The calendar turns to March, and the start of the NCAA Tournament is approaching with Selection Sunday March 16. March Madness is the most anticipated time of the college basketball season, and most watched and wagered event on the sports calendar. But Wednesday night fans got an early preview of what exciting and engaging college basketball is about just ahead of March Madness with Michigan State guard Tre Holloman’s beyond half-court buzzer-beater to beat Maryland, 58-55.

It was the Spartans (23-5) fourth straight win (and 4-0 ATS), all against Quad 1 opponents and third-straight road win. Michigan State is 9-4 against Quadrant 1 opponents with their other defeat this season to Indiana – the Spartans only home loss this season.

This year’s biggest weekend of sports action and entertainment begins Thursday, March 20 with the opening four days of wall-to-wall basketball and March Madness.

The Spartans victory was their third in a row over ranked teams, as No. 8 Michigan State knocked off No. 16 Maryland along with No. 15 Michigan and No. 20 Purdue the past week. Michigan State (14-3) moved into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten with the win, and the Spartans are now a -290 favorite (bet $290 to win $100) to win the Big Ten regular season title with Michigan +200 (bet $100 to win $200), according to odds on FanDuel. Michigan State finishes the regular season with home games against No. 11 Wisconsin (12-5) March 2 and No. 15 Michigan (13-3) on March 8 to close the regular season sandwiched between at road game at Iowa.

The game action, atmosphere and post-game celebration are part of the madness as teams push towards conference championships and tournament time.

5 College Basketball Games To Watch March 1-2

This weekend provides more engaging watch and wager action with five big games involving Top 25 teams including four in the Big Ten and SEC, which is expected to send about 20 teams combined to the NCAA Tournament.

Friday night kicks off the NCAA basketball action with a first time ever regular season meeting between Big 10 foes UCLA at No. 20 Purdue. Saturday it’s SEC top-ranked action with No. 1 Auburn at No. 17 Kentucky and No. 6 Alabama at No. 5 Tennessee. The other Big Ten battle of most interest is Sunday with No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 8 Michigan State. The Badgers up-tempo offense has quickly become one of the sport’s most watchable styles, according to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, who hosts the College Hoops Today Podcast and produces college basketball content for FanDuel.

Big Ten Teams Odds To Win The NCAA Tournament And Reach Final Four

FanDuel is the official odds provider for The Associated Press, and provides daily college basketball odds and NCAA Tournament futures, which both refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.

• +3000: Michigan State
• +4000: Wisconsin
• +5500: Maryland, Michigan, Purdue
• +10000: Illinois, UCLA
• +15000: Oregon

Odds to reach Final Four: Michigan State (+550), Wisconsin (+800), Maryland (+1000), Purdue (+1300), Michigan (+1300), Illinois (+2100), UCLA (+2300), Oregon (+3600).

SEC Rises Again

Not to be outdone, this season’s top basketball conference saw one of their SEC teams score a game-winning last second basket as well with Kentucky edging Oklahoma 83-82 on the road. A running, leaning, fading hook-shot and the win for No. 17 Kentucky in this week’s college basketball Top-25.

The SEC has four of the top-6 teams in the country in the NCAA basketball NET rankings – the NCAA Evaluation Tool (explained) that essentially rewards teams for beating quality opponents, particularly away from home, as well as an adjusted net efficiency rating, which is adjusted for strength of opponent. Auburn (26-2), Tennessee (23-5), Florida (24-4) and Alabama (23-5) are leading the way in the SEC with as many as 13 SEC teams expected to make the NCAA Tournament. Nine are currently ‘locks’, according to Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology on ESPN.

The Big East Conference put a record 11 teams into the NCAA Tournament in 2011, but the powerhouse Southeastern Conference may break that record this year.

“It’s as good a league as I’ve seen ever,” ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla said of the SEC back in December.

SEC Teams Odds To Win The NCAA Tournament And Reach Final Four

• +340: Auburn
• +1000: Alabama
• +1200: Florida
• +1500: Tennessee
• +3500: Missouri, Kentucky
• +5000: Texas A&M
• +10000: Ole Miss, Mississippi State
• +15000: Vanderbilt, Arkansas
• +50000: Oklahoma

Odds to reach Final Four: Auburn (-155), Alabama (+175), Florida (+210), Tennessee (+290), Missouri (+700), Kentucky (+750), Texas A&M (+1200), Mississippi State (+2200), Ole Miss (+2600), Arkansas (+3100), Vanderbilt (+3100), Oklahoma (+14000).

It’s becoming a little frustrating for fans when a team with a 4-11 conference record like Oklahoma is still considered a NCAA Tournament team. ESPN’s analytics gave the Sooners a 60% chance to make March Madness prior to losing to Kentucky, which dropped them down to 49% to get into the NCAA Tournament.

Less than a month after the NCAA Tournament and Final Four April 5-7 in San Antonio, sports fans attention will shift to The Masters Tournament and golf’s first major of the year April 10-13. Just ahead of the Final Four is Major League Baseball Opening Day March 27. Then it’s the start of the NHL and NBA Playoffs April 19-20 followed by the first Saturday in May and the Kentucky Derby.

But all those major sporting events take a back seat to the most exciting and engaging watch and wager event of the year – The men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament. The biggest and best sportsbooks in Las Vegas will be filled again with fans watching and wagering on the NCAA Tournament, and many March Madness parties at sportsbooks, bars and clubs around the country beyond what was just enjoyed during the Super Bowl.

You can bet on it.

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