Have you ever wondered, “What exactly is March Madness?” Do you hear people talking about it, see all those brackets or whatever, and just wondered exactly what it is? It feels like March Madness has been with us forever, but the truth is, the term (as well as the tournament in its current form) may not have been around as long as you think. For years, we’ve helped folks to not just bet on March Madness but to understand it, too.
(At the risk of using a pun, we’ll go into the “method” behind the “madness.”) If you’ve been following this tournament for years (to say nothing of researching and betting on it), then some of this may seem a bit rudimentary to you. That said, you still may learn something along the way.
The Short, Simple Answer
“March Madness” is the nickname for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Held every March (and extending into April), it pits 68 teams against each other. From there, they play each weekend until one team is crowned the champion.
What is March Madness Really?
It’s one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. It can be one of the most heartbreaking moments, the moment where one team’s dream continues (and the team that lost has to face the very real possibility of their basketball career being over).
March Madness is an obsession not just in America but around the world. It very well may be the most popular and incredible single-elimination tournament in American sports. Its only rival is the NFL. That’s fitting, as in terms of popularity, viewers, and betting, the Super Bowl is the only sporting event of the year that has as many bets on it as the Madness.
How Do Teams Get Into March Madness?
Win. You have to win games to get into the Madness. The truth is that, even though the field is now at 68 teams, qualifying for the tournament could be more challenging than ever.
The college basketball season starts the previous fall. Just about every team in Division I Men’s Basketball plays in a conference. Some of the conferences include “big” colleges, the teams that have often won (the SEC, ACC, Big 10, etc).
Other, smaller conferences are considered “Mid-Majors.” These include the CAA, the Atlantic 10, and so forth.
Before the Madness, the conferences play tournaments themselves. These include just the teams from that conference. Often, the teams with the best records get favorable draws in terms of opponents with lesser records, as well as sometimes byes through a round or two. The winner of that tournament in just about every conference has a guaranteed “bid” (synonyms with “spot” in this context).
That’s how many of the teams that you may not have heard of get into the tournament. That said, there are also what are called “At Large” bids.
These bids are for the teams that don’t win their conference championship but had a great season, have a great record, and so forth. There are not 68 conferences, not by a long shot, so there are several teams that get at-large bids.
A committee makes these determinations. They release the bracket, the schedule by which the 68 teams will play each other until there’s one champion, on what’s called “Selection Sunday.”
Why Is It Called March Madness?
The name isn’t popular just because it’s alliterative (although that sure helps). The name comes from 1939. Then, a high school official in Illinois, Henry V. Potter, used the phrase “March Madness” not to refer to a particular tournament, but rather, to refer to basketball in general.
The phrase didn’t ascend to popular usage until 1982 when Brent Musburger used it while covering the tournament. As you might imagine, when one person started using the phrase, they never stopped.
How Can I Bet on March Madness?
There are many, many different ways to bet on March Madness. You could bet on Madness through the bracket. With that, you pick the winner of each game before the games begin, trying to get as many games right as possible. If you’re able to figure out a correct bracket (or even one with a lot of wins), you’ll be able to win all kinds of money.
That said, you aren’t precluded from other ways of betting on these games. You can bet these games, all one at a time. Indeed, with the tournament, you may be able to get alternative lines, options of betting on the first half exclusively, and more that you might not be able to bet on throughout the rest of the season.
Here at our site, we make it easy for you to bet on the Madness how you want to bet on it. Good luck to you throughout not just the tournament but all year long.
Hilbert Mayer
Sports Writer
Hilbert Mayer is a professional sports writer, betting analyst, and content strategist with over 15 years of experience in the sports industry. Before focusing on sports betting analysis and handicapping, Hilbert worked as a sports writer for various news outlets, covering everything from game recaps to in-depth matchup features. Today, he specializes in MLB, NFL, March Madness, and UFC betting, combining his journalistic background with deep statistical expertise and real-world betting insights. His proven track record, sharp reads, and ability to break down complex matchups make him a trusted voice among both casual bettors and seasoned sharps.
Published on: December 10, 2024
Last updated: April 9, 2025