On Sunday, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament bracket was disclosed, excluding both Maryland and Washington, DC, from the field of 68 teams.
Despite this, Virginia has a total of four schools included in the March Madness tournament.
- University of Richmond
- Longwood University
- Norfolk State
- Virginia Tech
It is important to note that betting on Virginia schools is not permitted within the state.
The latest effort to lift the ban on betting on in-state college teams was put on hold by the Virginia General Assembly. Nevertheless, while wagering on Virginia schools remains prohibited, there is still an opportunity to place bets on certain individuals from Virginia.
A multitude of Virginia natives are proudly representing the commonwealth in this year’s NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament.
Bet on Virginians with FanDuel VA’s 30-1 promo
If you’re still interested in placing bets on a Virginia college or university, you’ll have to travel to West Virginia, Tennessee, DC, or any other jurisdiction where it is legal to do so within their borders.
FanDuel has provided the following futures odds for the Virginia schools to win the tournament as of Thursday.
- The Virginia Tech Hokies have odds of +17000, which translates to a 170-1 chance of winning.
- Richmond Spiders: +50000 (500-1)
- Longwood Lancers: +50000 (500-1)
- The Norfolk State Spartans have odds of +50000, meaning they are considered a 500-1 underdog.
However, if you prefer to stay near your home, you will have to choose a school outside of Virginia to show your support. Fortunately, there are Virginians represented on teams in various schools across the country.
With the new FanDuel Virginia March Madness promo, you have the opportunity to win $150 on your team, regardless of the outcome, by placing a $5 bet.
As a first-time depositor at FanDuel, Virginia’s biggest sportsbook, you have the opportunity to receive 30-1 odds (+3000) on your selected team, with a maximum bet of $5. The best part is that regardless of the outcome, you will receive a payoff of up to $150 in site credit from FanDuel.
If you’re using the desktop version of the site, simply click on the link above and you’ll be asked to download the FanDuel VA app.
Afterward, all that remains is selecting your team for the opening round of the tournament. If you prefer a team with a local touch, consider these March Madness schools that have Virginians among their roster.
Out-of-state Virginians in March Madness
Even though there is a ban on betting in-state college games, there are alternative ways to support Virginia teams and discover other reasons to justify our preferences for certain matchups to follow or avoid.
This year’s tournament field consists of 16 out-of-state schools, with a total of 20 Virginians participating.
Allow us to examine the roster of individuals from the local community.
In-conference rivals include Duke duo from VA
Duke University’s Jeremy Roach from Leesburg and Mark Williams from Virginia Beach form a formidable duo, contributing a collective total of 20 points per game if you’re inclined to wager on ACC rivalries.
University of Miami player Jordan Miller hails from Middleburg.
The University of North Carolina boasts the highest number of students from Virginia on their rosters. Among them, Jackson Watkins and Armando Bacot hail from Richmond, while Anthony Harris, who hasn’t played since January, is from Woodbridge.
Fort Worth will host the game between Shaka Smart, the former coach of Virginia Commonwealth University, and his Marquette Golden Eagles.
These are the most recent lines:
- The Duke Blue Devils are favored by 18.5 points against Cal State Fullerton.
- Miami (+1.5) vs. USC
- UNC (-3.5) vs. Marquette
Nearly all top seeds have Virginians
Rasir Bolton, a native of Petersburg, will be playing for Gonzaga University, the top-seeded team, in a matchup against Georgia State. Similarly, David McCormack from Norfolk will be representing Kansas University, the No. 1 seed in the Midwest bracket, as they face Texas Southern. These games provide a secure choice for those seeking a reliable pick.
The winner of the game between No. 16 seeds Wright State and Bryant will face No. 1 seed Arizona, which includes guard Justin Kier from Grottoes. Among the remaining No. 1 seeds, Baylor is the only team that does not have any players from Virginia on their roster.
- Gonzaga is favored by 23.5 points in their match against Georgia State.
- Kansas is favored by 22.5 points against Texas Southern.
From 2018-2020, Kier from Arizona and Miller from Duke were teammates for George Mason before deciding to transfer out. This information is relevant for those who support George Mason.
Virginia natives look for upsets as underdogs
Consider a few underdogs for March Madness, as the tournament’s opening days are renowned for their astounding upsets.
Jaden Frazier from Pulaski represents Chattanooga, whereas Marchelus Avery from Richmond represents New Mexico State.
Chattanooga and NMSU, ranked as the No. 13 and No. 12 seeds, respectively, are considered underdogs in the tournament. However, it’s important to recall that VCU and George Mason, both No. 11 seeds, made impressive Final Four runs in the past. Additionally, the No. 4 seed Virginia suffered a defeat against No. 13 Ohio just last year.
Burke Smith from Glen Allen, who has played a few games for Boise State this season, is looking forward to getting some playing time against Memphis in their upcoming matchup.
These are the lines provided for the games:
- Chattanooga (+8) vs. Illinois
- Uconn is favored by 6.5 points against New Mexico State.
- Memphis is favored by three points against Boise State.
Head-to-head matchup with VA reps
Delaware and Villanova are the only teams competing against Virginians, and they both have three local players each.
- Wes Peterson from Arlington
- Angelo Brizzi from Warrenton
- Brandon Slater from Centreville
Slater is the only player from Villanova who consistently gets significant playing time. However, it would be great if the game turns out to be high-scoring, allowing everyone on the team to have a chance to contribute.
- The over/under for the Delaware vs. Villanova game is set at 133.5.
Most minutes: Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson
Hunter Dickinson, hailing from Alexandria and representing the University of Michigan, holds the record for the player with the most screen time. In the featured photo, Dickinson can be seen rejoicing, showcasing his prominent role. He dominates the court, spending an impressive 32 minutes per game, surpassing all others in this category.
Despite playing against No. 6 Colorado State, No. 11 Michigan remains the favored team in their upcoming game.
- Colorado State vs. Michigan (-1)
Midwest bracket chock-full of Virginians
In the Midwest bracket, the four remaining teams are set to compete. Representing Indiana University, Xavier Johnson, hailing from Woodbridge and averaging 12 points per game, is prepared to face off against St. Mary’s. This comes after their victorious defeat of Wyoming in a play-in game.
Efton Reid, hailing from Richmond, represents LSU as they face off against Iowa State. On Thursday, Nate Watson, averaging 14 points per game, leads South Dakota State against the Providence Friars. Although not seeing any playing time, Max Wilson will be dressed and ready for San Diego State as they go against Creighton.
- The point spread for the Indiana vs St. Mary’s game is Indiana +2.5.
- Iowa State vs LSU (LSU favored by 4 points)
- South Dakota State will face Providence with a two-point disadvantage.
- Creighton versus San Diego State with a point spread favoring San Diego State by 2.
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