Which NCAA Basketball Teams Might Have Undervalued Odds for March Madness?
This content was produced in partnership with Sean Miller.
We are now just weeks away from the first “normal” NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament since 2019. If you remember, COVID-19 canceled the 2020 edition, while 2021 was played all in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 2022 tournament will be back all over the country, so fans can once again celebrate this great game.
But bettors never care (much) where the games are: they just want to know who is going to win.
So which team is going to win the tournament?
Gonzaga is once again the favorite, at odds of +400 or around there with sports books to win its first title. But there are many other teams in contention as well.
Here is a list of five teams that offer very good odds for bettors looking at the NCAA futures market.
Arizona, +1100: I think this team is going to win the title, and the Cats are a steal at 11/1 odds.
Kentucky, +900: The other Wildcats are a dangerous team as well, and could be ready to break through and win a first title in a decade.
UCLA, +2200: you are telling me I can get a Final Four team from last year at 22/1 odds right now? You don’t have to twist my arm.
Houston, +3500: you are telling me I can get a Final Four team from last year at 35/1 odds right now? You don’t have to twist my arm.
Providence, +7500: this team is 21-2 as of February 18, in one of the toughest leagues in the country, ranked in the top 10, and I can get the Friars at SEVENTY-FIVE TO ONE ODDS? This might be the best bet on the whole list. If you throw $20 on them now, you could get back $1,500
There is so much value up and down the futures lists, especially if you take Gonzaga out of the equation. At some point, you would have to think the Zags will win a title, as they try to get to a third final in five tournaments. But those Pac-12 teams are really good, as are some of the other teams leading conferences around the country.
“When you look at the teams in the Pac-12, I think you have to only remember back to last season’s tournament to see what they can do,” a spokesperson of the website about betting deals said. “UCLA went to the Final Four as an 11 seed, and nearly knocked off Gonzaga in the semifinal, losing 93-90 in overtime. USC, a sixth seed, and Oregon State, a 12 seed, both went to the Elite Eight, and USC beat Oregon in the Sweet 16. This conference is so underrated, possibly because of East Coast bias.
“Arizona might be the best team in the country, and you can get the Wildcats at great odds to win the NCAA tournament. I still can’t believe you can get Arizona at +1100 odds with some sports books. But do not sleep on USC, UCLA, or Oregon, either, as shown by last year.
“It basically comes down to this: do you want to take a chance on Gonzaga, or do you want to find some better value down the list with teams that might be as good as the Zags.”
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