NCAA
How to Bet on March Madness in CA | Best California Sports Betting Sites

In California, sports betting has been a hot topic. California sports betting remains illegal but top sportsbooks are expected to pursue mobile betting in the future. While they battle things out in court, college basketball fans don’t have to miss out on the action when the attention turns to the hardwood during March Madness. The top offshore sportsbooks welcome college basketball fans in California with sports betting bonuses, free bets, and bracket entries into contests with up to $250,000 in cash prizes. To learn about how to bet on March Madness in California and claim up to $6,375 in sports betting offers for the NCAA Tournament, read on below.
The Best California Sports Betting Sites for March Madness in 2022
Brackets are one of the easiest ways to make money during March Madness. The top California sports betting sites feature some of the best March Madness bracket contests in the country with $250,000 in cash prizes, Bitcoin, and more.
Below, we’ll go over some of the best March Madness betting websites and the sports betting bonuses available for the 2022 NCAA Tournament..
- BetOnline – $1,000 Sports Betting Bonus + 2 Free Bets for March Madness
- XBet – $500 in Free College Basketball Bets for the NCAA Tournament
- MyBookie – $1,000 Sportsbook Bonus to Bet on March Madness
- BetUS – $3,125 in Free Bets for March Madness Games
- Bovada – $750 Bitcoin Betting Bonus for the 2022 NCAA Tournament
RELATED: March Madness Betting Websites
How to Bet on March Madness in California
While the California sports betting laws haven’t opened up yet, residents can still bet on March Madness in the Golden State. Regulated offshore sportsbooks are offering bigger sports betting bonuses and better odds during March Madness.
Below, we’ll walk new users through how to bet on March Madness in California and claim free college basketball bets.
- Pick a CA betting site from this page
- Click the button to get your college basketball betting bonus for the NCAA Tournament
- Sign up to get your California sports betting bonus for March Madness
- Place your free March Madness bets on the NCAA Basketball Tournament in CA
RELATED: How to Gamble on March Madness
March Madness Schedule | How to Watch the NCAA Tournament in California
- 🏀 March Madness: NCAA Tournament 2022
- ⛹ March Madness Betting Favorite: Gonzaga Bulldogs
- 📅 NCAA Tournament Start Date: Round 1, March 17th, 2022
- 🔒 Final Four: April 2nd, 2022
- 🏆 National Championship Game: April 4th, 2022
- 📺 TV Channel: TruTV, CBS, TNT, and TBS
- 🎲 March Madness Odds: Gonzaga +285, Arizona +700, Kentucky +800
NCAA Tournament Odds | Best Odds to Win March Madness
UCLA sits at the No. 4 seed in the East with +2500 odds. While the Bruins lost in the Final Four last season, they are on the right track with a simple path to the Sweet 16. Meanwhile, Gonzaga are the NCAA Tournament favorites at +285. With no value in taking the March Madness favourites, top contenders are priced attractively like Kansas at +1100, Duke at +1600, and defending champions Baylor at +1400.
Below, we’ll break down the NCAA Tournament odds from BetOnline, one of the best March Madness betting sites.
NCAA Basketball Teams | Odds to Win NCAA Tournament | Play |
---|---|---|
Gonzaga | +285 | |
Arizona | +700 | |
Kentucky | +800 | |
Kansas | +1100 | |
Auburn | +1200 | |
Baylor | +1400 | |
Duke | +1600 | |
Tennessee | +1600 | |
Houston | +1800 | |
Texas Tech | +2000 |
RELATED: Best Odds to Win March Madness
March Madness Betting Trends
During the NCAA Tournament, certain trends emerge that can help college basketball bettors earn a profit during March Madness. With the first round of March Madness expected to generate plenty of upsets, we’ll break down some of the hottest March Madness betting trends over the last five years.
For a complete breakdown of the best March Madness betting trends, check out the chart below.
Timeframe | Bet | Winning Percentage | Win | Loss | Push | ROI % |
Since 2021 | Under | 62.5% | 20 | 12 | 0 | 19.38% |
Since 2021 | Underdogs ATS | 59.4% | 19 | 13 | 0 | 13.41% |
Since 2019 | Underdogs ATS | 60.9% | 39 | 25 | 0 | 16.39% |
Since 2019 | Under | 54.7% | 35 | 28 | 1 | 6.02% |
Since 2018 | Underdogs ATS | 57.3% | 55 | 40 | 1 | 10.47% |
Since 2018 | Underdogs ATS | 55.2% | 53 | 42 | 1 | 6.49% |
Since 2017 | Underdogs ATS | 54.7% | 70 | 56 | 2 | 6.02% |
Since 2016 | Underdogs ATS | 53.8% | 86 | 72 | 2 | 3.91% |
Since 2016 | Over | 53.1% | 85 | 74 | 1 | 2.09% |
March Madness Betting | Odds, Lines, and Point Spread for First Round March Madness 2022
All 64 teams will compete on Thursday and Friday in hopes of keeping their seasons alive. The first round of the NCAA Tournament tipped off on Thursday afternoon and there were a handful of upsets in the first round. Saint Peter’s (+1500) shocked the college basketball world with an upset over No. 2-ranked Kentucky while Richmond (+400) earned a classic No. 12 vs No. 5 upset with a win over Iowa.
For a glimpse of potential first round upsets, we’ll break down the March Madness odds for every game in the first round of the NCAA Tournament below.
All odds are taken from BetOnline, one of the best California sports betting sites for March Madness.
Ohio State vs Loyola Chicago Odds, Point Spread, and Total
Ohio State comes into the Big Dance as a No. 7 seed but will have a difficult first round matchup against No. 10 Loyola Chicago. The Ramblers have made deep runs in the NCAA Tournament before and could be another potential underdog that could do some damage in the opening round. For the latest Ohio St vs Loyola Chicago odds, check out the NCAA Tournament lines from BetOnline below.
Interested in betting on the Ohio State team? – Don’t miss out on reading our guide about sports betting in Ohio first!
Bet | Loyola Chicago | Ohio State | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | -110 | -110 | |
Point Spread | PK (-110) | PK (-110) | |
Total Points | Over 132.5 (-108) | Under 132.5 (-112) |
Auburn vs Jacksonville State Odds, Point Spread, and Total
Auburn comes into the opening round of March Madness as the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region. The Tigers are favored by 15.5 points over Jacksonville State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and should be able to cruise to an easy win here. Can Auburn take care of business in the Round of 64 versus Jacksonville St?
Bet | Jacksonville State | Auburn | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | +870 | -1600 | |
Point Spread | +15.5 (-110) | -15.5 (-110) | |
Total Points | Over 138.5 (-115) | Under 138.5 (-105) |
Texas Tech vs Montana State Odds, Point Spread, and Total
Texas Tech is another team that will be heavily favored to win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Red Raiders enter March Madness as a No. 3 seed in the West Region and will be favored by 15 points against No. 14 seed Montana St. For the latest Texas Tech vs Montana odds, check out the chart from BetOnline, one of the best California sports betting sites.
Interested betting on the Texas team? – Don’t miss out on reading our guide about sports betting in Texas first!
Bet | Montana State | Texas Tech | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | +870 | -1500 | |
Point Spread | +15 (-112) | -15 (+108) | |
Total Points | Over 132.5 (-105) | Under 132.5 (-115) |
Purdue vs Yale Odds, Point Spread, and Total
Purdue suffered a disappointing loss in the Big Ten Tournament but still enters March Madness as the No. 3 seed in the East Regoin. The Boilermakers enter the first round of the NCAA Tournament as 16 point favorites over Yale. For the latest Purdue vs Yale odds, check out the March Madness lines from BetOnline below.
Bet | Yale | Purdue | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | +950 | -1800 | |
Point Spread | +16 (+100) | -16 (-120) | |
Total Points | Over 142.5 (-110) | Under 142.5 (-110) |
Villanova vs Delaware Odds, Point Spread, and Total
Villanova enters the first round of the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the South Region and will be heavy favorites over No. 15-seed Delaware. The Wildcats come in as 15-point favorites over the Blue Hens in the first round of March Madness. For the latest NCAA Tournament odds, check out the chart from BetOnline below.
Bet | Delaware | Villanova | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | +870 | -1500 | |
Point Spread | +15 (-110) | -15 (-110) | |
Total Points | Over 133.5 (-115) | Under 133.5 (-105) |
USC vs Miami Odds, Point Spread, and Total
The ACC didn’t get a lot of respect from the Selection Sunday committee. Despite playing well during ACC play, Miami enters the opening round as a No. 10 seed. While Miami is a No. 10 seed, it finds itself as only 1.5-point underdogs against No. 7 seed USC in the first round. For the latest USC vs Miami odds, check out the NCAA Tournament lines from BetOnline, one of the top California sports betting apps.
Bet | Miami Florida | USC | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | +105 | -125 | |
Point Spread | +1.5 (-105) | -1.5 (-115) | |
Total Points | Over 140 (-110) | Under 140 (-110) |
Texas vs Virginia Tech Odds, Point Spread, and Total
While Texas was rewarded with a No. 6 seed, the Longhorns drew one of the toughest first round matchup against ACC Tournament Champion Virginia Tech. The Hokies impressed by beating Duke to win the ACC Tournament title and should be able to put up a fight against the Longhorns. The best March Madness betting sites seem to think so too, as BetOnline has Virginia Tech vs Texas odds as a pick’em.
Bet | Virginia Tech | Texas | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | PK (-113) | PK (-107) | |
Point Spread | PK (-113) | PK (-107) | |
Total Points | Over 123.5 (-112) | Under 123.5 (-108) |
Chattanooga vs Illinois Odds, Point Spread, and Total
The Fighting Illini enter as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Illinois comes into the first round against No. 13 seed Chattanooga as eight-point favorites in the first round of March Madness. For the latest Illinois vs Chattanooga odds, check out the NCAA Tournament lines from BetOnline below.
Bet | Chattanooga | Illinois | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | +275 | -330 | |
Point Spread | +8 (-105) | -8 (-115) | |
Total Points | Over 136 (-110) | Under 136 (-110) |
Duke vs Cal State Fullerton Odds, Point Spread, and Total
The No. 2 seeded Duke Blue Devils come into this matchup as 18.5 point favorites in the first round versus No. 15-seed Cal St Fullerton. Duke’s odds to win March Madness have been slipping since being placed in the same region as No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga. For the latest March Madness odds, check out the chart from BetOnline below.
Bet | CS Fullerton | Duke | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | +1250 | -3000 | |
Point Spread | +18.5 (-105) | -18.5 (-115) | |
Total Points | Over 145.5 (-110) | Under 145.5 (-110) |
LSU vs Iowa State Odds, Point Spread, and Total
The Tigers fired head coach Will Wade before the NCAA Tournament but will still try to make a deep March Madness run. LSU enters the Big Dance as a No. 6 seed while Iowa State comes in as a No. 11 seed in the first round. The Cyclones come in as four-point underdogs versus LSU at BetOnline, one of the best March Madness betting sites.
Bet | Iowa State | LSU | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | +155 | -175 | |
Point Spread | +4 (-110) | -4 (-110) | |
Total Points | Over 127.5 (-115) | Under 127.5 (-105) |
Houston vs UAB Odds, Point Spread, and Total
Despite being a No. 5 seed, Houston has been one of the most popular dark horses to win March Madness in 2022. The Cougars come in as eight-point favorites in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against UAB. For the latest Houston vs UAB odds, check out the March Madness lines from BetOnline.
Bet | UAB | Houston | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | +305 | -375 | |
Point Spread | +8 (-109) | -8 (-111) | |
Total Points | Over 136 (-110) | Under 136 (-110) |
Michigan State vs Davidson Odds, Point Spread, and Total
After a strong finish to the Big Ten season, Michigan State was rewarded with a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans come into the first round as slim one-point favorites against No. 10-seed Davidson. Check out the latest Michigan St vs Davidson odds from BetOnline below.
Bet | Davidson | Michigan State | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | -108 | -112 | |
Point Spread | +1 (-112) | -1 (-108) | |
Total Points | Over 140.5 (-110) | Under 140.5 (-110) |
Wisconsin vs Colgate Odds, Point Spread, and Total
No. 3 seed Wisconsin comes into the opening round as only 7.5-point favorites over Colgate, which enters as a No. 14 seed. If they can advance, the Badgers will play the winner of LSU vs Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Bet | Colgate | Wisconsin | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | +275 | -330 | |
Point Spread | +7.5 (-110) | -7.5 (-110) | |
Total Points | Over 139 (-105) | Under 139 (-115) |
Seton Hall vs TCU Odds, Point Spread, and Total
Seton Hall comes in as the No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Pirates are slim one-point favorites in the first round against No. 9 seed TCU. For the latest Seton Hall vs TCU odds, check out the March Madness lines from BetOnline, one of the top California sports betting sites.
Bet | TCU | Seton Hall | Play |
---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | -102 | -118 | |
Point Spread | +1 (-115) | -1 (-105) | |
Total Points | Over 129.5 (-115) | Under 129.5 (-105) |
How To Pick March Madness Upsets in the NCAA Tournament
More March Madness upsets happen in the first round of the NCAA Tournament than any other round. With several mid-majors matched up against major conference opponents this year, the 2022 NCAA Tournament has a chance to feature a few compelling Cinderella stories.
For a complete breakdown of the March Madness upsets by round since the tournament moved to 64 teams in 1985, scroll down below.
Average Upsets by NCAA Tournament Round | Fewest March Madness Upsets by Round | Most March Madness Upsets by Round | |
First Round | 6.2 | 2 | 10 |
Second Round | 3.7 | 0 (four times) | 8 |
Sweet 16 | 1.7 | 0 (five times) | 4 |
Elite Eight | 0.5 | 0 (10 times) | 2 |
Final Four | 0.2 | 0 (25 times) | 2 |
Total | 12.4 | 4 | 19 |
In the first round of March Madness, some seeds tend to do better than others in their chance for an upset bid. Below, we’ll go over how the lower seeds have performed historically in the NCAA Tournament first round.
To learn more about how lower seeds have performed during the first round of March Madness, scroll down below.
NCAA Tournament First Round Upsets | Frequency of March Madness Upsets | Percentage of March Madness Upsets |
No. 10 seed vs No. 7 seed | 57 | 39.5% |
No. 11 seed vs No. 6 seed | 54 | 37.5% |
No. 12 seed vs No. 5 seed | 51 | 35.4% |
No. 13 seed vs No. 4 seed | 31 | 21.5% |
No. 14 seed vs No. 3 seed | 22 | 15.3% |
No. 15 seed vs No. 2 seed | 9 | 6.3% |
No. 16 seed vs No. 1 seed | 1 | 0.7% |
The Best California March Madness Betting Sites| CA Sportsbooks for the NCAA Tournament
The best California betting sites are giving away big March Madness betting bonuses to college basketball fans. California residents can make the most out of their March Madness betting experience by boosting their bankroll ahead of Thursday’s tipoff.
Below, we’ll go over the best California sports betting bonuses available during March Madness.
1. BetOnline — $1,000 Sports Betting Bonus + 2 Free Bets for March Madness
🏆 Founded | 2004 |
⭐ Expert Ranking | #1 out of 5 |
💰 Welcome Bonus Offer | 50% Deposit Bonus, Up To $1,000 |
✅ Recommended For | Free Bets for March Madness in California |
💳 Payment Methods | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, MoneyGram, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin |
💸 Payout Time | Within 48 Hours |
📃 License | Panama |
📲 Mobile Betting | Yes |
BetOnline is one of the best March Madness sportsbooks on the California sports betting market. The online sportsbook welcomes Golden State with three free NCAAB bets and a 50 percent March Marchess deposit bonus. First-time customers can claim a $1,000 California sports betting bonus ahead of March Madness. California residents can also cash in three free NCAAB bets including a players prop, in-play and matched mobile bet. For Madness Madness, BetOnline is featuring a bracket contest with $250,000 in cash prizes. California residents interested in entering their bracket could walk home with a $75,000 grand prize.
BetOnline Promo Code Terms and Conditions
- Must Deposit using BetOnline Promo Code BOL100
- Minimum Deposit of $55
- 10x Rollover Requirement
- Free Bets expire in 30 days
Click on the button below to claim your free March Madness bets at BetOnline, one of the best California sports betting apps.
2. XBet — $500 in Free College Basketball Bets for the NCAA Tournament
🏆 Founded | 2013 |
⭐ Expert Ranking | #2 out of 5 |
💰 Welcome Bonus Offer | 100% Deposit Bonus, Up To $500 |
✅ Recommended For | Live NCAA Tournament Betting In California |
💳 Payment Methods | Visa, Mastercard, Person2Person, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple |
💸 Payout Time | Within 48 Hours |
📃 License | Curacao |
📲 Mobile Betting | Yes |
Taking it straight down the middle, XBet is a no frills online sportsbook offering some of the best California sports betting offers in the state. For March Madness, XBet is boosting bankrolls with $500 free college basketball bets to newcomers in California. Bettors can also take advantage of competitive live NCAA Tournament odds, especially for the highs and lows during March Madness. XBet also features a March Madness bracket contest with $10,000 in cash prizes. One of the easiest ways to make money during March Madness at XBet’s bracket contest.
XBet Promo Code Terms and Conditions
- Must Deposit using MyBookie Promo Code XBET50
- Minimum Deposit of $45
- 7x Rollover Requirement
- Maximum California Sports Betting Bonus of $500
- CA Sportsbook Bonus Awarded in Free Bets
Click on the button below to claim your free college basketball bets a XBet, one of the best March Madness betting sites.
3. MyBookie — $1,000 Sportsbook Bonus to Bet on March Madness
🏆 Founded | 2003 |
⭐ Expert Ranking | #3 out of 5 |
💰 Welcome Bonus Offer | 100% Deposit Bonus, Up To $1,000 |
✅ Recommended For | The Best March Madness Odds In California |
💳 Payment Methods | Visa, Mastercard, Person2Person, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple |
💸 Payout Time | Within 48 Hours |
📃 License | Curacao |
📲 Mobile Betting | Yes |
MyBookie has the best March Madness odds on lock. Unlike other California online gamlbing sites, MyBookie takes less vig on all NCAAB betting lines. Sharp bettors perform the best at MyBookie with $1,000 in free March Madness betting bonuses. MyBookie also offers one of the best March Madness bracket contests. For the 2022 NCAA Tournament, MyBookie is giving away crypto prizes including Bitcoin and NFTs. California college basketball fans can test their knowledge and enter a bracket for $10 for a shot at Bitcoin. Before the first round tips off, MyBookie is handing out one free bracket entry for all members that enter two brackets.
MyBookie Promo Code Terms and Conditions
- Must Deposit using MyBookie Promo Code MYB50
- Minimum Deposit of $50
- 10x Rollover Requirement
- Maximum California Sports Betting Bonus of $1,000
- CA Sportsbook Bonus Awarded in Free Bets
Click on the button below to claim your free California sports betting bonus at MyBookie.
Best March Madness Bets | Best Upset Picks for March Madness 2022
UCLA is a dark horse in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. After a trip to the Final Four last season, look for the Bruins to complete another deep March Madness run this year. The Bruins secured the No. 4 seed in the East and should have an easy first round matchup against Akron. With the No.1 ranked defense and No.2 ranked offense in the PAC-12 Conference, look for the Bruins to have another deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Take UCLA to make it to the Elite Eight.
Click on the button below to place your free college basketball bets on March Madness at BetOnline, one of the best California sports betting sites.
The Best College Basketball Betting Sites for March Madness
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