NCAA College Hockey March Madness Is Here: How To Bet On It In MA

During this time of year, the college basketball NCAA Tournament, commonly known as March Madness, receives a significant amount of attention. However, Massachusetts sports fans also hold a vested interest in another exciting event known as the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, which is often referred to as March Madness as well.

Out of the 16 teams that qualified for the field this year, Massachusetts had the privilege of being represented by three of them, namely Boston University, Harvard, and Merrimack.

In the national semi-finals, Boston University earned a spot in the Frozen Four and is set to face off against Minnesota.

In Massachusetts, it could be argued that the Frozen Four holds more significance than the Final Four, at least in terms of March Madness.

This year, online sports betting in Massachusetts enables college hockey fans in the Commonwealth to amplify their experience by placing bets on the March Madness tournament.

College hockey March Madness betting in MA

In order for the state senate to successfully pass the sports betting bill in August 2022, it became necessary to include an exemption prohibiting Massachusetts residents from betting on in-state college teams during traditional exhibition matchups.

For those interested in betting on colleges within the state, there is a fortunate exception to the rule that allows wagering on in-state teams participating in tournaments with four or more teams. Such events encompass March Madness, the College Football Playoff, the College World Series, and the NCAA Ice Hockey Tournament.

Currently, NCAA Tournament betting is available to hockey fans in the Commonwealth through both online and in-person options.

You can place bets in person at three casinos in Massachusetts: MGM Springfield in Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, and Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville.

On March 10, MA online betting apps were launched, and currently, there are six apps accessible. These apps include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, WynnBET, and Barstool Sportsbook. Sports enthusiasts in Massachusetts can conveniently place bets from any location within the state using these mobile apps.

Furthermore, utilizing MA signup promos is an excellent strategy for college hockey betting.

Boston University in Frozen Four

In the race to the Frozen Four, only Boston University emerged as the sole Massachusetts team to advance. On Thursday, April 6, the Terriers are set to face off against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the national semi-finals.

In Massachusetts, sportsbooks provide an extensive range of betting options for hockey games, ensuring a wide variety of wagers to select from. However, the majority of hockey betting revolves around three main types of bets: moneylines, puck lines, and totals (over/under).

The moneylines in hockey function in the same way as moneylines in any other sport. It involves placing a wager on which team will emerge as the winner of the game. Puck lines, on the other hand, are the hockey equivalent of spread bets that are commonly found in football and basketball odds. Due to the scoring systems in those sports, spreads tend to change more frequently compared to hockey. In hockey games, the standard puck line is set at 1.5 goals. If you choose to bet on the puck line, you are essentially placing a bet on the favored team to win by two or more goals (indicated as -1.5), or for the underdog to either keep the game within a two-goal margin (indicated as +1.5) or secure a outright victory.

Total bets in hockey involve predicting the combined number of goals scored by both teams in a game. Bettors have the option to wager on whether the total will be over or under the specified number. In hockey, total scores usually span from 5 to 8 goals. The odds for hockey total bets are commonly around -110 for both options, although they may vary.

Besides these wagers, MA sportsbooks provide a range of other hockey bets, including player props, team props, parlays, and various other options.

MA college hockey title odds

There are currently four teams left in contention for the national title. The Minnesota Golden Gophers are considered the top favorites to win, with odds of +155 on DraftKings Sportsbook MA. Michigan (+250) and Quinnipiac (+390) closely trail behind as strong contenders.

Similar to Quinnipiac, Boston University’s odds of winning it all have improved to +390. At the beginning of the tournament, their odds stood at +1200.

Please note that the odds mentioned may change before the start of each game and during the tournament. Additionally, the odds can differ among different sportsbooks.

How the college hockey NCAA Tournament works

In the country, there are a total of 61 Division I hockey programs. Out of these, only 16 teams are able to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The process involves six conference champions who receive automatic qualification, while the remaining top 10 teams are chosen on an at-large basis by the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee.

A total of four regional sites are chosen to host four teams each. These teams face off in a single-elimination Regional Semifinal competition. The two victorious teams then battle it out in a single-elimination Regional Final game, held at the same site. The winners of each of the four Regionals then move forward to compete in the Men’s Frozen Four.

Regionals occurred from March 23 to March 26 this year. The Frozen Four is scheduled to happen at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, featuring the National Semifinal games on April 6. The National Championship is set to take place on April 8.

If you or someone dear to you is facing gambling issues, please reach out to a trained specialist for free assistance anytime, either by calling 1-800-327-5050 or visiting www.mahelpline.org/problemgambling.