Selection Sunday for the 2022 NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament is just one month away (Sunday, March 13th). The feeling of March Madness is rapidly approaching and it will certainly feel like tournament time come February post-Super Bowl.
To help you gear up for the big dance, we put together a list of 5 ways you can make the most out of this year’s March Madness tournament.
1. Bracket pools
Whether you’re a casual fan or a die-hard follower of college basketball, bracket pools are a fun way to spice up the March Madness tournament because essentially anyone can win at pick-em. Especially when it comes to March Madness as there are typically unforeseen upsets in just about every round.
Many sports sites, such as ESPN, offer free bracket pools open to the public and/or have the option to host an invite-only pool for friends and family. If you fill out a bracket, you’ll likely be glued to your TV most of March following every game closely — and who knows, you may have a shot at winning Warren Buffet’s annual $1 billion dollar bracket challenge.
2. Sports betting
If this piece was written 10 or 5 years ago you likely would not have seen a section on sports betting. But nowadays many states across the country are legalizing in-person sports betting and/or mobile sportsbooks apps and the sports betting industry is taking off.
States like Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland have joined the growing list of states (and Washington D.C.) with some form of legal sports betting.
If you’re interested in trying your hand at betting on March Madness games be sure to take advantage of bonuses and promotions offered by sportsbooks. Don’t worry the bonuses aren’t a scam, in fact, sportsbooks offer bonuses and promotions to new and existing players to help attract new customers and keep things fun and engaging for fans.
Maryland sports betting bonuses will not be available for this year’s March Madness tournament as the state is still finalizing its mobile sportsbook rollout. However, visitors and residents can wager at any approved retail sportsbook.
3. Enjoy opening weekend
If you are a March Madness fan, there’s nothing like the opening weekend. This year the first and second round of the tournament is scheduled to take place between March 17th and 20th.
Across these four days, there are exciting games essentially round the clock. If you can, be sure to take some time on Thursday and Friday to follow the opening round games as there will surely be a handful of upsets. Last year, the biggest upset of the tournament happened during opening weekend when #15 seed Oral Roberts knocked off #2 seed Ohio State 75-72 in overtime.
4. Download the March Madness app
Not everyone is lucky enough to have time off to keep up with every March Madness game in real time. An easy way to stay connected to the action is to download the official March Madness app.
You are permitted to watch up to three hours of live games for free until you’ll be asked to sign-in via TV or cable provider. Nevertheless, the app is a one-stop shop to stream games, check your bracket, and recap big moments. You can easily access the app on your smartphone, which may be handy if you’re on-the-go during opening weekend.
5. Savor the Final Four
Come April, only four teams will have survived the initial field of 68 and the tournament and make it to the Final Four. This year, New Orleans will host Final Four week with the games set to take place at the Caesars Superdome.
If you cannot attend the week long party in-person we recommend making time to view the games at home. More often than not, stars are born out of big moments and it doesn’t get any bigger in college basketball than the Final Four. Savor the matchups, enjoy the game, and take in the moment as it won’t return until the following March.
Story by Mark Hoover
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