March Madness Elite Eight Betting Trends
Continuing my series for the NCAA tournament, here are the Elite Eight betting trends using the data from my Round-by-Round and Conference Trends articles in the VSiN Bracket Mania Betting Guide. Best of luck on the Elite Eight games.
Elite Eight Games
• The Elite Eight round has for long been a dangerous spot for better-seeded teams, as they are just 47-45 SU and 33-55-4 ATS (37.5%) since 2000. (AGAINST DUKE -6, CONNECTICUT -8.5, PURDUE -3, ALABAMA -3.5)
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• Elite Eight favorites of 4-points or fewer have gone just 2-10 SU and 1-10-1 ATS (9.1%) in their last 12 games and are just 15-33-1 ATS (31.3%) since 1998. (AGAINST PURDUE -3, ALABAMA -3.5)
• Elite Eight games have been decisive, with outright winners owning a stellar record of 61-5-2 ATS (92.4%) since 2006. (ON ALL OUTRIGHT WINNERS)
• The Elite Eight round is clearly a “survival round” for #1 seeds, as they are just 32-25 SU but 23-30-4 ATS (43.4%) in this round since 2001. (AGAINST CONNECTICUT -8.5, PURDUE -3)
• The Elite Eight round has easily been the best round to play Overs on totals, 87-63-2 (58%) since 2001. In games with lower totals of 143 or less, it has been 59 Overs 29 Unders, for 67%. (OVER 164 CLM-ALA, OVER 143 DUK-NCST, OVER 155 CONN-ILL, OVER 148 PUR-TEN)
• In Elite Eight games between teams “both not supposed to be there,” or both seeded #3 or worse, the worse seeded team has gone 7-3 SU and 8-2 ATS (80%) since 2013. (ON NC STATE +6, CLEMSON +3.5)
Applicable Conference Trends for Elite Eight Round Games
ACC
- Over the last two NCAA tournaments, the ACC boasts a record of 32-11 SU and 32-10-1 ATS (76.2%). (ON CLEMSON +3.5)
- In the role of pick ’em or small underdog (up to 4.5 points), ACC teams are currently on a 19-3 ATS (86.4%) surge, including 12 straight covers. (ON CLEMSON +3.5)
- ACC teams playing as double-digit seeds are 18-8-2 ATS (69.2%) since 2012. (ON NC STATE +6)
- Seventeen of the last 22 NCAA tourney matchups between the ACC and SEC have gone Under the total (77.3%). (UNDER 164 CLM-ALA)
- There have been eight tourney matchups since 2001, pitting ACC foes against one another…All eight went Over the total (100%), producing 150 PPG on totals averaging 142. (OVER 143 DUK-NCST)
Big East
- The top two seeded (#1 seed and #2 seed) from the Big East have validated their positions by going 25-6 SU and 22-9 ATS (71%) in the NCAAs since 2016. (ON CONNECTICUT -8.5)
- Favorites are 47-19 ATS (71.2%) in the last 66 Big East NCAA tourney games, including 19-5 ATS the last two years. (ON CONNECTICUT -8.5)
Big Ten
- Big Ten teams are on a 12-8 SU and 14-5-1 ATS (73.7%) run vs. SEC foes in the NCAA tourney. (ON PURDUE -3)
- For as good as Big Ten teams have been in the big favorite role, they have been brutal as underdogs of 5.5 points or more in the tournament, 6-50 SU and 21-35 ATS (37.5%) since 1998. (AGAINST ILLINOIS +8.5)
- In tourney games of the second round and later, Big Ten teams are just 20-33 SU and 21-30-2 ATS (41.2%) since 2017. (AGAINST ILLINOIS +8.5, PURDUE -3)
SEC
- The last five NCAA tournaments have been a struggle for SEC teams, as they are just 43-41 SU and 32-52 ATS (38.1%) since the Friday of the first round in the 2018 tourney. (AGAINST ALABAMA -3.5, TENNESSEE +3)
- Underdogs are 50-27 ATS (64.9%) in the last 77 SEC NCAA tourney games overall. (AGAINST ALABAMA -3.5 – ON TENNESSEE +3)
- As pick ’ems or small favorites of five points or less, SEC teams are an ugly 43-52 SU and 35-56-4 ATS (38.5%) in the NCAAs since 1999. (AGAINST ALABAMA -3.5)
- SEC teams are on a 16-7 Over the total run in Elite Eight games. (OVER 164 ALA-CLM, OVER 148 TEN-PUR)
- The #4 seed and the SEC haven’t meshed well of late, as they are 17-24 ATS (41.5%) in that spot since 2000 and have gone Under the total at a 29-11-1 (72.5%) rate. (AGAINST ALABAMA -3.5 – UNDER 164 ALA-CLM)
Head-to-Head Series Trends for the Elite Eight
(663) CLEMSON vs. (654) ALABAMA
* CLEMSON is on a 3-0 SU and ATS streak versus Alabama, including a 85-77 win in November 2023. Five of the last six games between these teams have gone Under the total.
(655) TENNESSEE vs. (656) PURDUE
* PURDUE is 3-1 SU and ATS versus Tennessee since 2009, with all games in the set decided by five points or fewer. The three most recent contests went Over the total.
(657) NC STATE vs. (658) DUKE
* NC STATE beat Duke 74-69 in the ACC tournament just 2-1/2 weeks ago. The last four games between these conference rivals went Under the total.