How the Hot Hand Rises in March Madness

Most sports fans hold the idea of a hot streak in high regard for almost every live sporting event. After all, gaining momentum in most competitions usually translates to dominating control of the game. However, it seems to be quite revered by fans of March Madness and in this case, it is popularly known as ‘hot hand’.

For most casual sports fans, the myth of the hot hand means that a player can lead and control a game since this myth could mean consistency and it translates to better scoring or rebounds and ultimately, a better chance to win the entire game. Sometimes even the entire season! But for dedicated March Madness fans, some of them could see through the claim. These factors can help decide if a bettor’s wagers on digital websites or mobile sports betting apps like betway can prove the hot hand true!

Controlling the ‘madness’

The hot hand is popular because it is a semblance of control that can rise up throughout the entropic course of March Madness. The spirit of competition amongst the teams in the league can rise up to the occasion and it can mess up the consistency of brackets. Rampant in March Madness are Cinderella stories, unbelievable upsets, and impossible shots made at the last second are, in an ironic twist, can turn consistent!

Should they perform excellently in a consistent manner, it isn’t unreasonable if a bettor would find the team favorable for a bet or two. Teams that are in a hot streak, they can be seen high up in the rankings of sportsbook websites or mobile software like the Betway app. It can be too good to be true to believe, but remember, this is not proven! Many bettors act as if it does, despite the myth being a very popular belief in March Madness.

Repurposing the drama

The popularity of the hot hand also comes from the drama that it can potentially create on the basketball court. There are a few sports betting sites and mobile apps that use this to their advantage by applying leverages. Odds are adjusted from a number of factors. 

For example, sportsbooks take advantage of this bias by adjusting lines based on public perception rather than true probabilities. If a team wins two straight games as an underdog, bettors may overvalue them in the next round, leading to inflated odds. The same concept applies to player prop bets. It is unreasonable to assume that a scorer can repeat a feat of scoring 30 points in back-to-back games consecutively just because it happened!

Bettors can easily avoid this by being critical of public bias for a team. They can also focus on long-term factors such as potential matchups or efficiency stats instead of games that just finished. 

While the hot hand makes for great storytelling, smart betting requires resisting emotional biases. March Madness thrives on unpredictability, but that doesn’t mean streaks are predictive. The best bettors rely on data, not myths.