Updated NCAA Men’s Tournament Odds 6 Weeks Before March Madness

• When the Super Bowl ends college basketball will take center stage for many fans.
• Selection Sunday is March 17.
• Duke is a heavy favorite, other contenders offer value.

---

Selection Sunday is the day when the NCAA selection committee reveals the 68 teams that will participate in the tournament. This includes 32 conference champions with automatic bids and 36 at-large selections. The committee also seeds the teams, assigning them into four regions. Each team's seed can influence its path throughout the tournament, affecting matchups in the early rounds.

Several weeks into conference play, the cream has started to rise to the top in most college basketball leagues. When we last looked at the 2019 NCAA Tournament odds, Duke was a big favorite, with Gonzaga the clear second choice.

As we approach tournament time, attention often shifts to “bubble teams.” These are the squads teetering on making the cut for an at-large bid. Teams like Arizona State and Clemson have shown potential yet remain uncertain due to mixed performances in conference play. Their upcoming games will be important in deciding their fate come Selection Sunday. Coaches and fans are watching closely, knowing that each win or loss could mean the difference between a shot at glory and staying home.

Our suggestion at that time was to bet on Virginia and Michigan State, which both seemed like value picks. Both the Cavs and Spartans have seen their odds drop significantly.

In our view, there are only 9 or 10 teams that can legitimately win it all, but there are a few bets that seem worthwhile as we head into the stretch drive.

Let’s look at the updated odds to cut down the nets in Minneapolis.

All odds are from BetOnline.ag.

NCAA Basketball Championship Odds

Team	Odds to win 2019 March Madness
Duke	+250
Virginia	+700
Gonzaga	+800
Tennessee	+800
Michigan	+1000
Michigan State	+1000
Kentucky	+1200
North Carolina	+1400
Nevada	+1600
Kansas	+2000
Villanova	+2000
Marquette	+2500
Purdue	+3300
Auburn	+4000
Buffalo	+4000
Houston	+4000
Iowa	+4000
LSU	+4000

The Favorite: Duke

When you have three of the first half-dozen picks in the next NBA draft, it makes sense that your team is the favorite. Add in a Hall of Fame coach and the Blue Devils are heavy chalk for a reason. That said, they’ve lost to Gonzaga and Syracuse, and have only reached the Final Four once in the last eight seasons.

Top Challenger: Virginia

There is going to be a stigma with UVA in this year’s tournament. Last year, they lost to UMBC in the first round, becoming the first #1 seed to lose to a #16 in the big dance. While Tony Bennett has built a perennial power, Virginia has not been to the Final Four since 1984.

However, they are much better offensively than they have been in the recent past, still incredibly stingy on defense, and De’Andre Hunter being healthy will make all the difference compared to last year.

The Value Picks: Gonzaga and Nevada

It is unclear why the odds on Gonzaga have gone up. They have two losses (Tennessee on a neutral and at North Carolina) and own wins over Duke, Arizona, and Washington.

Sure, the WCC is not the ACC, but they have won six leagues game by an average margin of 25 points a game. Early on, including during the win over Duke, they were without Killian Tillie, one of their best players. The Zags have an excellent opportunity to go to the Final Four.

This season, injuries to key players can heavily sway a team's odds. At Duke, the health of star athletes like Zion Williamson will play a large role in their success. Likewise, Nevada’s Cody Martin, who suffered a recent setback, could affect the Wolf Pack's post-season run. Teams often face challenges adjusting their game plans without key players, making their recovery times and return to peak performance important factors to monitor as the tournament nears.

If you are looking for a little bit bigger price, consider Nevada. The Wolf Pack are a mid-major squad in league only; their entire roster seems to have transferred from power-five schools. Coach Eric Musselman has an NBA pedigree, and they are 19-1 this season. Last year, they lost by a point in the Sweet 16.

The post Updated NCAA Men’s Tournament Odds 6 Weeks Before March Madness appeared first on My Top Sportsbooks.

Original source: https://www.mytopsportsbooks.com/free-picks/ncaa-college/updated-ncaa-tournament-odds-2019-feb/

Recent Performance of Mid-Major Teams

The 2023 NCAA Tournament saw a significant performance from mid-major teams, marking a notable moment in recent history. Florida Atlantic and San Diego State made it to the Final Four. Florida Atlantic represented Conference USA, while San Diego State hailed from the Mountain West Conference. Though neither team secured the national championship, San Diego State reached the finals before losing to UConn. This highlights the potential of mid-major programs to make a strong tournament run and showcases the increasing competitiveness across conferences.

Relevant news