March Madness is an NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, and as the name suggests, the event takes place in March each year. The tournament includes 68 college basketball teams from Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and is played in a single-elimination format. The teams are divided into four regions, and by using a bracket, when a team wins a game, the team they face next in the competition is automatically selected. In 2023, the tournament will begin on March 14, with the championship game played on April 3 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Continue below as we look ahead to March Madness 2023 and assess the outsiders for the event.
Indiana Hoosiers
We have witnessed some remarkable performances from outsiders in the past, such as Connecticut, which won March Madness in 2014 as the 7th seed, and Loyola-Chicago, which reached the Final Four in 2018 as the 11th seed. This year, Indiana Hoosiers could be the team who caused a shock by going far in the competition. One glance at the NCAA Men’s Basketball rankings at the time of writing shows the Hoosiers down in 15th place in the table. However, having made a slow start to the season, they have been improving, and their form could be about to peak at the perfect time for March Madness.
They have recently beaten Purdue Boilermakers twice, who are in the top five, and recently recorded a victory over Michigan Wolverines. Indiana Hoosiers have one of the top players within their ranks, and Trayce Jackson-Davis could make the difference in single-elimination games. Freshman Jalen Hood-Schifin is another player to watch for the Hoosiers in March Madness, and this could be a year to remember for Indiana. If you want to back Indiana Hoosiers to cause an upset and win March Madness 2023, you can now bet on them from as little as $5 with DraftKings sportsbook.
Texas A&M Aggies
Another outsider who could cause a shock at March Madness 2023 is Texas A&M Aggies. Only Pittsburgh is currently keeping Texas A&M off the bottom of the NCAA Men’s Basketball rankings right now, but that does not mean they should be overlooked come March Madness. The team started with a disappointing 6-5 record in late December but has picked up a lot since then, with wins over Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and Auburn.
With Tyrece Radford and Wade Taylor providing a high-quality guard, Texas A&M is capable of beating the best teams on their day. With the finals being played in Texas this year, there is extra incentive for the Aggies to reach the Final Four, and if they do, Texas is going to be difficult to stop.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
A team that is not at the top of the betting but could go all the way in March 2023 is Gonzaga Bulldogs. Despite being one of the strongest teams in recent years, Gonzaga has not been able to back up their credentials with a title. As a result, they are below several teams in the betting for March Madness 2023, and that could suit them nicely. With all the talk about a potential March Madness title for Houston Cougars, Kansas Jayhawks, and Alabama Crimson Tide, Gonzaga is flying under the radar. That makes them a dangerous opponent, and there could be a lot of money placed on Gonzaga as the beginning of the event draws near.
These are just three of the teams who could taste success at March Madness 2023 as an outsider. But, such is the nature of the tournament, there are always surprises, and the exciting format of the event means many people who never usually bet choose to have a wager.
