🏀 Sweet 16 Public Bets – DraftKings
📅 Thursday, Mar 27, 2025
Brigham Young (6) vs. Alabama (2) 🎯
📏 Spread: +4.5 (Brigham Young) / -4.5 (Alabama)
💰 Handle: 25% (Brigham Young) / 75% (Alabama)
🎰 Bets: 35% (Brigham Young) / 65% (Alabama)
🔢 Total: 174.5
💰 Total Handle: 73% (Over) / 27% (Under)
🎰 Total Bets: 55% (Over) / 45% (Under)
Maryland (4) vs. Florida (1) 🎯
📏 Spread: +6.5 (Maryland) / -6.5 (Florida)
💰 Handle: 6% (Maryland) / 94% (Florida)
🎰 Bets: 19% (Maryland) / 81% (Florida)
🔢 Total: 154.5
💰 Total Handle: 89% (Over) / 11% (Under)
🎰 Total Bets: 76% (Over) / 24% (Under)
Arizona (4) vs. Duke (1) 🎯
📏 Spread: +9.5 (Arizona) / -9.5 (Duke)
💰 Handle: 24% (Arizona) / 76% (Duke)
🎰 Bets: 40% (Arizona) / 60% (Duke)
🔢 Total: 152.5
💰 Total Handle: 99% (Over) / 1% (Under)
🎰 Total Bets: 89% (Over) / 11% (Under)
Arkansas (10) vs. Texas Tech (3) 🎯
📏 Spread: +5.5 (Arkansas) / -5.5 (Texas Tech)
💰 Handle: 56% (Arkansas) / 44% (Texas Tech)
🎰 Bets: 62% (Arkansas) / 38% (Texas Tech)
🔢 Total: 146.5
💰 Total Handle: 95% (Over) / 5% (Under)
🎰 Total Bets: 77% (Over) / 23% (Under)
📅 Friday, Mar 28, 2025
Mississippi (6) vs. Michigan St (2) 🎯
📏 Spread: +2.5 (Mississippi) / -2.5 (Michigan St)
💰 Handle: 16% (Mississippi) / 84% (Michigan St)
🎰 Bets: 25% (Mississippi) / 75% (Michigan St)
🔢 Total: 142.5
💰 Total Handle: 94% (Over) / 6% (Under)
🎰 Total Bets: 83% (Over) / 17% (Under)
Kentucky (3) vs. Tennessee (2) 🎯
📏 Spread: +4.5 (Kentucky) / -4.5 (Tennessee)
💰 Handle: 69% (Kentucky) / 31% (Tennessee)
🎰 Bets: 58% (Kentucky) / 42% (Tennessee)
🔢 Total: 145.5
💰 Total Handle: 64% (Over) / 36% (Under)
🎰 Total Bets: 78% (Over) / 22% (Under)
Michigan ( 5) vs. Auburn (1) 🎯
📏 Spread: +7.5 (Michigan) / -7.5 (Auburn)
💰 Handle: 48% (Michigan) / 52% (Auburn)
🎰 Bets: 57% (Michigan) / 43% (Auburn)
🔢 Total: 152.5
💰 Total Handle: 97% (Over) / 3% (Under)
🎰 Total Bets: 70% (Over) / 30% (Under)
Purdue (4) vs. Houston (1) 🎯
📏 Spread: +8.5 (Purdue) / -8.5 (Houston)
💰 Handle: 40% (Purdue) / 60% (Houston)
🎰 Bets: 49% (Purdue) / 51% (Houston)
🔢 Total: 132.5
💰 Total Handle: 81% (Over) / 19% (Under)
🎰 Total Bets: 87% (Over) / 13% (Under)
What Are Public Betting Percentages?
Simply put, public betting percentages tell you how the betting public is leaning in a matchup. If 75% of bets are on the Lakers to cover the spread, that’s the public percentage. But here’s the twist: some sources also show “money percentages,” which track the total dollars wagered. When these two numbers don’t align—like 70% of bets but only 30% of the money on one side, it’s a clue that big bettors (aka “sharps”) might be going the other way.
Sportsbooks use this data to adjust odds and balance their risk, which is why understanding the public’s behavior can give you an edge. Ready to dive into how this plays out across sports? Let’s go.
Why Public Betting Percentages Matter
The public isn’t always wrong, but they’re often predictable. Casual bettors love favorites, overs, and flashy teams, which can inflate odds and create opportunities elsewhere. That’s where strategies like “fading the public”, betting against heavy public favorites, come in. Pair these percentages with other tools like line movement or team stats, and you’ve got a recipe for sharper decisions.
Now, let’s see how this looks in each sport.
Public Betting Money by Sport
NBA: Star Power Sways the Crowd
In the NBA, public bettors flock to big names and high-octane offenses. Think LeBron’s Lakers or Curry’s Warriors pulling 80% of bets, even when the spread’s steep. Underdogs with low public support (under 30%) often sneakily cover, especially in back-to-back games where fatigue gets overlooked.
Tip: Check injury reports alongside public percentages, casual bettors rarely adjust for last-minute scratches.
CBB: Rankings Rule the Day
College basketball sees the public pile onto ranked teams or tournament darlings, especially during March Madness. A Top 25 squad might draw 90% of bets against an unranked foe, pushing the spread too high. Lesser-known teams with solid defenses can be goldmines here.
Tip: Look for games where the public’s under 20% on an underdog, value hides in the shadows.
MLB: Pitchers Trump Popularity
Baseball’s a different beast. Public percentages shift with starting pitchers and hot streaks, not just team fame. A Cy Young favorite might draw heavy action, but daily lineup changes keep the public guessing. This makes MLB less lopsided than other sports.
Tip: Cross-check public bets with weather or bullpen stats for an edge.
CFB: Powerhouses Pull the Public
College football is all about the blue-blood programs. Alabama, Ohio State, or Georgia can snag 85% of bets in a blowout, even if the spread’s 20+ points. Bettors sleep on scrappy underdogs who keep games closer than expected.
Tip: Fade the public on rivalry games, emotion often trumps logic.
NFL: Primetime Public Frenzy
The NFL is the king of public betting action. Favorites and overs dominate, especially in marquee Sunday Night or Monday Night games. If 75% of bets are on a popular team like the Chiefs, the line might overcorrect, leaving value on the underdog.
Tip: Watch for “reverse line movement”, when the line moves against heavy public betting, it’s a sharp money signal.
Where to Find Public Betting Data
You don’t need insider access to track this stuff. Sites like Vegas Insider, Action Network, or even big sportsbooks (DraftKings, Bet365) publish free public betting splits daily. Bookmark a couple and make them part of your pre-game routine.
5 Tips to Use Public Betting Percentages Like a Pro
- Don’t Blindly Fade or Follow: The public wins sometimes! Use percentages as a starting point, not gospel.
- Spot the Sharp Money: If bet percentages are high but the line moves the other way, pros might be betting against the crowd.
- Focus on Lopsided Games: When 70%+ of bets are on one side, look for value on the other, especially in CFB and NFL.
- Combine with Stats: Pair public data with team trends (e.g., road performance, ATS records) for a fuller picture.
- Avoid the Hype Trap: Big games draw casual money, stay disciplined when percentages skew hard.
Does the Public Always Lose?
Not quite. Over time, the public breaks even on some sports (like NFL favorites) but gets crushed in others (like CBB tourneys). The real trick is knowing when their bias creates an opening for you. For example, underdogs with less than 25% of bets have historically covered at a higher clip in NFL primetime games. Keep an eye on patterns like that—they’re your evergreen edge.
Your Next Step
Public betting percentages are a tool, not a crystal ball. Start small: pick a game, check the splits, and test a strategy. Whether you’re fading overhyped favorites or riding a sharp trend, these numbers can sharpen your bets across NBA, CBB, MLB, CFB, and NFL.
What’s your go-to move with public betting data? Drop it in the comments, we’d love to hear! And if you found this helpful, share it with your betting crew. Happy wagering!
