Total sports betting in Maryland in March was $537 million, up 21.3% from February and 39.1% more than sports wagering in March 2023 when there were fewer retail and app-based options.

The momentum may not let up just yet.

“Men’s and Women’s Final Four and National Championship games landing in April could provide a decent boost for state coffers,” Chris Boan, an analyst at , said.

“Orioles fans could play a major role in Maryland’s sports betting revenue during the spring and summer months, when there is typically a downtick in amount waged with sportsbooks,” he said.

Sports wagering in Maryland last month contributed $4.8 million to the state. During the first nine months of Maryland’s current fiscal year, sports wagering has contributed $41.9 million to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund.

The vast majority of sports wagering in Maryland is done through apps.

Gamblers won $491.6 million in prizes in March. Sportsbooks pay a 15% tax on the balance remaining after prizes are deducted from the handle.

Retail sports and mobile sports betting apps gave away almost $11 million in free promotional wagers last month.

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Starting on Tuesday night at XFINITY Center, when Maryland men’s basketball game faces off against Lehigh, and Dec. 30 when the team plays against Brown, the new restrictions will take effect.

These restrictions included:

• Concessions: Due to health and safety protocols related to COVID-19, concessions will not be available to patrons for home games on Dec. 28 and 30. Courtside Club will also be unavailable for these two games.
• Increased enforcement of indoor mask-wearing mandate: All patrons who are not in compliance with the requirement will be issued a verbal warning. If that patron continues to not be in compliance with our policies, they will be required to leave the arena, without refund.
• Flexible seat relocations: For those patrons who wish to have a little more physical space between other fans, Maryland Athletics will allow flexible seat relocation to less-populated sections (including the upper deck and student sections).
• KN95 Masks: The wearing of KN95 masks has been proven to significantly reduce the chances of infection. Maryland Athletics encourages all fans to wear KN95 during our upcoming games.

Maryland Athletics said in a statement that they will “continue to work with our University partners to monitor virus conditions within our community and the state, and will extend or expand these measures as deemed necessary.”

Tuesday’s game against Lehigh is taking the place of a previously scheduled game against Loyola, which was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols in Loyola’s athletic program. Tickets for the Loyola game will be honored at the door, the statement said.

For further information about this week’s games, contact the Maryland ticket office: 301-314-7070.

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The Gulls (11-0) scored on their opening drive in a back-and-forth, high-scoring first half battle against the Dutchmen (11-1). But Salisbury never let Union lead in the game. The 41 points were the second-most scored by the Dutchmen this season and the most that the Gulls have given up all year.

“We’re pleased to be advancing no doubt about it obviously it was a hard fought game, it was a team effort,” said Salisbury Head Coach Sherman Wood after the game. “It’s playoff football and the more you advance, the more you’re going to face good teams. And this one was a fight, but in the end we prevailed.”

The Sea Gulls and Dutchmen accounted for 1,051 combined yards. Salisbury showed a balanced attack with 305 yards on the ground and 215 passing yards from QB Jack Lanham, who went 9-15 with 3 touchdowns, while also rushing nine times for 29 yards.

Salisbury super back Mike-Ryan Mofor had three rushing touchdowns, the final one in the fourth quarter, solidifying Salisbury’s victory as the senior had his second straight over 100 yard rushing performance.

“I called it,” said Mofor of his final score, pausing confidently. “So I had to score.”

Sea Gulls defensive back Sean Carroll had two interceptions — one led to an eventual score, the other was in the end zone, ending a Union threat. Carroll also forced a fumble.

Dutchman wide receiver Andre Ross Jr., from D.C. (National Collegiate Prep), had eight catches for 219 yards and two scores in the defeat. Ross ends the season with 1,022 receiving yards, becoming only the third receiver in program history to break 1,000 yards.

The Gulls will host the No. 4 Muhlenberg College Mules (12-0) Saturday at noon with the winner advancing to the national semifinals on December 14. Even though Salisbury is lower-ranked nationally, they are higher-ranked in the region, earning the home game.

The 2019 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the Division III Championship Game, will be played on Dec. 20 in Shenandoah, Texas.

Reigning National Champion Mary Hardin-Baylor also advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals after its 42-6 win over Huntingdon.

Â鶹ąŮÍř Sports Anchor J .Brooks is the radio voice of Salisbury Football.

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Lost in the shuffle of rivalries, conference clashes and questionable calorie counts, is a top-five FCS matchup just down the road (actually two roads, if you take I-66 and then turn left at I-81). Second-ranked James Madison (5-1, 2-0 CAA) hosts No. 5 Villanova (5-0, 3-0) with the inside track to the conference title and a first-round bye in the upcoming FCS Playoffs up for grabs. The two teams rank 1-2 in the CAA in scoring, stopping the run, sacks and third down efficiency.  Each has been pushed to overtime on the road: JMU escaped Stony Brook last weekend while ‘Nova’s 52-45 September shootout at Towson moved the Wildcats from pretender to contender.

The program’s resurgence is especially sweet for third-year head coach Mark Ferrante; the longtime offensive coordinator took over when Andy Talley retired after 32 seasons in 2016 and the team posted consecutive losing campaigns for the first time since the 1990s. But his Wildcats have yet to face the triple-back attack like the Dukes’ Percy Agyei-Obese, Solomon Vanhorse and Jawon Hamilton: the power trio combine for 171.6 yards per game on more than five yards per carry. The Dukes’ big challenge will be getting to Villanova quarterback Daniel Smith (17 touchdown passes), as the Wildcats have allowed just three sacks all season. Kickoff in Harrisonburg is slated for 1:30 p.m., or if you’re at the Texas State Fair, around the time you’ve moved on to dessert and are trying the “Deep Fried Bayou Fruit Bites.”

Friday’s Game

No. 20 Virginia (4-1, 2-0 ACC) at Miami (2-3, 0-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

There was never a Hurricane warning this fall as the U got off to an 0-2 start, followed by wins over Bethune-Cookman and Central Michigan before last week’s disaster against Virginia Tech. While the ‘Canes lead the ACC in passing yardage (315 per game), the Cavaliers boast the second best pass defense in the conference and are second best at getting to the quarterback (27 sacks in five games);  Miami has allowed a league-high 25 sacks this fall. Head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s team has had a week to digest their loss at Notre Dame and refocus, while Manny Diaz’s eyes likely fell out while watching the game film of last Saturday’s loss to Virginia Tech.

Kippy and Buffy have their eyes on great tailgating as always, and a trip to South Florida means they’ll be serving Cuban pork sandwiches. Nothing goes better with pork than a bottle of 2016 Limerick Lane Russian River Zinfandel. Aromas of “blackberry, raspberry, bramble, cocoa leaf and wet stones” (yes — an actual tasting note from the vineyard website) get the palate ready for the taste of “strawberry, black pepper and blueberry pie crust” (again, one cannot make this up), delivering a “long finish with laser-focused acidity.”

Presto’s Pick: Cavaliers are laser-focused on a first-ever Coastal Division title, and come away with a 27-16 win

Saturday’s Games

Maryland (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) at Purdue (1-4, 0-2), noon (Big Ten Network)

There’s a switch at quarterback — sort of. Josh Jackson was listed as the starter in the press notes, but head coach Mike Locksley said that Jackson’s ankle injury suffered at Rutgers has the junior day-to-day and that Tyrrell Pigrome would start against the Boilermakers. Pigrome may not have the passing polish Jackson possesses, but he’s a much better runner — and with an offensive line that’s banged up, might be just the right fit for the present. Purdue has long been called the “Cradle of Quarterbacks,” thanks to All-Americans like Bob Griese, Mike Phipps and Mark Hermann; Drew Brees was shut out by the likes of Chris Weinke, Josh Heupel and George Godsey(?). This year’s team has been no different, until quarterback Elijah Sindelar and his top target Rondale Moore were injured on the same play against Minnesota. Neither saw the field last Saturday against Penn State. Defensively, Purdue ranks 13th or 14th in the Big Ten in every category (except in sacks where they’re currently ninth).

Uniform note: The Boilermakers will be wearing special uniforms commemorating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Not only is the late Neil Armstrong an alumnus, but the late Gene Cernan (the Apollo 17 astronaut who was the last person to leave the lunar surface) was as well.

Presto’s Pick: Terrapins make another small step towards bowl eligibility with a 38-14 landing

Virginia Tech (3-2) vs. Rhode Island (1-4), 4 p.m. (ACC Network)

There are complaints from many in the area who don’t have the ACC Network on their local cable system, but that might be a good thing for the Hokies this fall. Even in their wins, this team has been one tough watch. Only this year’s team could turn a 28-0 second half lead at Miami into a fourth-quarter nailbiter. Enter a Rams team that may be 0-3 in the CAA, but one that has lost three one-possession games. One week after coughing up 28 second half points to Miami, the Hokies will have their hands full as URI quarterback Vito Priore completes 65% of his passes. Priore’s top two targets, Aaron Brooks and Isaiah Coulter, each average over 100 receiving yards per game and are just the kind of tandem that turns suspect secondaries into sludge. After September saw a torrential downpour of turnovers, the Hokies dried things up last week with redshirt sophomore quarterback Hendon Hooker. The dual threat (184 yards and three touchdowns passing plus 76 yards and a touchdown rushing against Miami) didn’t throw an interception or lose a fumble, and no giveaways means Hooker stays first-string. He’ll face a rather accommodating Ram defense, one that allowed 41 points in their other game against an FBS school.

Presto’s Pick: Hokies make it two straight, 34-24

Navy (3-1, 1-1 AAC) at Tulsa (2-3, 0-1), 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Last Saturday’s win over Air Force was exactly the kind of game last year’s Midshipmen would lose. The other nightmare from 2018 involved an 0-6 road record (0-8 in games not played in Annapolis). For those curious, Navy’s last road win was September 30, 2017 against … Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane went 2-10 that year and have already equaled that win total in the first month of this season. But they still can’t stop the run (11th in the AAC) and if there’s one thing that the Mids do well, it’s move the ball on the ground (an FBS-best 312 yards per game). But they also lead the conference in offensive passing efficiency as well as rushing and total defense. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo’s team is also the least-penalized unit in the league; as fate would have it, the most-flagged Golden Hurricanes commit twice as many infractions per game.

Presto’s Pick: Midshipmen make it happen on the road, 28-20

Howard loses to Norfolk State, Georgetown gets by Fordham, James Madison beats Villanova, Richmond edges Maine, Towson tops Albany, Morgan State loses to Delaware State.

Last Week: 7-3. Overall: 39-14.

Ed. Note: With legal sports gambling coming to D.C. this fall, we’re including two more picks this year: Chris Cichon’s “The Big Chee’s” will pick a Top 25 game each week, while Noah Frank’s “Frankie’s Flyer” will pick an underdog of at least 7 points to cover and possibly spring an outright upset.

The Big Chee’s: Florida (+13) at LSU

Last Week: Loss (2-4 vs. spread)

Frankie’s Flyer: Houston (+7) vs. Cincinnati

Last Week: Cover (6-1 vs. spread, 3-4 outright)

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This year, though, there’s a twist: Clemson is ranked first and Alabama is second! I know, I’ll wait for you to pick yourself off of the floor.

In the current College Football Playoff era, the Tigers and Crimson Tide have combined for nine of the 20 semifinal berths. And there’s a very good chance they’ll be joined by the two other schools with multiple CFP berths (blue bloods Ohio State and Oklahoma) while the Pac-12 champ pounds sand once again. But it all starts this weekend.

Yes, you heard me correctly. Even though No. 8 Florida faced Miami in Orlando last Saturday, this is technically Week 1. Fans of the Gators and Hurricanes got to see underprepared teams combine for five turnovers, 23 penalties and convert a combined 4-of-24 third downs. Heading into the showdown it was referred to as “Week Zero,” and I wholeheartedly agree. Bring on the real season.

Maryland vs. Howard, noon (Big Ten Network)

The Terps will start a different quarterback in their opener for the fourth straight season, as Virginia Tech transfer Josh Jackson gets the nod. While with the Hokies, Jackson started Labor Day Weekend wins over ranked foes West Virginia and Florida State. And he never had a running threat like Anthony McFarland. The sophomore looks to continue the momentum of last November where he posted a pair of 200-yard rushing games. The Bison counter with third-year starting quarterback Caylin Newton (yes, he’s Cam’s younger brother) and the offensive weapons that led the MEAC in scoring last fall, but they also bring a defense that allowed 34 points per game in 2018.

Presto’s Pick: Terrapins Triumph, 45-20

Navy vs. Holy Cross, 3:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network). 

The long road back from 3-10 begins with a game against a Patriot League foe, one that was picked to finish second in its conference and ended in 2018 with four straight wins. But the Crusaders lost quarterback Geoff Wade to graduation, and Emmett Clifford (fewer than 10 yards per completion and a 1/3 touchdown to interception ratio) is just the kind of QB the new-look Navy defense wants to confuse pre-snap. All eyes will be on the arm of Midshipman quarterback Malcolm Perry as the team has been talking all month about throwing the ball more. It’s one thing to say you’re going to open up the offense, it’s another thing entirely to try to do so in game situations and yet another thing to execute.

Presto’s Pick: Midshipmen crush the Crusaders, 38-14

Virginia Tech at Boston College, 4 p.m. (ACC Network)

Of the three schools that marked the first exodus of the Big East to the ACC in 2004-05, the Hokies have been the most successful (Miami didn’t even win a Coastal Division title until last year) but for a while, BC held its own against the Clemsons and Florida States in the Atlantic Division. But since finishing first or second in the Atlantic each of their first five years in the league, the Eagles haven’t posted a winning ACC record. Junior running back AJ Dillon rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Hokies last year. We’ll see how revamped Virginia Tech’s defense is this year after finishing near the bottom of the conference in 2018. The road team has won four of the last five games in this series.

Presto’s Pick: Hokies make it happen, 27-17

Virginia at Pitt, 7:30 p.m. (ACC Network)

Could this be the Cavaliers’ year? The other six Coastal Division schools have each taken turns advancing to the Conference Championship Game since 2013. Last year’s representative was a Pitt team that reached Charlotte behind 1,000-yard rushers Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall; both are trying to stick with NFL rosters this summer. The Panthers also have four new starters on their offensive line and a quarterback in junior Kenny Pickett who has plenty of experience but also a very low ceiling. Cavaliers QB Bryce Perkins is coming off of a spectacular season where he was one of two FBS players to pass for at least 2,600 yards while rushing for 900+. The other? Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray.

My UVa tailgating pals Kippy & Buffy are back for another exciting season, and just like their team that’s dreaming big in 2019 my favorite couple begins big: a bottle of 2013 Joseph Phelps Insignia. “Focused and fresh, this exceptionally concentrated wine showcases elegant tannin structure and a silky mouthfeel layered with dark fruit, sweet vanilla bean, cracked black pepper and bittersweet chocolate.” Nothing bittersweet about the season ahead.

Presto’s Pick: Cavaliers are focused, fresh, and find a way to win, 27-20

Georgetown falls at Davidson, Towson tops The Citadel, James Madison makes FCS proud with an upset win at West Virginia, William & Mary wins at Lafayette.

Last Year: 69-44, including a 1-8 week where I should have pulled a George Costanza and went the opposite.

Ed. Note: With legal sports gambling coming to D.C. this fall, we’re including two more picks this year: Chris Cichon’s “The Big Chee’s” will pick a Top 25 game each week, while Noah Frank’s “Frankie’s Flyer” will pick an underdog of at least 7 points to cover and possibly spring an outright upset.

The Big Chee’s: Oregon (+4) at Auburn

Frankie’s Flyer: Toledo (+11.5) at Kentucky

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The distance between Lane Stadium in Blacksburg and Scott Stadium in Charlottesville may stand at 146.2 miles, but the gap between the two programs appears to be closing from what was one a huge chasm.

For the first time since 1997, Virginia (8-5) owned a better record than Virginia Tech (6-7). Last year it was the Hokies who suffered the embarrassing nonconference stumble. After dealing with a quarterback carousel for over a decade, it was the Cavaliers who had a stable signal caller situation for the third straight season while the Hokies were the ones who saw a former starter leave via transfer. UVa’s formerly Swiss cheese defense? The third stingiest in the ACC, while Virginia Tech allowed more than 40 points four times.

But there’s one area where the Hokies still dominate: 15 straight wins in the series, including last year’s overtime triumph where Virginia somehow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Fifteen straight wins, meaning most of the kids who were students when UVA last prevailed will be eligible to run for President next year. Fifteen straight wins, or every time these two schools have played as ACC foes.

Could this year finally be the one where the Cavaliers conquer the Commonwealth?

Virginia returns 14 starters from its best team in over a decade, with quarterback Bryce Perkins back to build on a stellar 2018 campaign (65% completion percentage, 2,680 yards, 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions). While he won’t have his main running threat (1,000-yard rusher Jordan Ellis) or top target (1,000-yard receiver Olamide Zaccheaus) from last season, he does have a pair of seniors to throw to in Hasise Dubose (52 catches last year) and Joe Reed (team-high 18.6 yards per reception with 7 touchdown catches).

The running game by committee will feature junior P.K. Kier plus sophomores Wayne Taulapapa and Jamari Peacock. Don’t be surprised if it’s Bryce Perkins (923 yards rushing, 9 touchdowns last year) who emerges as the chairman of the board.

Defense looks to be the strong suit, with last season’s defensive line returning intact along with standout linebackers Charles Snowden (61 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 interceptions in 2018) and Jordan Mack (66 tackles with 2.5 sacks) anchoring the second line of defense. Senior Bryce Hall continues the recent tradition of outstanding Cavaliers defensive backs (Quin Blanding, Juan Thornhill) and was named All-ACC Preseason First Team.

The Cavaliers kick off the season by visiting Pitt. Believe it or not, they played the Panthers last November for the ACC Coastal Division lead. They face Florida State and Notre Dame in September, meaning we could find out if this season represents another step forward for head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s program. Then there’s that home game the day after Thanksgiving.

Virginia Tech will say farewell to longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster this season. He’s been with the school since 1987 and 2019 will be Foster’s 25th year directing the defense.

In nine of the first 10 seasons the Hokies were in the ACC, they ranked first or second in total defense. In the last five years, they’ve finished in the top three just once, and 2018’s unit ranked 11th in the conference and 98th overall.

The ingredients of the collapse were part youth (only three returning starters), part injuries/ineligibility (three projected starters were lost before the season). This fall, Foster has nine returning starters, with junior linebacker Rayshard Ashby (105 tackles last year) and junior defensive tackle Jarrod Hewitt leading the way.

Senior rover back Reggie Floyd is the type of playmaker we’ve gotten used to seeing the Hokies secondary; he’s the strong link in the last line of defense.

Junior quarterback Ryan Willis took over for an injured Josh Jackson in the Old Dominion game last fall. He showed enough on the field (59% completion percentage, 2716 yards, 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions) during Jackson’s recovery from the broken leg to convince the former starter to look elsewhere for future snaps (he wound up at Maryland, where he’s starting Saturday against Howard).

Unlike his Cavaliers counterpart, Willis doesn’t have the wheels, as he rushed for just 354 yards. But he does have four of his top five receivers from 2018 returning, including junior Damon Hazelton, who caught 51 passes for 802 yards and seven scores last season. Head coach Justin Fuente’s running back by committee will feature 2017’s leading rusher Deshawn McClease.

The season starts on the road at Boston College, a matchup in which the road team has won four of the last five meetings. Then there’s the revenge game against Old Dominion (the Hokies lost at ODU 49-35 last September). While they visit Notre Dame in November, there’s nothing to suggest that this won’t be another bowl season in Blacksburg.

There is that season finale in Charlottesville, however. Could it possibly be a Sweet 16 party as well as successful send off for Bud Foster?

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In the highly volatile league that is the American Athletic Conference, Navy is a beacon of stability. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo isn’t just the longest-tenured coach at his respective school (he’s been at the helm since December 2007) — five other AAC schools are on their third coach since the Midshipmen joined the league. And it’s not just coaches who are coming and going: UConn has announced it will leave the conference to rejoin the reconfigured Big East. But just because the coach and the team aren’t going anywhere doesn’t mean there aren’t changes on the Annapolis campus.

As Navy enters Year 5 in the league, it wants to turn around a disturbing trend — after going 14-2 in regular season play with a division title in its first two seasons, the Mids went just 6-10 over the last two years. Throw in what is now a three-game losing streak to Army and a 10-loss campaign, the school’s worst since Paul Johnson’s first year in 2002, and Niumatalolo knew it was a time to re-examine his entire program.

“Well, first of all I had to look at myself,” said Niumatalolo. “You know, before I started pointing any fingers I had to look at myself. What did I need to improve? Then, structurally, our staff. And then our players. Schematically. I’m excited about some of the changes.”

The initial change was off the field — in the dining hall. For the first time, Navy football has a nutritionist working with the players in the program. There’s also a focus on improving the facilities moving forward. But while those changes will be behind the curtain, the most noticeable difference will be in the air this fall on a weekly basis in Annapolis.

Yes, you heard correctly: Navy plans to throw the football more this season. Last year, the team attempted less than 10 passes per game, sixth-fewest in FBS. Now that they’re facing the same schools every year in conference play, the coach has to mix things up.

“We’re still running and aggressive, but if you’re trying to bring (the defense) up, we’re going to throw the football,” said Niumatalolo.” People are closer to the line of scrimmage … and we can’t block everybody. So we’re going to have to throw the football and back people up.”

The vibe is contagious.

“It’s been something that coach has spoken on and he’s extremely excited about,” said senior center Ford Higgins. “He’s brought in coach Billy Ray, who’s a passing mind that might not have been in the locker room before.”

“Billy Ray” Stutzmann comes to the Academy as an offensive assistant after working with the wide receivers at Hawai’i last fall, helping the Rainbow Warriors passing game rank ninth in the nation.

For the second straight year, Malcolm Perry will be the starting quarterback, but in a way 2019 will feel like his debut. In his career, the senior has thrown just 27 passes, as last year the Mids subbed Garrett Lewis and Zach Abey in passing situations while moving Perry to A-back (Navy’s option offense features one fullback and a pair of halfback-types split to each side, but ahead of the fullback). Coach Niumatalolo said that he made a mistake not going all-in on Perry as his quarterback last fall. Even with the limited passing experience the senior learned quite a bit that will help him this year.

“My biggest focus this offseason was my decision making,” said Perry. “And that goes for the option game, the passing game. That’s all in my hands now.”

Not to mention his feet. The senior has rushed for over 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, and don’t forget that last fall Perry led the team in rushing, passing and receiving yardage in the win over Memphis. Junior fullback Nelson Smith averaged over five yards per carry last fall while A-backs C.J. Williams and Tazh Maloy showed sparks. The need for development at wide receiver is apparent, as the two leading returning receivers from 2018 are … C.J. Williams and Malcolm Perry.

Defensively there will be more of an overhaul from 2018, as the Midshipmen began last fall by coughing up 59 points at Hawai’i and finished near the bottom of the AAC against the pass while ranking dead last in sacks. Enter defensive coordinator Brian Newberry, who directed a Kennesaw State defense to a No. 2 ranking in FCS last season. The Owls led the Big South in rushing defense (102.1 yards per game), pass defensive efficiency (117.0) and red zone defense (76.9 percent), while standing second in sacks (31).

“We want controlled chaos, right? That’s what we talk about — toughness and elite effort,” said senior linebacker Paul Carothers. “Just to get after people. If we know what we’re doing and we understand our job and do it with elite effort, it’s gonna be hard to stop.”

Leading the pass rush will be a pair of linebackers, senior Nizaire Cromartie and sophomore Diego Fagot.

“It’s going to be a team that attacks, but there’s also structure to it,” said Niumatalolo. “It’s not reckless, where you’re playing zero coverage and blitzing seven every down.”

The defensive line boasts plenty of experience, but in order for the multiple looks shown by the back eight to work, they’ll need to produce better than last year’s pass rush.

Last year’s team was the most-traveled in FBS, venturing 26,496 miles for its six road games and two neutral tilts. And not all neutral games are created equally, as the Midshipmen faced Army in Philadelphia while heading to San Diego for their game against Notre Dame). It’s a good thing that as they try to turn around the program, this fall’s slate is front-loaded with home dates: five of their first seven games will be at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, including their annual affair with Air Force.

“I think that’s big. As a team that’s young, just getting them on our field in front of our crowd early on,” said Perry. “I think that’s gonna help us rolling on into the season.”

A new twist on a longtime era begins Aug. 31 in Annapolis against Holy Cross.

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The city of Charlottesville is reveling in the excitement leading up to Monday night’s NCAA men’s basketball championship game between University of Virginia and Texas Tech.

“Wow! The mood ahead of tonight’s game is ecstatic,” said Hawes Spencer, longtime Charlottesville reporter and resident. “People are walking around, talking to anyone who will listen about how excited they are.”

Virginia got to its first-even final game with a last split-second 63-62 victory over Auburn on Saturday night, prompting exuberant celebrations all over Charlottesville.

Monday night’s game with Texas Tech, which got to the finals with a convincing win over Michigan State, begins at 9:20 p.m. It is being played in Minneapolis.

“Everybody’s stopping what they’re doing,” to watch the game, Spencer said. “It’s bigger than the Super Bowl.”

The University of Virginia will host a viewing party at the John Paul Jones Arena. Doors will open at 8 p.m. Admission and parking are free. University officials say the clear bag policy and entry procedures used during games will be enforced.

On Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, the game will be broadcast at The Paramount Theater. Admission is free, but for entry. Doors for the event will open at 7:30 p.m.

Charlottesville police expect to announce road closures and detours in the vicinity of The Corner.During Saturday’s excitement, Albemarle County and Charlottesville police said they did not make any game-related arrests.

“There couldn’t be a better time for this to happen to Charlottesville,” Spencer said. “Last year, at this same tournament, Virginia had the dubious distinction of being the first top seed blown out by a 16 seed.”

“And, of course, going back in history — not to get too dark here — but this is Charlottesville, where we had some really bad stuff happen a couple years ago,” referring to the Aug. 2017 Unite the Right white nationalist rally. Spencer’s book, focused on what led to the violent protest and counterprotest.

Spencer said the city is benefiting from uniting “behind something that is exciting.”

“All of Charlottesville is just on the edge of its seat, watching this thing play out,” he said.

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I’m embarrassed to even ask, but what is March Madness?

March Madness is the term that has come to describe the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, which begins in mid-March and runs over three weekends into early April.

When does March Madness start?

That depends on your perspective, but there are a few play-in games beginning Tuesday, March 19 (more on that later), then the first full day of games this year is Thursday, March 21. The Final Four is played on Saturday, April 6 and the national title game Monday, April 8.

Are any of our local schools going to be in the field?

Yes! Virginia (1 seed), Virginia Tech (4 seed), Maryland (6 seed) and VCU (8 seed) all made it in (as well as Old Dominon (14 seed), if you consider them local).

Old Dominion and VCU were eliminated in the first round. Maryland fell in the second round to LSU.

Virginia Tech advanced to the Sweet 16 at Capital One Arena where it fell to Duke.

Virginia advanced to its first Final Four since 1984. The Cavaliers played Auburn in Minneapolis, Saturday, April 6, and won. Virginia is heading to the NCAA national championship game for the first time in the school’s history.

How many teams play in the NCAA Tournament?

The field has expanded incrementally over the years, from just eight teams in the inaugural, 1939 tournament, up to the 68 that exist today.

Update: The field is set. .

Wait, 68 teams? How does that work?

Right. So, in 2011, the tournament expanded to 68 teams to increase the number of at-large bids. As a result, the four lowest-rated automatic bids (all 16 seeds) and the four lowest-rated automatic bids (anywhere from 11 to 14 seeds, depending on how the rest of the field shapes up) compete against one another in play-in games called the First Four, held in Dayton, Ohio, the Tuesday and Wednesday before the rest of the tournament begins. That winnows the field to 64, from which an eventual champion emerges six rounds of play later.

How do teams qualify for March Madness?

Of the 68 available bids, 32 go to the winners of the 32 conference tournaments, which take place in the two weeks before the national championship begins. That leaves 36 at-large bids, which are chosen by a selection committee made up of athletic directors and conference commissioners from around the country. They group teams into four regions, the winners of which play in the Final Four.

How are the teams seeded?[related_gallery align=”right”]

The selection committee rates the teams based on their performance in the regular season and conference tournaments, using a number of different metrics. You may hear talk of Tier 1 through Tier 4 wins and losses, which are graded out based on quality of opponent and location of the game played. The NCAA also introduced a new metric this year called NET, which is intended to be an upgrade over the flawed RPI number used in years past. Ultimately, it’s a judgment call, and with efforts to prevent regular season rematches, sometimes the seeding can be controversial.

Who won March Madness 2018?

For the second time in three years, Villanova cut down the nets, beating Michigan for the national title. UCLA (11) has the most championships all time, while Georgetown (1984) and Maryland (2002) are the only local schools to have won the NCAA Tounament.

Where are the NCAA Tournament games played?

Tournament games are played at neutral sites, which move around from year to year. In 2019, first weekend games will be played in Hartford, Salt Lake City, Des Moines, Jacksonville, Tulsa, Columbus, Columbia (SC) and San Jose. For the tournament’s second weekend, games will be played in Anaheim, Louisville, Kansas City, and Washington D.C. The Final Four is in Minneapolis.

Wait, there are games in Washington D. C.?

Yep. For the first time since 2013, D.C. hosted NCAA Tournament games, with the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight at the Capital One Arena Friday, March 29 and Sunday, March 31, respectively.

What do Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight mean?

Teams that survive the first weekend of the tournament to make their regional semifinals are deemed the Sweet Sixteen. If they win their first game of the tournament’s second weekend, they earn a spot in the Elite Eight. In our case, the four surviving team from the first weekend of play in the East Regional will play the regional semifinals and finals at Capital One Arena, with the winner going to the Final Four.

Isn’t there also a women’s tournament?

There is indeed. It didn’t start until 1982, but features 64 teams with a similar selection process. Perhaps the biggest difference is that higher rated seeds host for the first two rounds before the tournament moves to neutral sites. Maryland is a perennial Final Four contender and is a 3 seed in this year’s field, meaning they’ll play either one or two games (if they win the first one) at home in College Park.

How do I watch the games?

This year’s tournament will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and True TV, with the later rounds consolidating to the more major networks.

How do I access a March Madness 2019 bracket?

Brackets are posted on sports sites like ESPN and CBS Sports as soon as the field is set on Selection Sunday. There are usually , and there are often free tournaments you can enter online for the chance to win prizes.

Is it illegal to enter a betting pool for money?

Despite the continuously changing sports betting laws both nationally and locally, technically yes, it is still illegal. , but if you’re planning to play in a pool for money, doing so eliminates nearly all of the potential issues.

What do people mean when they say “Cinderella?”

A Cinderella is a team that becomes the darling of that year’s tournament, often a school that isn’t particularly well-known coming in. Last year, UMBC’s historic first-round win and Loyola-Chicago’s incredible Final Four run as an 11-seed qualified each for the label (everyone remember U Must Be Cinderella?).

Can a Cinderella team win the whole thing?

UMBC became the first ever 16 seed to beat a 1 seed last year, when they shocked Virginia. One 15 seed has made the Sweet Sixteen (Florida Gulf Coast, 2013), one 12 seed has made the Elite Eight (Missouri, 2002) and four 11 seeds have made the Final Four, including a pair of local schools (George Mason, Loyola Chicago, LSU and VCU). The lowest seed ever to win the national title, though, was 8 seed Villanova in 1985.

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