March Madness Fever Grips Basketball Fans

It's that time of year again when basketball fans across the United States and around the world are gripped by one thing - March Madness fever.

The 2010 NCAA men's college basketball champion will be determined at the end of the 65-team elimination tournament, which begins on Tuesday and ends April 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

March Madness also happens to be one of the biggest sports betting events in US sports, and this year will be no different, as all the bookmakers - including Titan Bet, which specializes in American events - offer odds on the outcome and on individual matches.

The Kansas Jayhawks go into the tournament as the top-ranked team, on the back of a stellar 32-2 regular season record. Their main competition in the Midwest will come from Ohio State and Georgetown.

Kentucky are the second-ranked team overall and the main challenger to the Jayhawks, while West Virginia, Ohio State, Villanova and Kansas State are also considered major contenders, following successful lead-up form.

Surprisingly, last year's champions North Carolina did not qualify at all for the final tournament.

March Madness History
The tournament has come a long way since the term March Madness was first coined back in 1939 basketball Hall of Famer H.V. Porter. Back then just eight teams competed, but the tourney has expanded gradually since, and in 2001 moved to its current format.

If the rumors are true and the NCAA eventually expands to 128 teams, officials might have to find another name for the "madness" associated with the tournament.