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Most Popular March Madness Bets Today: Thursday's Top Spread, Moneyline & Total Picks
Pictured: St. John's Red Storm guard RJ Luis Jr. practices at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Photo by Eric Canha via Imagn Images.

The NCAA Tournament finally gets underway today, with 16 games featured during the first round. We're hours away from the much-anticipated tipoff of the first contest, so it's time to consider the age-old question: Is it best to follow or fade the public?

Here's a look at the most popular March Madness bets today for the spread, moneyline, and total in terms of total wagers at BetMGM:

🏀 Most-bet March Madness games today: NCAA Tournament first round

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Matchup (seed)FavoriteTotal
Louisville (8) vs. Creighton (9)Louisville (-2.5)O/U 145.5
Purdue (4) vs. High Point (13)Purdue (-8.5)O/U 153.5
Michigan (5) vs. UC San Diego (12)Michigan (-2.5)O/U 142.5
Missouri (6) vs. Drake (11)Missouri (-6.5)O/U 132.5
BYU (6) vs. VCU (11)BYU (-2.5)O/U 147.5

🔥 Most popular March Madness bets against the spread today

Here are the five most popular bets against the spread today in terms of total wagers, along with the total percentage of tickets and handle on that side:

WagerOpening oddsPercent of betsPercent of handle
High Point (+8.5) vs. Purdue+9.569%68%
Louisville (-2.5) vs. Creighton-2.560%54%
Michigan (-2.5) vs. UC San Diego-2.566%62%
McNeese (+7.5) vs. Clemson+7.576%74%
BYU (-2.5) vs. VCU-2.551%60%

💵 Most popular ATS bet today: High Point (+8.5) vs. Purdue

💰 Most popular March Madness moneyline bets today

Here are the five most-popular moneyline bets today in terms of total wagers, along with the total percentage of tickets and handle on that side:

WagerOpening oddsPercent of betsPercent of handle
Drake (+210) vs. Missouri+23094%93%
High Point (+290) vs. Purdue+35086%63%
Creighton (+125) vs. Louisville+11572%56%
McNeese (+275) vs. Clemson+27591%72%
Yale (+275) vs. Texas A&M+25091%76%

💵 Most popular ML bet today: Drake (+210) vs. Missouri

📈 Most popular March Madness Over bets today

Here are the four most popular Over bets today in terms of total wagers, along with the total percentage of tickets and handle on that side:

WagerOpening oddsPercent of betsPercent of handle
Purdue vs. High Point (Over 153.5)155.571%73%
Louisville vs. Creighton (Over 145.5)144.566%75%
Houston vs. SIU Edwardsville (Over 126.5)127.567%61%
Missouri vs. Drake (Over 132.5)133.566%62%

💵 Most popular Over bet today: Purdue vs. High Point Over 153.5

📉 Most popular March Madness Under bets today

Here are the five most popular Under bets today in terms of total wagers, along with the total percentage of tickets and handle on that side:

WagerOpening oddsPercent of betsPercent of handle
Wisconsin vs. Montana (Under 152.5)148.555%45%
Kansas vs. Arkansas (Under 145.5)146.569%33%
Texas A&M vs. Yale (Under 139.5)141.563%64%
UCLA vs. Utah State (Under 144.5)144.559%68%
Auburn vs. Alabama State (Under 149.5)150.552%39%

💵 Most popular Under bet today: Wisconsin vs. Montana Under 148.5 

🤔 Who are sharp bettors targeting today in the NCAA Tournament?

While it can be hard to identify exactly which bets are drawing sharp action, here's a look at the bets with the most lopsided betting handle on wagers against the spread and total entering today's games:

  • St. John's -18.5 vs. Omaha (90% handle)
  • Gonzaga vs. Georgia Under 150.5 (79% handle)
  • Louisville vs. Creighton Over 145.5 (75% handle)
  • Yale +7.5 vs. Texas A&M (74% handle)
  • Arkansas +5.5 vs. Kansas (73% handle)

👉 Want more March Madness action? Check out the rest of our March Madness first-round expert picks as part of our March Madness predictions.    

🏀 Best March Madness odds, predictions & expert picks today

🔮 March Madness predictions for every game today

💰 March Madness betting odds pages

👑 Best March Madness betting sites

Ready to place your March Madness bets? Check out the best March Madness betting promos from the best March Madness betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review.

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