The NCAA men’s basketball tournament has been rife with upsets, and there hasn’t been a region more affected than the South. Its No. 1 seed, the Virginia Cavaliers, became the first team in March Madness history to lose to a No. 16 seed, falling to UMBC in blowout fashion.
That wasn’t the only surprise from the first weekend. The No. 4 seed Arizona Wildcats were a sleeper pick by many to go all the way to the Final Four but lost in the first round to Buffalo. The No. 2 seed Cincinnati Bearcats made it a little bit further but blew a huge lead to Nevada, which ended their tournament. After rolling in the first round, the No. 3 seed Tennessee Volunteers were upset in the Round of 32 by No. 11 Loyola-Chicago, which beat No. 6 seed Miami in the first round.
With every one of the first four seeds out already, the South Region has an unexpected look. However, there is still one blueblood program remaining. The Kentucky Wildcats have made it to Sweet Sixteen by knocking off a pair of double-digit seeds and has a clear path to the Final Four through this messy South Region bracket in NCAA basketball betting odds.
NCAA Tournament Odds
Kentucky -105
Nevada +340
Kansas State +442
Loyola-Chicago +476
Odds Analysis
Kentucky is the No. 5 seed and clearly the most talented team remaining in the South Region. Kansas State is the only other high-major conference program and it does not have nearly the same type of elite talent that Kentucky boasts.
Kentucky is a 6.5-point favorite against Kansas State in the Sweet Sixteen matchup in NCAA spreads betting. Kentucky is -285 on the moneyline to win this one. If it can take care of business, Kentucky will take on the winner of Loyola-Chicago vs. Nevada.
The Wolf Pack stunned Cincinnati and is now a slight favorite of 1.5 points to knock off Loyola-Chicago and make it to the Elite Eight. It is not a surprise to see the other three teams in the South Region beyond Kentucky with such similar odds to advance to the Final Four.
Kansas State is likely the most talented of that trio, but it has to face off with Kentucky next time out, while the other two get the advantage of playing each other in a much easier game. If Nevada can win as expected, it will only need one upset in the Elite Eight to win the South Region.
Kentucky is extremely lucky, as it very well may have been an underdog against both Arizona in the round of 32 and Virginia in the Sweet Sixteen. However, upsets have paved the way for the Wildcats to be the favorites to advance to the Final Four despite a group that did not have as successful of a regular season as many of the past teams under coach John Calipari.
Free NCAA ATS Picks
Kentucky is the call here. Loyola-Chicago is an interesting choice because it has the longest odds yet it only a slight underdog against Nevada. If Loyola-Chicago can win that game, it then could hope that Kansas State finds a way to knock off Kentucky, making the +476 bet look very enticing.
However, don’t expect Kentucky to trip up. The Wildcats have their issues but are the best team remaining in the volatile South Region. Look for the upsets to finally end this weekend with favored Kentucky having a pretty easy time in advancing to the Final Four in NCAA basketball betting lines.
NCAA Odds: Kentucky to win the West Region
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