As March rolls in, so does the biggest NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament of the year. March Madness is a once-a-year extravaganza that brings people together in celebration of the game we love. Win or lose, savor every moment of the tournament experience. Cheer for the buzzer-beaters, marvel at the upsets, and relish in the joy of being part of something bigger than yourself. After all, it’s called March Madness for a reason.
For college students nationwide, March Madness isn’t just a basketball tournament—it’s a cultural phenomenon. The excitement, the upsets, the brackets—it’s all part of the experience. Sadly, for Harvard students, the men’s basketball team did not qualify for the tournament. As the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament approaches, students are gearing up for weeks of intense hoops action. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer, here’s your ultimate guide to navigating March Madness like a pro.
First things first, embrace the madness. March Madness isn’t just about basketball—it’s about camaraderie, competition, and community. Get involved in bracket pools, join watch parties, and let yourself get swept up in the excitement of the games. Do not sit in your dorm room with Cheetos and Miller Lite, silently indulging as you watch yourself win or lose thousands of dollars.
Before filling out your bracket, it’s essential to know the teams. Familiarize yourself with the top contenders, the underdogs, and the potential Cinderella stories. It is usually a good strategy to have the No. 1 seeds in each part of the bracket win the first couple of games. However, knowing the history of these teams is important. We at the Indy Sportsbook will be staying away from betting on Purdue—no matter how good they look before the tournament, they will always crumble under pressure.
Keep an eye on powerhouse programs like Duke, Gonzaga, and Kansas, but don’t sleep on the mid-majors and smaller schools known to make deep runs in the tournament. Understanding each team’s strengths, weaknesses, and key players will give you a competitive edge when making your picks. There are thousands of hours of data to sift through, and most people do not have time to do that. However, if you want to make some quick picks, look at NET rankings and fast-break efficiency.
The bracket is the heart of March Madness, and studying it is crucial to success. Analyze matchups, seedings, and potential upsets to inform your picks. Look for trends, such as lower-seeded teams that historically perform well or conferences that have shown strength in the tournament. Remember, no bracket is perfect, so don’t be afraid to trust your instincts and take calculated risks.
While it is impossible to predict even the first-round matches, here are some upsets we at the Indy Sportsbook love: No. 11 New Mexico to beat No. 6 Clemson, No. 10 Nevada to beat No. 7 Dayton, and No. 9 TCU to beat No. 8 Utah State.
Outside of round one upsets, we can provide some help in betting on the winner of the 2024 NCAA tournament.
INS:
No. 4 Auburn (+1600). Auburn is a really exciting team and has been playing good basketball all year. We are usually not huge Auburn fans, but we believe that the Tigers could go far this season. They just slammed the entire SEC and are going to be hungry heading into the tournament. The only real negative is that they are a four-seed and their road will be tough considering they could face UConn in the Sweet Sixteen.
No. 3 Creighton (+2500). The value of Creighton winning the tournament could be the best in the entire tournament. We think that Creighton is one of the best teams in the country and should have been a one-seed. They are a little hit or miss but did just smash Marquette, one of the best teams in the tournament.
OUTS:
No. 1 UConn (+375). In the last 60 years, only two teams have ever won back-to-back NCAA championships. UConn won the tournament last year, and while we know this is flawed logic, it just does not feel like they are going to have the magic again to create the madness. We are staying away from UConn.
No. 1 Houston (+500). We love Houston this year, but Drake bet massive amounts of money on this team and has been seen supporting their jersey. We believe in the Drake curse and will be staying away from them.
No. 1 Purdue (+700). As a Big Ten fan, we always select Purdue to go deep into the tournament, but for as long as we can remember, they have always let us down. This year will be no different, and even though they have the third-best odds, they might not even make the Elite Eight.
Now, these are just some of our initial thoughts, and a lot is subject to change. Some players will get injured, some will start shooting very poorly, and who knows, someone might even catch fire. You never know. That is the nature of the madness.
Luke Wagner ’26 (lukewagner@college.harvard.edu) and Santi Kelly ’26 (skelly@college.harvard.edu) write Sports for the Independent.