There are always teams that feel deserving of a NCAA Tournament at-large bid after failing to secure a conference title. Those of you who threw down on UNC Greensboro were disheartened to learn of their snub. For the most part, however, the committee got it right, and the field is set for the three-week battle to determine the 2019 National Champion.
And considering the Duke Blue Devils were the favorite even when Zion Williamson was shelved with a knee injury, it’s no surprise to see their odds shrink even more now that the man-child is back on the floor. Williamson returned in time to lead the Dookies to the ACC tournament title, and Coach K’s kiddie corps is primed for big things, and they are the betting favorite at +225 to cut down the nets in Minneapolis on April 8.
Here are the updated college basketball national championship odds at BookMaker.eu.
Odds to win 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BookMaker.eu
Duke +225
Gonzaga +520
Virginia +680
North Carolina +725
Michigan State +1,151
Kentucky +1,203
Michigan +1,515
Tennessee +1,515
Texas Tech +2,250
Purdue +3,000
Florida State +4,000
Iowa State +4,250
Houston +4,500
Auburn +5,500
LSU +6,000
Villanova +6,300
Virginia Tech +7,000
Kansas +7,200
Kansas State +7,500
Marquette +8,500
Buffalo +9,000
Nevada +9,500
Cincinnati +11,500
Wisconsin +12,500
Louisville +14,500
Syracuse +14,500
Wofford +15,000
Oregon +17,500
Mississippi State +21,500
Maryland +25,000
Florida +34,000
Murray State +37,500
Washington +45,000
Utah State +47,500
Virginia Commonwealth +47,500
Central Florida +50,000
New Mexico State +50,000
Iowa +60,000
Seton Hall +60,000
Minnesota +65,000
Mississippi +65,000
Oklahoma +65,000
Baylor +100,000
Ohio State +100,000
Saint Marys +100,000
Arizona State +120,000
UC Irvine +120,000
Saint Johns +120,000
Belmont +150,000
Georgia State +150,000
Liberty +150,000
Northeastern +150,000
Old Dominion +150,000
Saint Louis +150,000
Temple +150,000
Yale +150,000
Northern Kentucky +200,000
Vermont +200,000
Colgate +300,000
Iona +300,000
Montana +300,000
Abilene Christian +600,000
Bradley +600,000
Gardner Webb +650,000
North Dakota State +650,000
Farleigh Dickinson +800,000
Prairie View +800,000
The beauty of the NCAA Tournament is the one-and-done setup. The seeded teams have to be on the lookout for another UMBC, remember the team that took down Virginia last year to become the first No. 16 to beat a No. 1. Up until last season marking the No. 1s on your bracket was four certain victories. The landscape of college basketball has changed.
The worst seed ever to play for a national championship is the No. 8 seed, which has happened three times since the Tournament expanded to 64 teams back in 1985. No seed below that has ever reached the title game eliminating about half the field from contention this year. The first year of the expanded Tournament saw No. 8 Villanova upset Georgetown. Butler in 2011 and Kentucky in 2014 were eight-seeds that reached the title game only to come up empty.
In case you were thinking about an eight-seed this year you can pick from Syracuse ( +14,500 ), VCU ( +47,500 ), Utah State ( +47,500 ) and Mississippi ( +65,000 ). We typically don’t see teams seeded that low reach the Final Four or the national title game because it’s too difficult. Sure, some team will play out of its head and post a major upset because it’s Madness. But to do that for three or four games is asking too much.
So that brings us back to the favorites and three of the four No. 1 seeds are from the same conference. Duke, North Carolina and Virginia make the ACC the best in the country, but don’t overlook Florida State, a team that got overshadowed all season by the big three. The Noles beat UVA in the ACC semifinals before losing by 10 points to Duke.
There’s a chance we could have an All-ACC Final Four if FSU can escape the West Region and the other No. 1s hold up their end. The Noles are teamed with the other top-seed in the West, and the Gonzaga Bulldogs might be the best of the bunch. After steamrolling through their regular season West Coast Conference schedule, the Zags were beaten by St. Mary’s in the conference tournament final.
That may actually be a blessing for the Zags, who hadn’t been tested since December. They own the most productive offense and are underrated defensively, and you know they are going to be laser focused after that loss. In a way the Zags did the WCC a solid by allowing the Gaels to earn the automatic bid and sending two teams to the Dance.
It’s hard to go against Duke, though. The recruiting class was brought in just for this reason and this is the only time they’ll get a chance to win the national championship. Williamson is a virtual lock to be the No. 1 pick in the next NBA draft and teammates Cam Reddish and RJ Barrett are likely lottery picks.
But it’s called March Madness for a reason, so let the madness begin.
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