March Madness 2009 betting is here and the odds to win the NCAA Tournament are posted. So many worn out clichés cost square players tons of money, perhaps the myth about how experience is so important in the conference tournaments and the Big Dance topping the list.

In many respects we believe experience can be overrated in handicapping college basketball. We subscribe to the John Wooden adage of “give me talent”. That is so much truer now than it was then. Wooden, of course, coached when freshman were not eligible and when star players did not go to the NBA early.

This is not to say though, that experience is irrelevant. Having participated successfully in the big games is a significant factor when fused with talent.

But avoiding the temptation to go with a big underdog based on the sole fact of seniority is one reality the smart player has to be aware of, especially this time of the year. It’s a factor that gets overanalyzed come conference play and even more so in the Big Dance and NIT.

The fact is that squads with young players in key roles generally develop the most as the year goes on.

All in all, in late February and March, give me an underdog with an upside, a young cocky team too naïve to know they are not supposed to win.

Joe Duffy’s sports betting selections are parts of the Dream Team of GodsTips, anchor of OffshoreInsiders.com