March Madness Tournament Props: Prop Bets And Alternative Markets For 2024

Add some fun to your NCAA Tournament betting with March Madness props. Get odds and learn about types of props, tips, advice, and more!

Peter Clarke - Senior Editor at Covers.com
Peter Clarke • Senior Editor
Mar 20, 2024 • 14:15 ET • 5 min read
Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley celebrates the win over Marquette Golden Eagles at Madison Square Garden.
Photo By - USA Today Sports

Basketball bettors have the opportunity to add some extra mayhem to the NCAA Tournament with March Madness props.

While prop bets for March Madness aren’t the biggest draw in action, these markets are gaining popularity at sportsbooks and add a fun wrinkle to your NCAA Tournament wagers.

So, while you lick your wounds from a busted bracket—or celebrate still being in contention—we're breaking down the growing list of Big Dance prop bets available in 2023.

March Madness prop odds

Prop odds for March Madness began hitting the board once the bracket was set following Selection Sunday on March 12 and the days leading up to the first games. Check back for updated prop odds throughout the NCAA Tournament.

Seed props

Seed prop odds for this year's NCAA Tournament began appearing on sportsbooks throughout North America once the bracket was revealed on Selection Sunday. Check back for updated prop odds throughout March Madness.

Number of No. 1 Seeds to make the Final Four

Result FanDuel
1 +115
2 +210
3 +950
4 +4000
0 +340

Will a No. 12 Seed beat a No. 5 Seed?

Result FanDuel
Yes -410
No +280

Which seed will win the tournament?

Seed DraftKings
1 -130
2 +350
3 +750
4 +700
5 +2500
6 +3000
7 +3500
8 +6000
9 +6000
10 +9000
11 +11000
12 <15000>
13 +90000
14 +90000
15 +100000
16 +100000

Tournament props

March Madness tournament props focus on events or happenings during the NCAA Tournament. These props can be based on certain teams, regions, seeds, or conferences and most often are graded upon the conclusion of the National Championship Game. 

Number of Round 1 upsets

Result DraftKings
Over 8.5 +130
Under 8.5 -160

Any First Four Team to reach round

Round FanDuel
Sweet 16 +195
Elite Eight +480
Final Four +1300
National Championship +3000

Best Bonuses

Along with our March Madness best betting sites, check out the best bonuses available for the tournament.

March Madness MVP

The March Madness MVP (also known as the tournament's most outstanding player) is a fun market that can provide value, providing you have a good take on which team will win the national title. After all, the MVP has come from the tournament winner every year since 1983.

March Madness prop bets explained

Prop bets – also known as proposition bets – aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when talking about March Madness odds. However, there are more and more of these fun alternative markets each year and they're a great attraction for those learning how to bet on March Madness

March Madness props focus on individual team or player performances and particular events or happenings during a game, round, or tournament. Some prop bets can unfold in a matter of minutes, while others are graded on the Final Four and National Championship results.  

Where can I bet on March Madness props?

March Madness is one of the most popular times of the year for sports bettors, making it one of the busiest times of the year for online sportsbooks. Every betting site will offer March Madness scores, matchups, and odds, but the top sites are safe and secure, offer a wide range of banking options, and offer a ton of markets for each game. Check out the best March Madness betting sites in your region. 

Tips for betting on March Madness props 

March Madness prop bets can vary in focus and scope. Some props are longer-running markets, graded after a certain round or at the end of the NCAA Tournament. Other props are game-based and limited to a particular matchup. 

Tournament Bracket Build your bracket

For betting on tournament or round props, you’ll want to build out your March Madness bracket and lay your path to the Final Four. Weigh each matchup and then base those prop bets on how you see the Big Dance playing out. 

Cinderella Spotting Cinderella

Singling out a Cinderella team that could provide an upset or two is vital to getting value from the March Madness props. Finding a live lower seed or an unknown mid-major giant killer can score some big plus-money prop payouts.

Avoid Contradictions Don’t contradict

Make sure your March Madness prop picks are in line with your single-game wagers. You don’t want to play the Over on the number of ACC schools making it out of the Round of 64 and then fade Florida State to cover as a favorite in the first round. 

Create Narrative Set a narrative

When it comes to game props, such as team and player prop bets, set a narrative for how you see the matchup playing out. If you think a talented big man will have his way with a smaller opponent, then look to the Over on props for points and rebounds. If you like a small-conference Cinderella to shoot their way to an upset win, look to back up that opinion with an Over wager on the team’s total number of 3-point buckets made. 

Covers Global Two Color Money Money management

The excitement of March Madness can get the best of basketball bettors, so have a money management system in place. If you plan on playing some NCAA Tournament props, designate a certain amount of your bankroll to just those types of wagers. This will help you be more selective about your prop bets and narrow down which types of bets you are winning and losing throughout the Big Dance.

Instant Replay: March Madness prop bets 

  • March Madness prop bets can focus on various aspects of the tournament, from the rounds to seeds to the overall tournament and individual matchups.
  • March Madness game props are gaining popularity and sportsbooks will have more of these than ever in 2021.
  • The “First to 15” prop is one of the most exciting and entertaining bets you can make during the NCAA Tournament.
  • Set a narrative for your March Madness props, whether that’s building out your bracket or setting a game script for player and team props.

March Madness prop bets FAQs

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Peter Clarke - Covers
Senior Editor

Peter Clarke has been in the digital media business for 14 years after obtaining his journalism degree from the University of King's College in Halifax, N.S. He learned his trade during his time at The Chronicle Herald and Saltwire Network, where he spent nearly a decade editing and making digital content.

These days, Peter is all about keeping bettors in the loop about the biggest sports betting events, like the Super Bowl and March Madness. He's also always on top of the latest promo offers from the biggest sportsbooks so he can share the best deals straight with you.

One of his favorite ways to bet is using the Covers' player prop projections. He firmly believes you can find a lot of value in the four and five-star projections every day of the year with just a little attention to the totals and lines. For those of you new to the betting scene, he’s got some solid advice: "Start small. Pick a unit size that feels right for you and grow your bankroll over time."

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