NCAA Tournament Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds

With the First Four behind us, we can look ahead at the road to the Final Four.  Every year in the NCAA Tournament there are upsets, blowouts and future NBA stars lighting it up.  As 64 teams get set to officially begin the first round on Friday, let’s take a look at each region and identify a favourite, a sleeper pick and a dark horse team.

You can always keep tabs on the updated odds at Sports Interaction’s NCAA Futures Board.

East Region

Favourite: (1) Michigan Wolverines

NCAA Tournament Odds: +527

Final Four Odds: +151

East Odds: +195

Michigan is considered the second best team in the country and was also the best team in the Big Ten, a conference many people see as the toughest in the country.  Their offence and defence are both ranked in the top-10 and 16 of their 20 wins came by double-digit margins.  Their depth should help them deal with any injury issues that may come up and they shouldn’t see too tough of an opponent, at least until the Sweet 16.

You can check out Michigan’s full first round preview below:

Sleeper Pick: (2) Alabama Crimson Tide

NCAA Tournament Odds: +1800

Final Four Odds: +393

East Odds: +350

The SEC champs are playing their best basketball heading into the Tournament.  Alabama’s success comes from beyond the arc, so even in the rare occasions when they trail, they have the ability to quickly get back in the game.  They have wins over Tennessee and Arkansas this season and they also won the SEC regular season title and the SEC Tournament.  As a healthier team than Michigan is right now, the Crimson Tide could be a good value bet.

You can check out Alabama’s full first round preview below:

Dark Horse: (8) LSU Tigers

NCAA Tournament Odds: +7900

Final Four Odds: +1400

East Odds: +1200

The runners-up to Alabama in the SEC Tournament, LSU got hot down the stretch.  Cameron Thomas and Trendon Watford are averaging a combined 40 points per game and the Tigers are considered one of the top run-and-gun teams in the country.  They average 82.4 points per game, eighth in the nation, and any team that gets in a shootout with them will likely come out on the wrong end.

You can check out LSU’s full first round preview below:

Midwest Region

Favourite: (1) Illinois Fighting Illini

NCAA Tournament Odds: +439

Final Four Odds: +120

Midwest Odds: +125

Illinois is consistently ranked as one of the best three teams in the nation and they are one of two No. 1 seeds from the Big Ten.  They’re coming into the NCAA Tournament after beating Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament and they’re the top seed in possibly the toughest region.  Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn lead a skilled shooting attack that is ranked No. 7 in the nation, while their defence is ranked No. 5.  If the support around Dosunmu and Cockburn continues to play at a high level, this team could cruise to the Final Four.

You can check out Illinois’ full first round preview below:

Sleeper Pick: (2) Houston Cougars

NCAA Tournament Odds: +1500

Final Four Odds: +352

Midwest Odds: +350

It’s might sound strange to look at a No. 2 seed as a sleeper pick, but this team doesn’t get a lot of attention because they didn’t win the ACC regular season title and they’re in a weak conference.  They have one of the best offences in the country and haven’t lost in over a month.  Their defence is suffocating, so if they can put it all together, look out for the Cougars.

You can check out Houston’s full first round preview below:

Dark Horse: (8) Loyola Chicago Ramblers

NCAA Tournament Odds: +5100

Final Four Odds: +1400

Midwest Odds: +1200

If Loyola Chicago’s run to the Final Four as an 11 seed in 2018 taught us anything, it’s don’t count out this team or Sister Jean.  They’re consistently ranked as a top-10 team in the nation and No. 8 seeds have proven they can go far in this tournament.  The Ramblers have one of the best defences in the country and with a veteran group of players who have proven they can win this time of the year, another deep run wouldn’t be shocking this year.

You can check out Loyola Chicago’s full first round preview below:

West Region

Favourite: (1) Gonzaga Bulldogs

NCAA Tournament Odds: +149

Final Four Odds: -299

West Odds: -222

Gonzaga is easily the favourite to win the NCAA Tournament as the only undefeated team in the field.  The Bulldogs are the best team in the country and they have a fairly favourable path to the Final Four.  It also doesn’t hurt that Gonzaga has beaten the No. 2, 3, and 4 seeds in their region during the regular season.  With Corey Kispert, Drew Timme and Jalen Suggs all averaging over 15 points per game, there’s no team in this region that can match Gonzaga’s offensive firepower.

You can check out Gonzaga’s full first round preview below:

Sleeper Pick: (2) Iowa Hawkeyes

NCAA Tournament Odds: +1500

Final Four Odds: +352

West Odds: +375

Essentially any team not named Gonzaga could be a sleeper pick in this region.  Iowa is a good team that just happened to have the misfortune to get paired with the best team in the country.  If this team goes on a run, you can likely thank Luka Garza.  The third-leading scorer in the NCAA is terrorizing defences and averaging almost 24 points and nine rebounds per game.  If anyone can beat Gonzaga to the Final Four, it’s Iowa.

You can check out Iowa’s full first round preview below:

Dark Horse: (12) UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

NCAA Tournament Odds: +22,800

Final Four Odds: +5000

West Odds: +6600

It’s not often you see a No. 12 seed that has only lost two games all season, but UC Santa Barbara is that team.  The Gauchos have been lighting things up in 2021 and have only lost one of their last 18 games.  It’s the fourth season they’ve hit the 20-win mark and they dominated the Big West this year.  If they stay hot, anything is possible in this tournament.

You can check out UC Santa Barbara’s full first round preview below:

South Region

Favourite: (1) Baylor Bears

NCAA Tournament Odds: +472

Final Four Odds: -179

South Odds: +125

Baylor was the No. 2 team in the nation this season and they enter the NCAA Tournament with a single loss on their record.  Not that they need any more motivation, but not winning the Big 12 Tournament was a bit shocking for this team, so they’ll likely have a chip on their shoulders.  Jared Butler and MaCio Teague both average over 16 points per game.  Baylor has proven they’re a legit threat with regular season wins over teams like Kansas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, so watch out for this team.

You can check out Baylor’s full first round preview below:

Sleeper Pick: (3) Arkansas Razorbacks

NCAA Tournament Odds: +4000

Final Four Odds: +800

South Odds: +750

Arkansas is a fast paced team that puts up over 82 points per game and has the seventh ranked offence in the country.  They’re coming into this tournament with the best winning percentage they’ve had since 1994 and even have an 81-66 blowout win over SEC champion Alabama on their record.  There’s not many teams in this tournament that would make Arkansas an underdog.

You can check out Arkansas’ full first round preview below:

Dark Horse: (7) Florida Gators

NCAA Tournament Odds: +8900

Final Four Odds: +1600

South Odds: +2000

The Florida Gators are a dark horse team simply because you don’t know what you’re going to get with them.  They’ve shown they can knock off big teams, but they’ve also shown they can lose to bottom teams.  After Keyontae Johnson’s scary collapse on the court ended his season early, Tre Mann has stepped up.  Mann is averaging 23.5 points per game over Florida’s last four games and set a career high with 30 points in the Gator’s last game of the SEC Tournament.  Florida might just be your cinderella pick of the tourney.

You can check out Florida’s full first round preview below:

Take a look at Sports Interaction’s NCAA Futures Board for an updated look on every team’s odds.