MONTREAL, March 16, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The NCAA Tournament brackets have been released, and March Madness has hit college basketball courts around the country. Water cooler bookies log bets from office workers, Las Vegas sportsbooks race to create betting propositions, and online gamblers browse their favorite Internet site eager to place their bets. From college dorm rooms to busy call centers located in Canada, Costa Rica and Antigua, sports bettors and the gaming industry alike are ready for action.
"March Madness commands a lot of attention," said Mike Foreman, spokesperson for BetUS.com. "It's raw. It's real. Underdogs overcome all odds to win and champions are left to scurry to the sidelines with their tails between their legs."
The Delaware State Hornets and the Duke Blue Devils hit the court Friday evening. BetUS.com has Duke listed as a 26 1/2-point favorite. The current favorites to win the NCAA tournament include Illinois at 18 to 5, North Carolina at 15 to 4 and Duke at 12 to 1.
Regardless of which team is listed as a favorite, all those people who follow the NCAA Division I Men's Championship know that nothing is certain during the month of March. Teams only have one chance to get it right and advance to the next round, leaving the door open for exhilarating upsets.
"These tournaments are filled with upsets. It's possible that the Hornets could steal this win from the Devils, but I doubt it," said Foreman. "You can factor in statistics, trends and injury reports, and it won't mean a thing. It's all about who comes to play. This is what makes March Madness so exciting and why so many people want to get into the action."
BetUS.com has posted odds on the March Madness brackets and will be updating propositions as the NCAA Division I Tournament unfolds. Some of the bets posted on BetUS.com include,
-- How many No. 1 seeds will reach the Final Four
-- Odds for each team to make the Final Four
-- Total wins by each major conference
For a complete listing of propositions and odds, visit www.BetUS.com.
BetUS.com (http://www.BetUS.com) is one of the oldest and most respected legal online sports betting organizations in the world and is licensed and bonded in two recognized gaming jurisdictions -- Canada and Costa Rica. Employing over 500 people, BetUS.com provides a safe and secure place for sports wagering to more than 100,000 clients. Members can enjoy wagering on some of their favorite sports including: football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf and boxing. BetUS.com has been in operation for 11 years and also offers Vegas-style casino games and interactive poker.