuel are giving profit boosts so we can squeeze even more juice out of these things. See below for my favorite 2-legger for Thursday. Feels like the move.

March Madness Parlay for Thursday, March 20

Pick Odds
Georgia ML +220
Drake ML +215
Two-Leg Parlay +1135 (With Boost)

Odds as of March 19 at Fanduel. Download the best March Madness betting apps before the 2025 NCAA Tournament starts.

March Madness Parlay Leg #1 – The Georgia Bulldogs Will Show Up

The reason we see upsets all the time in this tournament is because of the different styles of basketball being played. Every style is represented and it is fun to watch. That will definitely be the case when Georgia takes on Gonzaga.

One thing about Georgia is, even though they don’t have the pedigree of Gonzaga, they don’t look bothered. They look like they’re getting right.

The big difference between these teams is tempo. Georgia would rather slow it down and Gonzaga wants to get into a track meet. One of my favorite things to do is back the underdog in these situations. Especially if they play defense.

On the season, the Bulldogs were 26th in defensive rating according to KenPom. That’s damn good especially since they’re matched up against a team like Gonzaga who needs to drop 70+ points to win. I think the Bulldogs can muck this game up and somehow come away with a win. This shouldn’t be +220.

  • The Bet: Georgia ML (+220) – FanDuel

March Madness Parlay Leg #2 – Drake Is No Joke

An underdog parlay for the first day of the NCAA Tournament would not be complete without a mid-major. It just wouldn’t. There are more than a few to choose from, but the Drake Bulldogs are my favorite choice.

I’m not the only one on these guys though, they are a very popular selection.

Just like the Bulldogs from Georgia, these Bulldogs like the play a very slow pace. In fact, they play at the slowest pace in the entire NCAA according to KenPom. We’re talking snail’s pace here people.

Even if you don’t like slow, it’s hard to argue with results. These kids went 30-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference sporting the 46th best defensive rating in the country. Slowing down Missouri while forcing them into bad shots could go a long way in deciding who moves on. We shouldn’t be getting +215 for this thing.

  • The Bet: Drake ML (+215) – FanDuel
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March Madness is in full swing, and with so many games happening on Thursday, March 20th, it can be overwhelming to decide which teams to bet on. Parlay bets are a popular choice for many sports bettors, as they offer the potential for big payouts with relatively low risk. Here are some top March Madness parlay picks for Thursday’s games:

1. Duke vs. North Dakota State – Duke is the heavy favorite in this matchup, and for good reason. Led by superstar Zion Williamson, the Blue Devils have been dominant all season and are expected to make a deep run in the tournament. North Dakota State is a solid team, but they will have a tough time keeping up with Duke’s high-powered offense. Pick Duke to win and cover the spread.

2. Michigan State vs. Bradley – Michigan State is another top seed that is expected to advance easily in the tournament. They have a strong team led by Cassius Winston, and they should have no trouble handling Bradley in this game. The Spartans are a safe bet to win and cover the spread.

3. LSU vs. Yale – LSU has had a successful season and is favored to win this game against Yale. The Tigers have a talented roster and should be able to outmatch Yale in both scoring and defense. Look for LSU to come out on top in this matchup.

4. Florida State vs. Vermont – Florida State is a solid team that has the potential to make a deep run in the tournament. They are facing off against Vermont, a team that has had some success this season but is not on the same level as the Seminoles. Florida State should be able to secure the win in this game.

5. Gonzaga vs. Fairleigh Dickinson – Gonzaga is one of the top teams in the country and is favored to win this game against Fairleigh Dickinson. The Bulldogs have a high-powered offense and should be able to outscore their opponents in this matchup. Pick Gonzaga to win and cover the spread.

When creating a parlay bet, it’s important to consider the odds of each individual game and how they will affect your potential payout. By combining these top picks into a parlay bet, you can increase your chances of winning big during March Madness. Good luck with your bets!

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