Final Four betting trends

March Madness is synonymous with uncertainty, but if you look closer, you'll find certain trends help predict the outcome of the NCAA tournament.

Below we break down some of the key stats and figures of the Final Four based on seeding, conference, and region.

Final Four by conference

2023: Big East, Mountain West, ACC, Conference USA
2022: Big 12, ACC, Big East, ACC
2021: Big 12, West Coast, American, Pac-12
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2019: ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC
2018: Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Missouri Valley
2017: ACC, West Coast, Pac-12, SEC
2016: Big East, ACC, Big 12, ACC
2015: ACC, Big Ten, Big Ten, SEC
2014: American, SEC, SEC, Big Ten
2013: Big East, Big Ten, Big East, Missouri Valley
2012: SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East
2011: Big East, Horizon, SEC, Colonial
2010: ACC, Horizon, Big Ten, Big East

Since 2010, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference has made the Final Four nine times. In 2016, both North Carolina and Syracuse represented the ACC in the Final Four, and had to face each other in the semifinal round. Future ACC member Louisville also made the Final Four both in 2012 and 2013, while Syracuse earned a spot as a member of the Big East in 2013, but joined the ACC the following year.

The Big Ten has also reached the Final Four eight times in the past decade, but no member has won it all since 2000. The Big 12 has earned a national semifinal spot in all but two (2017 and 2023) of the past eight NCAA tournaments.

A team from the ACC or Big East has won nine of the past 13 tournaments.

Final Four by seed

Seeding can make or break a team's path in the tournament. It should come as no surprise at least one No. 1 seed has made the national semifinal round every year but one since 2010 with only two exceptions. One exception occurred in 2011, when No. 3 UConn, No. 4 Kentucky, No. 8 Butler, and No. 11 VCU all made up the Final Four. The second occurrence was in 2023 when No. 4 UConn, No. 5 San Diego State, No. 5 Miami, and No. 9 Florida Atlantic made the Final Four. 

No. 2 seeds fare decently as well, with seven appearances in the past decade.

A No. 11 seed is the lowest to march to the Final Four and did so most recently in 2018 and 2021, when Missouri Valley member Loyola-Chicago shocked the country and emerged out of the South region in 2018, and UCLA came out of the East region in 2021. 

Winner by seed

You're in excellent shape if you earn a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance. Since 2010, nine teams with a top seed have won the NCAA tournament, while one No. 2 seed hung a banner in 2016. The only other seeds to claim a national championship in that span are a No. 3 (UConn in 2011), a No. 7 (UConn in 2014), and a No. 4 (UConn in 2023).

Winner by region

No region has recently been more successful in producing a tournament champion than the South. In the last decade, half of the winners have come from the South region (five out of 10). Meanwhile, two champions have emerged from the East region (in 2014 and 2018), two from the Midwest, and one from the West since 2013.

Now that you know the key trends, make your pick for the NCAA tournament using a YOUBET reviewed sportsbook!