March Madness Picks – Future Betting Odds
The Big Dance is here and the 2nd round, after the first round play-in games, gets underway on Thursday March 21st. The 4 top seeds in each region are Indiana, Gonzaga, Kansas, and Louisville.
The goal for any team is to advance to the Final 4 for a chance for the ultimate prize of the National Championship. The following is a look at this year’s top contenders with odds provided by Bovada.
Indiana 5/1
Indiana is playing in the East Region, which may be the weakest region in the tournament this season. They may not be tested until the Sweet 16 with a possible match up with Syracuse, but the Hoosiers did not end the season well losing 3 of their last 6 games including losing in the semifinals of the Big 10 conference tournament. Still, the Hoosiers have 2 Player of the Year candidates in Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo, they won 27 games, and won the tough Big 10 regular season title.
Louisville 5/1
The Cardinals are playing in the killer East Region along with Duke and Michigan State, but they may be the hottest teams in the Big Dance. Louisville has won 10 straight games and they won the tough Big East conference tournament. They have a great backcourt and are a very athletic team that pressures opponents into many turnovers.
Florida 7/1
Florida is in the South Region, which is tough along with Kansas, Georgetown, and Michigan. The Gators were upset in their last game losing in the SEC tournament final, but the Gators are a very balanced team that has a great backcourt. The Gators won the SEC this season and they were 4-1 on the season facing ranked teams.
Gonzaga 10/1
Gonzaga is in the West Region, which is not one of the tougher regions. The Zags ended the season well winning their last 14 games including winning the WCC tournament. The Bulldogs ended the season as the #1 team in the nation and while they won 31 games they are not from a major conference and they were only 1-2 facing ranked teams. Still, Gonzaga is a solid team that ranks 12th in the nation in points per game and 3rd in team FG%.
Duke 11/1
Last season Duke was the #2 seed and lost in their Big Dance opener and they are the 2nd seed again in the tough East Region. The Blue Devils have a balanced and deep team led by the FW/G tandem of Mason Plumlee and Seth Curry and the team won 27 games this season. They did lose their last game in a big upset bowing out of the ACC tourney early.
Kansas 11/1
Kansas is the top seed in the tough South Region and they won a share of the Big 12 title and they won the conference tournament. The Jayhawks have a good all-around team that ranks in the top 25 in the nation in both scoring and rebounding. Star freshman Ben McLemore leads a loaded backcourt and 7′ Jeff Withey is one of the best defensive players in the nation. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Miami Florida 11/1
Miami was a surprise this season winning the ACC and they play in the not-too-tough South Region. The Canes were 15-3 in ACC play this season and they also won the conference tournament AND they beat Duke. They have a very balanced team and they play great defense.
Ohio State 16/1
Ohio State is not getting much press as a legit national title contender, but the Buckeyes are in the West Region, which may be the weakest region. The Buckeyes won 26 games this season, came in 2nd in the Big 10 in the regular season, and they won the conference tournament. They come into the Big Dance hot winning their last 8 games of the season and they are led by Player of the Year candidate FW Deshaun Thomas (19.5 ppg 6.2 rpg).
Georgetown 20/1
Georgetown is in the tough South Region with Kansas, Michigan, and Florida. The Hoyas tied for the Big East regular season title and that is saying something since there are 6 ranked teams in that conference. FW Otto Porter Jr. (16.3 ppg 7.4 rpg) is in the Player of the Year talks and 2nd leading scorer Markel Starks (12.5 ppg) finished the season strong. The Hoyas have a great defense, which they will need to play since they are not a high scoring team.
Michigan State 20/1
Michigan State is like Georgetown being a great defensive team that is not a high scoring one. The Spartans are in the tough Midwest Region along with Louisville and Duke, but MSU came in 2nd in the stacked Big 10 this season. Still, The Spartans were under .500 this season facing ranked teams.
