Pace yourself when betting on the NCAA tournament

Las Vegas Review-Journal

7 years ago

Oklahoma guard Trae Young (11) goes to the basket in front of Texas forward Mohamed Bamba (4) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Kansas guard Devonte’ Graham (4) knocks the ball away from Oklahoma guard Trae Young (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. Kansas defeated Oklahoma 104-74. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

College of Charleston’s Cameron Johnson, center and Nick Harris, at right, guards Northeastern’s Vasa Pusica, at left, during the first half of an NCAA college championship basketball game in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C., Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

Oklahoma guard Trae Young (11) goes to the floor for a loose ball with Oklahoma State guard Jeffrey Carroll, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in first round of the Big 12 men’s tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, March 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Oklahoma guard Trae Young (11) works around Oklahoma State guard Kendall Smith (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in first round of the Big 12 men’s tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, March 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Rhode Island guard E.C. Matthews (0) shoots in front of Davidson forward Oskar Michelsen (15) and guard KiShawn Pritchett (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Rhode Island guard Fatts Russell (2) fouls Davidson forward Will Magarity (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Washington. Davidson won 58-57. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Rhode Island guard Jared Terrell (32) attempts to shoot between Davidson guard KiShawn Pritchett (20) and forward Will Magarity (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

College of Charleston’s Joe Chealey, at right, shows his emotions after defeating Northeastern in overtime 83-76 of an NCAA college championship basketball game in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C., Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

College of Charleston’s Joe Chealey, at right, goes for a loose ball against Northeastern’s Donnell Gresham, Jr., at left, in the second half of an NCAA college championship basketball game in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C., Tuesday, March 6, 2018. College of Charleston won in overtime 83-76. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

College of Charleston’s Joe Chealey shows the pain of a hard fall while playing against Northeastern in the second half of an NCAA college championship basketball game in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C., Tuesday, March 6, 2018. College of Charleston won 83-76 in overtime. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

Oklahoma guard Trae Young (11) goes to the basket in front of Texas forward Mohamed Bamba (4) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Oklahoma guard Trae Young (11) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

FILE – In this Feb. 17, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma guard Trae Young (11) brings the ball up court during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas, in Norman, Okla. Trae Young has had one of the best freshman seasons in NCAA history. His decision on whether to go pro or not looms. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

Pace yourself.

That’s the best advice MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood can impart to the masses who will descend upon Las Vegas to experience March Madness inside the city’s sports books and cross an item off their sports bucket list.

“The biggest mistake guys make is they get into town the first night and blow it out and do the full Vegas,” Rood said.

Whether you’re still up from last night to greet the dawn of the NCAA Tournament or just waking up, we’re here to hopefully help you find some winning wagers for one of the most wonderful times of the year in sports and one of the most popular times for sports betting.

Last year, an estimated $300 million was wagered on the 67-game tournament at Nevada sports books. That amount more than doubled the betting handle on Super Bowl LI, and the vast majority of the action pours in on the first weekend, when 48 games are played.

“It’s like Super Bowl Sunday for three straight days,” Westgate sports book manager Ed Salmons said.

Sum of all seeds

There are a plethora of Super Bowl-style prop bets posted on the tournament, including an intriguing one at MGM Resorts sports book on the sum of all seeds to make the Final Four.

Under 12½ opened at minus 110, but significant sharp action has moved the price to minus 185, according to The Mirage sports book director Jeff Stoneback.

Sharp plays

MGM Resorts took sharp money Wednesday on College of Charleston getting 10 points from Auburn. The line opened at 11½ and dropped to as low as 9 before settling at 9½ at most shops.

MGM also took early sharp action on Davidson, a 5-point underdog to Kentucky, and on Oklahoma, a 2-point underdog to Rhode Island.

Best bets

Four Las Vegas handicappers — Bruce Marshall (Goldsheet.com), Bernie Fratto (BernieFratto.com), Brian Blessing (Sportsbookradio.com) and Andy Iskoe (Thelogicalapproach.com) — served on a panel for a betting seminar at Sunset Station on Tuesday. Here are their best bets:

No. 13 College of Charleston (+9.5, +400 ML) over No. 4 Auburn, 4:27 p.m. Friday

Marshall: “They’re a very dangerous midmajor, and they got the perfect draw because Auburn is vulnerable right now. (Auburn’s) inside game is so lacking without (injured starting center Anfernee) McLemore. I don’t think they’re that good right now. Charleston is live. They’ve got three really potent scoring forces. I would not be shocked if they won that game.”

No. 10 Texas (+1, Even ML) over No. 7 UNR, 1:30 p.m. Friday

Fratto: “Nevada has no answer for Mo Bamba down low, and if Nevada’s not making their 3s, Texas is great in transition. The key is that Texas has kept much faster company, and Nevada can’t compete with Big 12 teams. The line’s telling you. You’ve got a No. 7 seed with 28 wins vs. a No. 10 seed with 14 losses and it’s a pick’em. Why is that? Because Nevada is really overrated.”

No. 12 Davidson (+5.5, +205 ML) over No. 5 Kentucky, 4:10 p.m. Thursday

Blessing: “Davidson is playing as good as anybody in the country right now. They had to win the Atlantic-10 tournament and beat the top two teams (St. Bonaventure and Rhode Island) to get in the big dance. Peyton Aldridge is Mr. Everything for Davidson, but the X factor is freshman guard Kellan Grady, who is capable of taking over a game, especially if Kentucky focuses on Aldridge.”

No. 12 South Dakota State (+8, +325 ML) over No. 5 Ohio State, 1 p.m. Thursday

Iskoe: “This is as much a play against Ohio State as it is on South Dakota State, a solid program that is 2-0 ATS in the tournament the last two years. The Buckeyes’ last win over a team with a winning record was back on Feb. 7, when they upset Purdue by a point on the road. Ohio State should win this game, but the Jackrabbits are good enough to give the Buckeyes a 40-minute contest.”

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.