About this episode
RJ Bell, Steve Fezzik, Dave Essler, Mackenzie Rivers and Scott Seidenberg talk CBB March madness Thursday games. The guys break down each game for the Thursday games and offer up a lot of bets. March Madness 2024 is here, bringing excitement and betting opportunities for college basketball fans. The Dream Podcast - CBB Madness All Thursday Games Preview delivers expert analysis, betting trends, and top picks from RJ Bell, Steve Fezzik, Scott Seidenberg, McKenzie Rivers, and Dave Essler. They break down key matchups, historical betting insights, and market adjustments to help bettors maximize their profits. One major takeaway is the value in understanding public betting trends. With ESPN and other platforms now showing bracket selections, bettors can identify contrarian opportunities and gain an edge. RJ Bell introduces his Dream Bracket system, offering a chalky bracket for small pools and a long-shot bracket for riskier plays. Steve Fezzik discusses first-half unders, a historically profitable strategy in March Madness, particularly in early round games. Data from Scott Seidenberg supports this, showing first-half unders in the first round have hit at a 56-39-1 rate over the past three tournaments. Several key matchups are analyzed, starting with Louisville vs. Creighton, where Dave Essler backs Louisville -2.5 due to Creighton’s turnover struggles. Fezzik recommends the first-half under due to the early start time and potential slow pace. In Purdue vs. High Point, Fezzik takes High Point +9, citing Purdue’s history of tournament struggles and the fatigue factor for Big Ten teams. In Wisconsin vs. Montana, Essler bets Wisconsin First Half -9.5, emphasizing their faster pace and offensive explosiveness. Montana’s potential altitude advantage is acknowledged but considered insufficient to overcome Wisconsin’s strength. Houston vs. SIU Edwardsville presents a massive 1 vs. 16 mismatch. Fezzik continues his strategy of betting heavy favorites on the moneyline, as number one seeds laying 23 or more points have a 155-2 straight-up record. He takes Houston ML at -8000 while also recommending SIU team total under 48.5. Auburn vs. Alabama State follows a similar pattern, with Essler betting Alabama State team total under 59.5, citing Auburn’s elite defense. Texas A&M vs. Yale is identified as a potential upset, with both Essler and Fezzik taking Yale +7.5. They argue that A&M lacks offensive firepower, making it difficult for them to build a lead. Yale’s ability to control tempo and limit turnovers makes them a strong underdog play. Michigan vs. UC San Diego is discussed, with RJ Bell pointing out that Michigan’s spread suggests the teams are evenly matched despite Michigan’s size advantage. Fezzik warns of Big Ten fatigue and leans towards San Diego. UCLA vs. Utah State sees a split opinion. Essler takes Utah State +5.5, citing their ability to shoot over UCLA’s defense. However, Fezzik warns that the Mountain West Conference has a terrible track record in March Madness, with a 32 percent ATS record since 2001. Several key betting trends are also highlighted. Fezzik notes that every NIT game total has moved up by 2 to 5 points before tip-off due to public money, indicating a potential fade opportunity. He also emphasizes that sharp bettors grab the best early lines, while public bettors often get worse closing numbers. Other trends include the struggles of Big Ten teams due to travel fatigue and the historically poor performance of Mountain West teams. Final betting recommendations include Yale +7.5, Utah State +5.5, Wisconsin First Half -9.5, first-half unders, and a Houston and Auburn moneyline parlay. March Madness is a prime opportunity for betting, and understanding market movements, historical trends, and expert insights can give bettors an advantage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices