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In March of last year, the opening of Michigan sports betting was met with great joy and enthusiasm, resulting in a flurry of activity on the betting board.
On March 11, at Greektown Casino, Mateen Cleaves, a former star player for Michigan State, placed a ceremonial first bet on his beloved Spartans to emerge victorious in the NCAA Tournament.
Juwan Howard, the rookie coach of Michigan, along with his team, had an opportunity to excel in the Big Ten Tournament and lay the foundation for a successful journey. The initial clash between the rivals will take place on Thursday in Ann Arbor, followed by another showdown on Sunday in East Lansing.
The “new normal” commenced when the NCAA Tournament was canceled due to the pandemic, despite all three Detroit casino sportsbooks being fully operational and prepared for the anticipated March Madness surge by March 12.
Now, amidst several somber one-year remembrances, Michigan sports bettors can finally indulge in exciting college basketball games and back strong college basketball teams.
Michigan, (potentially) Michigan State filling a void
Online sports betting was introduced to the Michigan sports betting scene on January 22, marking a year of notable milestones.
March Madness will remain unchanged, just like last season’s NCAA Tournament cancellation.
Since the launch of sports betting last March, the basketball teams of Michigan and Michigan State will be the first Michigan-based teams to compete in significant games.
It’s unsettling to think about the last time a Detroit professional team competed in a game with significant implications.
The Spartans are entering the remainder of their games with a sense of urgency, while the Wolverines possess a genuine opportunity to secure a national championship.
Following their victory against Indiana on Tuesday, DraftKings currently projects Michigan State as a -152 favorite to secure a spot in the field, while they have a +122 chance of being excluded.
Michigan, currently ranked as the second-best team in the nation, has a clear advantage in securing a top seed and potentially clinching the championship title that eluded their coach, Howard, during his time as a player with the Fab Five.
Local basketball enthusiasts have the opportunity to place bets on their home teams, adding a monetary bonus to their celebrations of significant victories in the sport.
Or, there’s another option.
Emotional hedge could be in order
Emotional hedging is also a viable option for fans who have trained themselves to anticipate the worst.
Imagine a scenario where Michigan secures a spot in the Final Four and finds themselves with a golden opportunity at the buzzer to defeat Gonzaga, thus advancing to the title game.
Franz Wagner leaps for the decisive shot… it appears to be successful…
It rolls off.
You are crushed. A remarkable season has come to an end.
However, imagine that in anticipation of the impending heartbreak, you decide to place a bet on the Zags moneyline as a means to lessen your sorrow.
Even though you might be feeling low, at least you managed to earn some money amidst your suffering.
Starting now, Spartans fans may want to contemplate placing bets against MSU.
If Tom Izzo replicates his typical March run, there’s a chance you could lose some money. However, the jubilant festivities surrounding the Spartans’ triumphs might outweigh the financial setback.
Oakland trying to get in on the act
The Oakland University men’s team is just two victories away from securing an automatic bid to the Big Dance.
On Monday, the Horizon League team will be making their way to Indianapolis for the conference tournament’s semifinals and finals. Seeded fifth, the Golden Grizzlies (11-17) are scheduled to face Northern Kentucky in the 9:30 p.m. EST semifinal, right after the Milwaukee game against Cleveland State.
If Oakland manages to win Tuesday’s conference championship game, there is nothing quite as exciting as cheering for an upset in the early rounds.
Greg Kampe, the coach of Oakland for a significant period of time, is determined to secure his maiden NCAA Tournament victory without going through the play-in rounds. The Golden Grizzlies have not participated in the tournament since 2011. This season, they have faced tough competition, engaging in intense battles with the likes of Michigan, Xavier, Purdue, Oklahoma State, and Michigan State, even pushing one game into overtime.
Antoine Davis and Detroit’s season, unfortunately, came to a heartbreaking end on Tuesday night with a devastating loss against Northern Kentucky.
Not a peep from the Michigan MAC teams
Unlike previous years, none of the Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, or Western Michigan teams are relevant in the Mid-American Conference race this time around.
None of the three directional schools will be able to make it to the upcoming eight-team MAC tournament in Cleveland.
In the 12-team league standings, Western occupies the ninth spot, Central is positioned at tenth, and Eastern holds the eleventh position.
Michigan women, Hillmon taking center stage
Despite the absence of game postings on Michigan sportsbooks, you have the opportunity to place bets on women’s college basketball in this region. The Michigan Gaming Control Board has given approval for wagering on Division I games.
Games usually begin to be posted later in the month of March.
Michigan women, currently ranked No. 12 by the Associated Press, have a formidable candidate from the state, indicating a potential for a successful and lengthy journey.
This weekend, Coach Kim Barnes Arico and her team from Michigan will conclude the regular season. Following that, the Wolverines are set to participate in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament held in Indianapolis.
From March 21 to April 4, the women’s NCAA Tournament will take place in San Antonio.
Junior Naz Hillmon, who is widely regarded as one of the top players in the nation, is set to demonstrate her skills on the grand stage this month.
