North Carolina Sports Betting: How to Bet on Duke and UNC in March Madness

For the first time in the tournament’s 85-year history, North Carolina residents will be able to legally bet on their favorite in-state college teams when this year’s March Madness Tournament tips off on Tuesday, March 19^th.

Just eight days before that, sports betting will officially launch in North Carolina on Monday, March 11, making it the latest state to join the 30+ that have already legalized sports betting. If the timing couldn’t get any more perfect, the ACC Tournament featuring local favorites Duke and the University of North Carolina tips off the next day on March 12^th.

Dimers reported on the tumultuous path to launch that North Carolina faced before we revealed that the state finally settled on a launch day - this coming March 11^th.

We'll be right by your side from now through launch day as we take you through the elite sportsbook sign-up offers and best sportsbooks to use.

March Madness a Key Factor in Launch Date

As NC is  home of two of the most popular college basketball programs, Duke and the University of North Carolina, the proximity of the March 11th launch date to the March 19th start of the 2024 March Madness Tournament played a significant role in passing the legislation.

Bettors in the state will be extra eager to finally wager on their favorite college team. With both Duke and UNC on track to make the tournament, residents are hoping that the teams make a decent run so they can maximize their betting opportunities on their favorite teams. After the tournament ends, the only in-state teams to bet on will be the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets until the football season.

Fortunately for those bettors, our model is constantly running 1000s of simulations on the remainder of the season and the potential tournament participants to identify each team’s chances to win it all.

How to Bet on Duke in the March Madness Tournament

Duke has entered a new era. This is their second season without longtime head coach Mike Krzyzewski at the helm and they’re eager to fare better than last season’s second-round exit from the NCAA Tournament. They’ll have some work to do according to DimersBOT.

The Duke Blue Devils are leading the ACC with four games remaining in the regular season, trailing North Carolina by one game. They're favored at +350 to win the ACC regular season, with a crucial upcoming game at home against North Carolina. Duke currently has odds of +2800 to win the NCAAM tournament on DraftKings, and they're also priced at +550 to make it to the Final Four.

We give Duke just a 2.4% probability of winning it all, while their +2800 odds imply a 3.5% chance. Seems small, right? Well, our probability translates to fair odds of +4000, meaning that little 1.1% difference is worth $120 if you were to bet just $10 on Duke to win. Identifying these misprices is crucial, particularly for new sports bettors who are eager to bet their favorite teams. You should always make sure you get a fair price!

RELATED: Dimers' March Madness Futures Odds

How to Bet on the University of North Carolina in the March Madness Tournament

The No. 9-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels are poised for a top-four seed in one of the NCAA tournament regions, leading the race for the ACC regular season title.

They hold +2000 odds, tied for the sixth-shortest, to win the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship on FanDuel, and are also our sixth-most likely team to win. At +400 odds, they're also considered strong contenders to make it to the Final Four. As a consistent force in college basketball, the Tar Heels demonstrate formidable potential to make a deep tournament run and vie for the national title.

However, are they a good bet? +2000 calculates out to a 4.8% probability to win the tournament, while our model projects the Tar Heels with a 3.5% probability. That makes their fair odds +2800. So, they’re not as mispriced as the Blue Devils, but you would like to see a bit better odds on North Carolina here.

Who Will Win the 2024 March Madness Tournament?

Currently, Dimers’ most-likely champion is the No. 1 team in the country, the University of Connecticut Huskies with a 10.7% probability. Behind them, we give the Houston Cougars an 8.1% chance, and the Purdue Boilermakers a 7.8% chance.

Dimers’ North Carolina Betting Resources

North Carolina Betting FAQ

Best DFS Promos in North Carolina

Our Best Reviewed Sportsbooks

North Carolina Sportsbook Promos

March Madness Futures Predictions

Dimers and Responsible Gambling

Please remember to enjoy gambling responsibly. Responsible gambling means setting limits, staying in control, and understanding that luck is just part of the game. Make informed choices, set a budget, and know when to take a break. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.