UConn remains a popular choice among college basketball bettors, but as the Sweet 16 approaches, another team is grabbing the public’s attention.
The Huskies, a +200 favorite to win their second consecutive national championship, have received 11.8 percent of tickets and 20.3 of the betting handles to win the tournament at BetMGM Sportsbook, both of the teams thus far. This is the largest number among them.
But since the Round of 64, it was the North Carolina Tar Heels that attracted the most bets, receiving 13% of tickets at BetMGM since Thursday.
Overall, they trail only UConn with 11.7 of the tickets and 12 percent of the handle.
The Tar Heels wowed bettors by defeating Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans 85-69 in the Round of 32.
Since the First Four, North Carolina State has gone from +1300 to +1100 to win the tournament, which is the fifth-best odds in the field.
North Carolina, a 3.5-point favorite against the Alabama Crimson Tide, is also the most popular team at BetMGM in terms of tickets and handles covering the spread during Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 action.
The Tar Heels opened the season at +2,200 and had the 11th best odds to win the National Championship at DraftKings Sportsbook, tied with Gonzaga and Texas.
North Carolina State remains BetMGM’s biggest liability, but is still seen as a major target for net reduction.
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The Wolfpack are tied with the Clemson Tigers for worst odds to win the tournament (+10000).
North Carolina State is currently BetMGM’s most bet underdog in the Sweet 16 at +230 on the money line against the No. 2 market, with a whopping 90% of bettors favoring an outright victory for the Wolfpack. I am.
