- Building Bankroll
- Posts
- Issue #35
Issue #35
We Have A Bracket: Weekly Bets, UFC News, "Risk-Free" Promos, MLB, Tomorrow, and March Madness Trends
The Bracket Is Here.

2025 Overall Seeding
But you already know that.
And by this point you’ve probably already made a bracket, maybe even 10.
But have you added it to the FREE Building Bankroll Bracket Challenge yet?👇
In This Issue:
Community Cappers Lock In Their Weekly Picks
Last Week: 3-0 | +4.83u 📈
Bilal Coulibaly Under 13.5 Points (+100) ✅ The UNDERground Lab
Wofford/Furman Total Over 137.5 (-120) ✅ Locksmith
Florida Gators SEC Tournament Winner (+300) ✅ Peak Picks
2025 Record: 17-14 | +4.12u ✍️
In games where the spread is -16, Grimes averages 1.3 3’s per game as a Sixer.
The Rockets have also been elite in defending the 3 against guards all season and lately as well.
With key players continuing to be out for the 76ers, Grimes role shifts to more on the ball.
Recent trends also show him shooting more pull up 3’s as a result.
Expect a lot of pick and rolls to try to get Grimes going driving in as the Rockets do a great job in fighting over screens with their length.
They really don’t switch as much with FVV either.
Even if Maxey returns, he’ll be on a limit and Grimes' role shouldn’t take a hit as much, but will probably be more on the catch and shoot which the Rockets also defend well (rank 2nd overall in 3’s allowed all year).
I’ll take a stab at this UNDER here for even return!
The KenPom split is only six spots between the Cougars (24th) and VCU (30th).
However, what sticks out to me the most is the split from the defensive side of the ball.
Ryan Odom’s club is currently 23rd in defensive rating, while BYU is just 68th.
The Cougars have also given up over 74 points in each of their past five games, and I think VCU is much better than their seed and ranking show.
The only way BYU wins is if Egor Demin has a perfect game, but I have doubts with him being a freshman in the bright lights against a team that historically does well in March.
They will also need Richie Saunders to shoot the ball at a high rate as well, but I think VCU will adjust and force lots of turnovers and difficult shots.
I think it’ll be close, but give me the Rams with the points.
TIPOFF: Thursday, March 20th | 4:05pm ET
Peak will be tweeting out Round 1 Breakdowns all next week - Give this certified CBB ball-knower a follow on Twitter and be on the lookout!
Players are switching teams more frequently, creating less cohesion and more unpredictable game outcomes.
This environment is ripe for true buzzer beaters—shots made with zero seconds left to win the game.
Since 2014, there have been 9 “true” buzzer beaters in the March Madness Tournament.
Don't let powerhouse programs fool you; NIL hasn’t removed the madness or decreased the chances of upsets from lower seeds.
Embrace the chaos this March. Bet on a buzzer beater at +100 odds.
UFC To Move To Netflix?
ESPN+ faced pretty significant technical setbacks during UFC 313, with outages and buffering that angered both fans and the UFC.
The UFC’s current contract with ESPN expires on April 15th, and it sounds like the UFC is already exploring alternate options.
The Main Challenge
The traditional PPV model is struggling, with buys reportedly below 300,000 per event.
Some will argue that times have changed since this deal first inked in 2019 - With multiple fights hitting over 1,000,000 views during the pandemic.

50 million views / Product is not the problem 👀
UFC fighters have PPV points outlined in their contracts, impacting how much they make on events they fight in.
A drop in viewing hurts not only the UFC, but the potential upside for individual fighters.
Why Should You Care?
If you’ve never watched the UFC or don’t like the sport, you might not care much.
But a partnership between the UFC and a streaming service like Netflix could lead to extended content like original UFC documentaries, long-form behind-the-scenes content, or maybe even a fighter reality series.
It could also potentially lead to cheaper viewing options for UFC fans and bettors alike.
Stay tuned to find out where the UFC takes it’s talent, and how much a new partnership will impact fight nights.
Build Your Bankroll "Risk-Free"
The best sportsbook promotions you can find right now.
Boost your bankroll for March Madness, MLB season, or whatever else you’re betting.
For Existing Customers
These promos are listed in the order of what I consider best to worst.
bet365: $10M Prize Pool Bracket Challenge, FREE to enter.
Winner gets $100,000, with additional prizes for the top 5,000 brackets

Literally No Risk
ESPNBet: Deposit $25+ with code "MM10" ➡️ $10 Bonus Bet (NCAAM only)

Lower Risk
March to $2M: Place a $20+ cash wager on Men/Women’s NCAA Champ
Winning bettors split a $2M Bonus Bet Pot, AND $10/win your team has in the Tournament

Med - High Risk
DraftKings: 7 Free Entries to March Madness Bracket Pools
Likely coming out with daily promotions and bonuses as well

Literally No Risk
New Customer Promos
Caesars Sportsbook: Bet $1, get $150 in CBB Bonus Bets with code "NOLABG1"
Available in AZ, CO, DC, IA, IL, KY, LA, MD, ME, NY, OH, TN, VA, and WY
Secure $150 in Bonus Bets with a winning $1+ wager.
Players in other states can register with code "NOLADYW" to get ten 100% profit boosts
bet365: 2 sign-up options for new users, use code "NOLA365" to access either
Bet $5, get $150 in Bonus Bets
First-Bet safety net up to $1,000 (safety net paid in Bonus Bets)
I prefer the first option here - it leans more toward risk-free"
Underdog Fantasy (DFS): 50% first deposit match up to $1,000 with code "UDPROMO"
Bonus Bets must be used within 60 days.
2025 MLB Season Starts Tomorrow
It sounds crazy to write, but it’s true.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing off against the Chicago Cubs in a historic series at the Tokyo Dome, with games slated for 6:10 a.m. ET on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

It's not quite the 'Opening Day' we’re used to (March 27) - But we’ll take it.
Why the Tokyo Series?
Major League Baseball's global outreach strategy is clear: Take the game to the fans worldwide.
After successful international outings in places like South Korea, Puerto Rico, and England, MLB's choice of Japan is perfect, especially with a remarkable array of Japanese stars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki decorating the league.
What to Expect on the Diamond
The Cubs will play ace Shota Imanaga in Game 1, with Justin Steele starting Game 2.
Other the other side, the Dodgers will showcase their Japanese talents with Yamamoto taking the mound for Game 1 and Sasaki making his MLB debut in Game 2.
2024 STATS
Innings Pitched | ERA | WHIP | Strikeouts | BB | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yamamoto (LAD) | 90 | 3 | 1.11 | 105 | 22 |
S. Imanaga (CHC) | 173.1 | 2.91 | 1.02 | 174 | 28 |
J. Steele (CHC) | 134.2 | 3.07 | 1.10 | 135 | 37 |
The Dodgers roped in Cy Young Award-winning Blake Snell on a 5-year $182 million deal, and deepened their lineup with Michael Conforto and Hyeseong Kim in the offseason.
Kim was optioned to the the Oklahoma City Comets on March 12th
Mookie Betts is under the weather with reported weight loss, and his opening game status remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the Cubs' exciting acquisition includes Kyle Tucker and budding star Matt Shaw, though they’ll miss Nico Hoerner and Javier Assad in Tokyo due to injuries.
The Bottom Line
Whether you've been craving a taste of international flair or eager to see new rosters in play, these games promise excitement that’s worth waking up for.
And remember - we’re only 10 days away from full-time baseball.
March Madness Trends to Know
Look - if any trend from the past remained true forever, anyone could create a perfect March Madness bracket.
Remember when no 16 Seed had ever beaten a 1 Seed, and then UMBC faced off against Virginia in 2018?

2018 Virginia
Or after that, when people said "it took 25 years for that to happen - no way a 1 seed loses to a 16 seed again for a while!”…
And then FDU played Purdue in 2023, and it happened again.
Use trends and historical stats to guide your bracket (and bets), but don’t let them become your single source of truth.
No. 1 Seed Trends
2025 #1 Seeds: Auburn, Duke, Houston, Florida
All four #1 Seeds have only made the Final Four ONCE (2008)
In the last 20 years, there have only been 4 years where NONE of the #1 Seeds made the Final Four (2006, 2011, 2023)
In the last 10 years, 4 Championship games have featured a #1 Seed on both sides.
Upset Trends
Going back to 1985 (When tourney expanded to 64 teams from 32)
Yearly average of 8.5 upsets per tournament
Least upsets in a tourney: 3 (2007)
Most upsets in a tourney: 14 (2021)
1 Seeds have lost to a 16 seed twice (2018, 2023)
15 Seeds have beaten a 2 Seed 11 times total
Lowest Seeded team to cut down nets: #8 Villanova (1985)
A 10 Seed or higher (11, 12, etc.) has made the Final Four 7 times, most recently #11 UCLA in 2021 and #11 NC State last year.
Random/Miscellaneous Trends
Mountain West: Mid?
The Mountain West Conference is 10-23 Against the Spread (ATS) since 2016
Mountain West teams seeded at 10 or higher are 3-31 Straight Up
New-Look Calipari
John Calipari has been an underdog in only 10 March Madness games, going 6-3-1 ATS

🔵 → 🔴
His first round matchup against #7 Kansas has the Razorbacks as 5.5 point underdogs 🐶
Hit Your Free Throws
Teams that average 77%+ at the free throw line are 87-52-2 ATS in the NCAA Tournament.
Here are the teams in the tournament this year that fall in this zone:
Wisconsin - 82.78%
Gonzaga - 80.09%
Lipscomb - 79.44%
Xavier - 79.44%
Oklahoma - 79.42%
UConn - 79.07%
Duke - 78.45%
Arizona - 78.44%
Michigan State - 78.11%
Colorado State - 77.52%
Clemson (76.59%), Texas Tech (76.43%), High Point (76.33%), Oregon (76.32%), and Illinois (75.92%) are worth noting as well.
Liberty (66.07%) and Wofford (66.13%) are the worst free throw shooting teams in the tournament.
Slip of the Week
This is not technically a bet slip from this week, but very much worth remembering.
Two years ago today...
$33K BET CASHED ON FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON VS. PURDUE 🤯
(via @zachkoval@DKSportsbook)
— br_betting (@br_betting)
3:42 PM • Mar 17, 2025
Pass this issue on to a fellow human👇
Reply