Denzel Valentine and MSU won their regular season battle with No. 1 overall Kansas, led by Perry Ellis.
The Las Vegas sportsbook released March Madness odds this week, for those who think filling out NCAA Tournament brackets for the office pool is not enough betting action.
The odds pay if a team wins the 2016 Mens NCAA Tournament, which tips off this week and extends through the next three weekends.
The usual suspects sit atop the odds, including the 5-time National Champion Kansas Jayhawks, 5-time NCAA Champion North Carolina Tarheels, 2-time NCAA Champion Michigan State Spartans, and 8-time NCAA Champion Kentucky Wildcats. The defending National Champion Duke Blue Devils have lower odds than usual (25:1), though they’re led by top talents like forward Brandon Ingram and guard Grayson Allen.
Kansas Jayhawks – 5-to-1 Favorites
The Kansas Jayhawks are the favorites to win March Madness. Though the team was once voted as the 2nd-most storied basketball program in Men’s NCAA Basketball history, the teams has shown a penchant in recent years to disappoint in March Madness, despite a wealth of talent.
This year, the Jayhawks are led by forward Perry Ellis, a talented offensive player who led the team to a 31-4 record.
Michigan State Spartans – 11-to-2
The Spartans are close to being co-favorites, as they enter the tournament with a 29-5 record. They are led by National Player of the Year Denzel Valentine, a senior guard known for his leadership and versatility. The 6’5″ guard should be a veteran presence, and the Spartans are one of only four teams to have defeated the consensus number 1 overall ranked Kansas Jayhawks.
North Carolina Tarheels – 7-to-1
Forward Brice Johnson was inconsistent in previous years, but he seems to have put it all together in his Senior season to average a double-double. Brice Johnson has shown up for the big games, averaging 25 points and 20 rebounds in the annual showdowns with Duke this year. He’ll need to show superior results to power the Tarheels into the Final Four, though Marcus Paige gives the team another senior leader to lean on.
Kentucky Wildcats – 10-to-1
Kentucky under John Calipari has become a basketball factory, usually led by NBA-level talents in their freshman and sophomore years. The 26-8 Wildcats squad has flown under the radar more than the 2015 team, which entered March Madness unbeaten. For those who like strong guard play, the backcourt trio of Tyler Ulis, Jamal Murray, and Isaiah Briscoe gives Kentucky a three-headed monster opponents have to deal with.
Virginia Cavaliers – 12-to-1
Speaking of guard play, Malcolm Brogden has heated up at just the right time for the Virginia Cavaliers. There might not be a player in college basketball who is on a hotter shooting streak in the second half of the season, as Brogden has led the Cavaliers to the #1 seed in the Midwest bracket.
Oregon Ducks – 14-to-1
The Oregon Ducks are the #1 seed in the West Region, and represent the #1 seed with the lowest odds. To reach the Final Four, they’ll have to come out of a bracket with Buddy Hield’s OU squad (#2), the winner of the Texas/Texas A&M game, and potential Elite 8 opponent Duke. Update: The #4 Baylor Bears have already lost to Yale, giving the Dukies a clear path to the Round of 8. The Ducks are led by forward Dillon Brooks.
Oklahoma Sooners – 14-to-1
According to Las Vegas, The Oklahoma Sooners are a co-favorite to get out of the West bracket, which might explain why the Ducks are so lightly-regarded. Those wanting a mid-range bet on a top-seeded team should consider either the OU Sooners or the Oregan Ducks. With LSU and Ben Simmons not qualifying for March Madness, the Sooners have arguably the best player in the NCAA Tournament this year: senior Buddy Hield.
Here is a quick look at the most interesting odds for March Madness this year. I’ve included not only the top teams, but some of the long shots and dark horses the staff finds to be most notable.
Most Interesting March Madness Odds
Kansas Jayhawks – 5/1
Michigan State Spartans – 11/2
North Carolina Tarheels – 7/1
Kentucky Wildcats – 10/1
Virginia Cavaliers – 12/1
Oklahoma Sooners – 14/1
Oregon Ducks – 14/1
Gonzaga Bulldogs – 15/1
Villanova Wildcats – 18/1
Duke Blue Devils – 25/1
West Virginia Mountaineers – 25/1
Xavier Musketeers – 28/1
Indiana Hoosiers – 33/1
Maryland Terrapins – 33/1
Miami (Fla.) Hurricans – 33/1
Purdue Boilermakers – 33/1 (Stunned by Little Rock in 1st round)
Texas A&M Aggies – 33/1
Arizona Wildcats – 40/1
California Golden Bears – 40/1
Iowa State Cyclones – 50/1
UConn Huskies – 50/1
Utah Utes – 50/1
Baylor Bears – 66/1 (Beaten by Yale)
Iowa Hawkeyes – 66/1
Texas Longhorns – 66/1
Wichita State Shockers – 66/1
Gambling on March Madness
Las Vegas bettors should remember that few true long shots even win the NCAA Tournament. While the Men’s NCAA bracket certainly is not as predictable as the Women’s March Madness (always bet on UConn), the elite teams tend to dominate the end stages of the brackets.
