Top CBB Betting Splits for March Madness, Saturday March 21st
March Madness is in full swing, featuring eight second-round matchups today. Among these games, the betting trends offer intriguing insights into where valuable wagers may lie. Updated every five minutes, the El-Balad CBB Betting Splits provide a snapshot of public and sharp money movements from leading sportsbooks, namely DraftKings and Circa Sports.
Key Betting Trends for March 21st
TCU vs. Duke
In one of the standout games, TCU, the 9-seed with a record of 23-11, narrowly defeated Ohio State 66-64 as 2.5-point underdogs. Meanwhile, the top-seed, Duke, finished its first-round match against Siena with a score of 71-65, failing to cover the spread as 28.5-point favorites. Initially, Duke was favored by 12.5 points, but the line subsequently dropped to 11.5, and at times, down to 10.5.
The betting split shows that 56% of the spread bets favor Duke at DraftKings. Despite this, the movement of the line suggests sharp money is backing TCU, which has only received 44% of the spread bets but 52% of the spread dollars. At Circa Sports, TCU has 51% of the spread bets and a higher 62% of the spread dollars, indicating significant wiseguy support.
VCU vs. Illinois
Another compelling matchup features VCU, the 11-seed, who outlasted North Carolina 82-78 in overtime as 2.5-point underdogs. Illinois, the 3-seed with a 25-8 record, dismantled Pennsylvania 105-70, covering as 25.5-point favorites. The opening line for this game had Illinois favored by 10.5 points. However, sharp bettors appear to be leaning towards Illinois, with only 46% of bets at Circa but a striking 82% of the spread dollars.
Illini’s metrics are superior, holding advantages in offensive efficiency and defensive stats compared to VCU. Although 58% of spread bets are on VCU at DraftKings, the market shows a robust support for Illinois, suggesting a “fade the trendy dog” scenario.
Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska
Vanderbilt, the 5-seed, recently won against McNeese State, 78-68, but failed to cover as 12.5-point favorites. In contrast, the 4-seed Nebraska confidently defeated Troy 76-47, easily surpassing their 13.5-point spread. The opening spread had Vanderbilt as a 2.5-point favorite, yet the line has shifted to 1.5, indicating sharp movement towards Nebraska despite 64% of bets backing the Commodores.
At Circa, Nebraska garnered 49% of the spread bets but claimed a majority 60% of the spread dollars. This inverse relationship points to professional support for the Cornhuskers in a highly publicized game.
Total Points Bet Trends
Another aspect to consider is the game’s total points. For the TCU vs. Duke matchup, the total has risen from 138.5 to 140.5, with 79% of bets backing the over at Circa and an impressive 95% of the dollars. Conversely, in the Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska game, the total decreased from 147.5 to 146.5. Interestingly, 80% of bets at DraftKings supported the over, yet the line fell, suggesting sharp moves toward the under.
Conclusion
As March Madness progresses, these betting splits present vital information for bettors. Shifts in the spread and total points indicate not just public sentiment but also the influence of sharp money that often guides successful wagers. Interested bettors can track these trends through El-Balad for the latest updates and insights.
