2025 March Madness Odds: Popular First Round Matchups, Betting Trends

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

9 minute read

March Madness odds are on the board and, no surprise, getting plenty of early attention. With 32 first-round games rolling out across Thursday and Friday, bettors have a cornucopia of opportunities.

Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida nabbed the four No. 1 seeds. All will be overwhelming favorites in 2025 March Madness odds for the first round. The far better games will be found elsewhere.

Here's everything you need to know about college basketball odds for NCAA Tournament First Round matchups: lines, spreads and betting trends on the most noteworthy games. Check back regularly for updates and use our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

2025 March Madness First Round Odds

East Region

Liberty vs. Oregon Odds

• Opening point spread: Oregon -4.5
• Opening moneyline: Oregon -225/Liberty +185
• Opening total: Over/Under 139.5 points scored
• Time: 10:10 p.m. ET Friday (truTV)

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET SUNDAY: No. 12 seed Liberty (28-6 SU/20-10-1 ATS) was a solid spread-covering unit throughout the season, en route to the Conference USA crown. In Saturday's final vs. Jacksonville State, the Flames won 79-67 giving 5.5 points.

Liberty is 11-1 SU in its last dozen games (7-4-1 ATS).

No. 5 seed Oregon (24-9 SU/15-17-1 ATS) finished the regular season on a seven-game win streak, getting a bye into the second round of the Big Ten Tourney. The Ducks then beat Indiana 72-59 as 2.5-point favorites.

But in Friday's quarterfinals, Oregon fell to Michigan State 74-64 catching 6.5 points.

DraftKings opened Oregon as 4.5-point chalk in March Madness First Round odds. The Ducks then made a stop at -5.5 on the way to -6.5, while taking 60% of early spread bets/77% of early spread money.

It's a 12 vs. 5 matchup, and those games regularly see upsets. So far on the moneyline at DraftKings, 72% of bets are on Oregon and 68% of money is on Liberty.

The total opened at 139.5 and is now 140.5, with early tickets and money almost 4/1 on the Over.

Vanderbilt vs. St. Mary's Odds

• Opening point spread: St. Mary's -5.5
• Opening moneyline: St. Mary's -250/Vanderbilt +205
• Opening total: Over/Under 135.5 points scored
• Time: 3:15 p.m. ET Friday (truTV

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET SUNDAY: St. Mary's (28-5 SU/14-18 ATS) finished runner-up to Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference Tournament. But the Gaels won the regular-season title and are rightly in field as a No. 7 seed.

In Tuesday's WCC championship game, St. Mary's fell to Gonzaga 58-51 as a 3.5-point favorite. That ended the Gaels' eight-game SU winning streak, which was part of an 18-1 SU overall run. That said, St. Mary's hasn't covered in its last four games.

No. 10 seed Vanderbilt (20-12 SU/18-14 ATS) fell in the first round of the SEC Tourney. The Commodores lost to Texas 79-72 laying 2.5 points.

St. Mary's opened -5.5 in DraftKings' March Madness odds First Round market. The line bounced to Gaels -4.5 a couple times, and that's where it rests now. Vandy is netting 69% of early spread tickets, but early spread money is almost dead even.

The total opened and remains 135.5, with 53% of tickets/64% of money on the Over.

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South Region

Creighton vs. Louisville Odds

• Opening point spread: Louisville -1.5
• Opening moneyline: Louisville -125/Creighton +105
• Opening total: Over/Under 144.5 points scored
• Time: 12:15 p.m. ET Thursday (CBS)

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET SUNDAY: No. 8 seed Louisville (27-7 SU/20-14 ATS) made a run to the ACC championship game. The Cardinals then fell to Duke 73-62 as 6.5-point underdogs Saturday.

That ended Louisville's 11-game win streak, part of an equally impressive 21-1 SU spree (15-7 ATS).

No. 9 seed Creighton 24-10 SU/19-13-2 ATS) was the runner-up in the Big East Tournament. In Saturday's final, the Bluejays lost to St. John's 82-66 as 6.5-point underdogs.

In NCAA Tournament First Round odds, Louisville opened -1.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook. The Cardinals are now up to -2.5, with early tickets running 2/1 and early money almost 4/1 on Louisville.

DraftKings' total is also up a point, from 144.5 to 145.5. The over is drawing 65% of early bets/56% of early dollars.

UC San Diego vs. Michigan Odds

• Opening point spread: Michigan -3.5
• Opening moneyline: Michigan -180/UC San Diego +150
• Opening total: Over/Under 140.5 points scored
• Time: 10 p.m. ET Thursday (TBS)

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET SUNDAY: No. 5 seed Michigan (25-9 SU/16-18 ATS) limped to the regular-season finish line, losing its last three games. But the Wolverines rebounded with three wins in three days in the Big Ten Tournament.

In today's title game, the Wolverines held off Wisconsin 59-53 as 4.5-point underdogs. Michigan covered in all three Big Ten tourney games, halting a 2-13 ATS nosedive.

No. 12 seed UC San Diego (30-4 SU/25-7 ATS) reached the Big Dance by winning the Big West Tournament. In Saturday's final, the Tritons beat UC Irvine 75-61 as 5.5-point favorites.

Michigan opened -3.5 and is down to -2.5 (-118) on DraftKings' March Madness odds board. The Wolverines are getting 68% of early spread bets, but 53% of early spread cash is on underdog UCSD.

And this being a 12 vs. 5, let's talk upset: The Wolverines are landing 75% of moneyline bets, but moneyline cash is running dead even.

DraftKings opened the total at 140.5 and is up to 141.5, with 66% of bets/83% of money on the Over.

Midwest Region

McNeese State vs. Clemson Odds

• Opening point spread: Clemson -7.5 (-115)
• Opening moneyline: Clemson -345/McNeese State +275
• Opening total: Over/Under 134.5 points scored
• Time: 3:15 p.m. ET Thursday (truTV)

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET SUNDAY: No. 5 seed Clemson (27-6 SU/20-13 ATS) saw its nine-game win streak end in the ACC semifinals. The Tigers were 2.5-point favorites vs. Louisville and 76-73.

Still, Clemson is 15-2 SU/12-4 ATS in its last 16 games.

No. 12 seed McNeese State (27-6 SU/15-16 ATS) got the automatic bid from the Southland Conference. In the final, the Cowboys topped 63-54, but couldn't cover the 12.5-point spread.

McNeese has lost just once since Dec. 22, going 22-1 SU, with two 11-game win streaks sandwiched around the one loss.

In DraftKings' March Madness First Round odds, Clemson opened -7.5 (-115), with no movement so far. It's two-way spread play with a lean toward underdog McNeese, at 56% of bets/58% of money.

On the moneyline in this 12 vs. 5 matchup, 77% of early bets at DK are on Clemson, but 67% of early money is on McNeese.

The total hasn't moved off 134.5 (Under -115), though early tickets and money are running almost 3/1 on the Over.

Georgia vs. Gonzaga Odds

• Opening point spread: Gonzaga -4.5
• Opening moneyline: Gonzaga -218/Georgia +180
• Opening total: Over/Under 150.5 points scored
• Time: 4:35 p.m. ET Thursday (TBS)

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET SUNDAY: It's a matchups of Bulldogs, with No. 8 seed Gonzaga from the Pacific Northwest and Georgia from the Southeast.

Gonzaga (25-8 SU/14-19 ATS) nabbed yet another NCAA bid by winning the West Coast Conference tourney. In Tuesday's championship game, the Zags were 3.5-point favorites vs. St. Mary's and won 58-51.

The Bulldogs are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games and have covered in five of their last seven outings.

No. 9 seed Georgia is one of a whopping 14 SEC teams in the field, a record for one conference. The Bulldogs (20-12 SU/17-15 ATS) lost to Oklahoma in the first round of the SEC Tourney, 81-75 laying 3.5 points.

However, Georgia has quality wins over Florida, St. John's and Kentucky, among others.

BetMGM opened Gonzaga -4.5 in this March Madness odds First Round matchup. That didn't last long, as the Zags climbed out to -6.5.

"Gonzaga is the biggest move and has the most money," BetMGM senior trader Tristan Davis said.

West Region

Arkansas vs. Kansas Odds

• Opening point spread: Kansas -5.5
• Opening moneyline: Kansas -218/Arkansas +180
• Opening total: Over/Under 144.5 points scored
• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET Thursday (CBS)

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET SUNDAY: No. 7 seed Kansas (21-12 SU/15-18 ATS) had a very un-Kansas-like season. The Jayhawks didn't get a bye in the first round of the Big 12 tourney, then struggled to beat Central Florida 98-84 in overtime. Kansas was 10.5-point chalk in that game.

In the Big 12 quarterfinals, Kansas lost to Arizona 88-77 getting 3 points Thursday.

No. 10 seed Arkansas (20-13 SU/14-17-2 ATS) opened the SEC Tourney with a 72-68 win over South Carolina, pushing as a 4-point favorite. The Razorbacks then lost to Ole Miss 83-80 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, but they cashed as 4.5-point pups.

In DraftKings' March Madness odds First Round market, Kansas opened -5.5 and dipped to -4.5 tonight. Arkansas is a popular 'dog early, landing 76% of spread tickets/86% of spread money.

On the moneyline, the Jayhawks are seeing 55% of early tickets, but 91% of early cash is on Arkansas to pull the upset.

Colorado State vs. Memphis Odds

• Opening point spread: Colorado State -1.5 (-118)
• Opening moneyline: Colorado State -135/Memphis +114
• Opening total: Over/Under 146.5 points scored
• Time: 2 p.m. ET Friday (TBS)

UPDATE 11:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Colorado State (25-9 SU/21-13 ATS) is another No. 12 seed hoping to pick off a No. 5 seed. But in this case, the Rams are actually favored to do so.

Colorado State enters the NCAA Tournament on a 10-0 SU and ATS spree. In the Mountain West Conference Tournament final, the Rams were 1.5-point 'dogs and beat Boise State 69-56.

No. 5 seed Memphis (29-5 SU/16-18 ATS) is running fairly hot, too. The Tigers are on an eight-game win streak and are 16-1 SU in their last 17 games. But they've gone just 6-10 ATS in that stretch.

In today's American Athletic Conference title game, Memphis beat UAB 84-72, cashing as 3-point chalk.

DraftKings opened Colorado State -1.5 in the March Madness odds First Round market. The Rams quickly moved to -2.5/-3.5, before stabilizing at -2.5.

Memphis is taking 69% of early spread tickets, while spread money is split 50/50. And moneyline bettors aren't seeing a 12-5 upset, with 73% of tickets/80% of money on the fifth-seeded Tigers.

The total opened at 146.5, dipped to 145.5/144.5, then returned to 145.5. The over is netting 71% of early bets/63% of early dollars.

Grand Canyon vs. Maryland Odds

• Opening point spread: Maryland -11.5
• Opening moneyline: Maryland -575/Grand Canyon +425
• Opening total: Over/Under 149.5 points scored
• Time: 4:35 p.m. ET Friday (TBS)

UPDATE 11:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: No. 4 seed Maryland (25-8 SU/18-15 ATS) rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit vs. Michigan in the Big Ten semifinals Saturday. With five seconds left, the Terrapins took an 80-79 lead on two Derek Queen free throws.

But Michigan's Tre Donaldson then went coast-to-coast for a buzzer-beating layup, handing Maryland an 81-80 loss. Prior to that, the Terps were on an 8-1 SU/7-2 ATS surge.

No. 13 seed Grand Canyon (26-7 SU/13-19 ATS) won the WAC Tournament to get into the NCAA Tournament. In Saturday's final, the Antelopes beat Utah Valley 89-82 laying 4.5 points.

GCU actually covered in all three WAC Tourney games, after posting a 10-19 ATS mark in the regular season, among the worst in the nation.

Maryland hasn't moved off -11.5 tonight in DraftKings' March Madness First Round odds. There have been a few juice adjustments, and the Terps are currently -11.5 (-105).

Early spread action is perhaps surprisingly heavy to Grand Canyon, with tickets running 2/1 and money beyond 9/1 at DraftKings. And some moneyline bettors sense an upset: Tickets are running 4/1 on Maryland, but money is 3/1-plus on GCU.

DK opened the total at 149.5 and adjusted to 149.5 (Over -115). Tickets are 2/1 and money 3/1 on the Over early on.

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson