The Other March Madness: MA College Hockey NCAA Tournament Betting
The college basketball NCAA Tournament, aka March Madness, gets a lot of attention this time of year. However, there is another version of March Madness that Massachusetts sports fans also have interest in: the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship.
It’s no secret that Massachusetts is a hotbed for hockey talent. There are several programs in the state that have rich hockey histories, and they are looking to keep those traditions alive with another national title.
In fact, with four teams in the top 20, Massachusetts could be considered the mecca for college hockey right now.
So, at least for Massachusetts, maybe the more relevant March Madness ends with the Frozen Four, not the Final Four.
College hockey betting odds
This year, hockey fans in Massachusetts can bet on college hockey March Madness.
Sports betting in Massachusetts is here, but for the time being, bets can only be placed in person at three Massachusetts casinos: MGM Springfield in Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, and Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville. However, that will change soon when MA mobile betting apps go live on March 10.
The NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship begins on March 23. This means that you will be able to bet on the tournament from anywhere in Massachusetts.
While the tournament is still a few weeks away, it’s never too early to look at the odds. Here are the top teams with the best betting odds for college hockey March Madness on DraftKings Sportsbook MA:
- Minnesota +330
- Michigan +550
- Denver +550
- Quinnipiac +700
- Saint Cloud State +800
- Boston University +1600
- Western Michigan +1600
- Ohio State +2000
- Penn State +2000
- Harvard +2200
Keep in mind that these odds are subject to change throughout the course of the regular season and tournament. Odds can also vary from sportsbook to sportsbook.
Massachusetts teams in the hunt
Boston University has the sixth-best odds to win it all at +1600 on DraftKings. Harvard (+2200), Northeastern (+3000), UMass (+3000), Boston College (+3000), and UMass Lowell (+4000) are also in the hunt.
In the latest Division I Men’s Ice Hockey rankings, Harvard is No. 5, BU is No. 7, Northeastern is No. 15, Merrimack is No. 16, and UMass Lowell received the second-most votes outside the top 20.
Boston University and Boston College have each won five national titles, while Harvard and UMass both have one. UMass Lowell won three Division II national titles in 1979, 1981 and 1982 before making the jump to Division I after the 1983-84 season.
How the college hockey NCAA Tournament works
There are 61 Division I hockey programs in the country. Only 16 make the NCAA Tournament. Six conference champions receive automatic qualification, while the remaining best 10 teams are selected on an at-large basis by the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee.
Four regional sites are selected with four teams playing at each site. Those four teams will compete in single-elimination Regional Semifinal competition. The two winning teams will then compete against each other in a single-elimination Regional Final game at the same site. The winning team from each of the four Regionals will advance to the Men’s Frozen Four.
The NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship bracket will be announced on Sunday, March 19. Regionals will take place from March 23-26. The Frozen Four will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, with the two National Semifinal games taking place on April 6. The National Championship will take place on April 8.
