The excitement of opening the betting account and making your first bet on a sporting event is something that many people look forward to each week. While the outcome of most sporting events is now settled, the excitement of placing a wager still exists as the betting process is what makes sports events more interesting and can even sometimes affect the outcome. So, for those who are looking to place bets on Saturday games, here are just some of the best bets to consider.
Kansas Jayhawks vs Texas A&M Aggies
The University of Kansas is a public university located in the heart of the Midwest and is one of the largest academic institutions in the United States. The Jayhawks started the season with a 17-3 record and were ranked number four in the country before falling down the rankings to number 10. The Aggies had a very similar record at the beginning of the season, at 17-3, and were ranked number six in the country at the time of the writing of this article. This game gets lots of attention because of these contrasting records and the huge following that both teams gain every year.
There are several good betting options here. First, bet on the total number of points scored in the game. Odds are you’ll know how close the game was because there was lots of action on all accounts. Also, the line opened significantly in favor of the home team here, so if you’ve got a rooting interest in the game, consider laying off of the under 20 points in favor of the home team. Finally, you can’t go wrong with the underdogs here because they have always proven to be tough competitors and unpredictable in nature, so backing them is never a bad idea.
Michigan Wolverines vs Iowa Hawkeyes
The University of Michigan is another great example of a public university, and like the Jayhawks, the Wolverines also had a very good season opener. UM was 17-2 last year and were ranked number four in the country. The Hawkeyes started the season similarly at 17-2 and were ranked number nine in the country. Therefore, this game also has some significant appeal for sports bettors because of the contrasting records and the always profitable ‘over’ (when the home team is ranked higher than the visiting team) or ‘under’ (when the home team is ranked lower than the visiting team) on the points scored in the game.
The same advice from the previous game applies here. First, bet on the total number of points scored. Next, bet on the over/under on the number of combined three-pointers made by both teams. Third, lay off of the underdog in this game because, well, they are always a challenge and rarely do you get your money back when they disappoint you. Finally, the Hawkeyes are very good on defense, and the Wolverines are excellent at offense, so laying the points off on the under in this case can prove very profitable indeed.
Indiana Hoosiers vs Michigan Wolverines
The University of Indiana is the largest public university in the country and is located in the heartland of the United States. The Hoosiers are 17-2 this year, ranked number nine in the country, and opened the season with an upset win over number two-ranked Michigan. The Wolverines are also 17-2 and were ranked number four before their win over the Hoosiers. This game also has appeal because of the home field advantage for the Hoosiers and the fact that they have won the last three games between these two schools, including the most recent matchup a few weeks ago. Not to mention that the last meeting was one of the most exciting games of the year, with the Wolverines prevailing 74-68 in double overtime.
The downside to backing the Wolverines here is that they are very strong on defense while the Hoosiers are excellent on offense, which can make this a low-scoring game. Nevertheless, the underdogs have pulled off some upsets this year, so perhaps it is a good opportunity to hedge your bets. Betting on the total number of points scored offers some promise because of how close the game usually is. The same advice from the previous two games applies here. First, bet on the total number of points scored. Next, bet on the over/under on the number of combined three pointers made by both teams. Finally, lay off of the underdogs in this game because they have proven to be very disappointing this year and rarely do you get your money back when they underperform.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Wisconsin Badgers
The University of Notre Dame is one of the most popular and well-known universities in the country and is often considered to be among the elite of North American universities. The Fighting Irish started the season ranked number three in the country and have gone on a 17-3 run, capped off by an impressive victory over Louisville. The Badgers opened the season with a 14-2 record and were ranked number 12 in the country. Therefore, this game has the makings of an exciting NCAA matchup.
The Badgers have a pretty good team as well, but despite their record, they are still an underdog here due to both the popularity of the Fighting Irish and the fact that they are a public university, open to all students from around the world. A lot of betting interest surrounds the game here as well because of the high-profile matchup and the fact that it is a winner-take-all game. The same advice from the previous two games applies here. First, bet on the total number of points scored in the game. Next, lay off of the underdogs in this game because although they are very good, they are still the underdogs. Finally, the game is between two top-tier public universities, so there is bound to be lots of interest.
Purdue Boilermakers vs Ohio State Buckeyes
The Purdue Boilermakers are 16-2 this year and were ranked number 11 before their upset loss to Michigan State. The Buckeyes are 18-2 and were ranked number three before their upset loss to Indiana in the opener. This game has a bit of appeal to sports bettors because of the contrasting records and the fact that it is a rivalry game between these two schools. It also gets very high TV ratings because of the significant interest in these two talented teams.
However, the line here is always against the Boilermakers, so you’ll likely have to do some homework before placing a bet. Luckily for you, we’ve got the perfect tool for doing just that – this article! The same advice from the previous two games applies here, but with a slight twist. First, bet on the total number of points scored. Next, bet on the underdogs in this game because although Purdue is very good, they are still the underdogs. Finally, in order to minimize the damage done by laying the points on the underdog, consider backing both teams to a draw.
North Carolina Tar Heels vs Virginia Cavaliers
The North Carolina Tar Heels are 17-2 this year and were ranked number 12 before their upset win over Duke. The Cavaliers started the season similarly at 17-2 and were ranked number 16 in the country before their disappointing loss to Florida State. This game has some significant appeal because of the rivalries that exist between these two schools. The Tar Heels are always a tough matchup for the Cavaliers defensively, so it is a great chance for gamblers interested in defense-themed sports wagering to lay off of the ‘over’ in this game. On the other hand, the underdogs usually pull off surprising upsets here, so perhaps it is a good opportunity to go with the Tar Heels.
Iowa Hawkeyes vs Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Iowa Hawkeyes are 17-2 and were ranked number 15 before their upset victory over Ohio State. The Cowboys started the season with an impressive 14-2 record and were ranked number 20 in the country before their loss to Arkansas.
Although this may not seem like a significant game because of the records, it receives a lot of attention from the betting public because of the large number of games played between these two teams. You may have heard of the Iowa-Oklahoma State rivalry – it’s one of the longest-running in NCAA history, dating back to 1899. This game has some appeal to sports bettors because of the large audience that is often on hand to see these two fierce rivals duke it out on the court. The same advice from the previous two games applies here. First, bet on the total number of points scored.