Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers guard Dallas Hobbs shoots the ball over American University Eagles guard Colin Smalls in the first half of a March 19, 2025, game during the NCAA's "First Four" elimination round at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Mount St. Mary’s defeated American University 83-72. (OSV News photo/ Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images, Reuters)

Buzzer-beaters are more common in the earlier rounds of March Madness when there are more games. The Round of 64 has 32 games, for example, while the final three rounds have just seven games combined. There are simply more chances for buzzer-beaters in earlier rounds. The deeper you get into the tournament, the less common they become.

A look at the best March Madness betting promos for first- and second-round action, including top offers from bet365, BetMGM and more.