NCAA Tournament Odds Released, Kentucky at Even Money
The Big Dance begins this week. Selection Sunday has passed and the NCAA Tournament field has been chosen. After the play-in games are concluded, the 64 participants will start March Madness on Thursday March 19.
The No. 1 seed overall in the tournament is the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats, while the other three No. 1 seeds went to Duke, Wisconsin and Villanova.
Kentucky opens the tournament at even money, which are the longest odds Kentucky has had on the futures board since mid December when the Wildcats were 6 to 5 to win the title.
Since the odds boards started being updated weekly on December 2, the Wildcats have been the favorite to win the title on April 6 in Indianapolis. Duke and Wisconsin two of the three other No. 1 seeds entering the tournament have the next shortest odds with each sitting at 6 to 1 to win the national title.
Villanova the other No. 1 seed has the fourth shortest odds to win the national title at 8 to 1. Arizona one of the four No. 2 seeds along with Virginia are both at 15 to 1, while No 2 seed Gonzaga is 18 to 1 and the final No. 2 seed Kansas is 40 to 1, thanks in part to losing to Iowa State in the Big 12 final.
North Carolina the eighth favorite to win it all is 25 to 1, despite being a No. 4 seed out West.
Over the past 30 seasons, since the tournament field was increased to 64 teams, the national championship has been won by one of the four No. 1 seeds 18 of 30 times. In 22 of the past 30 seasons, the national champion has been a No. 1 or No. 2 seed. Of course, last season was a slight change from the norm, as No. 7 seeded UConn won the national championship by defeating Kentucky a No. 8 seed.
NCAA TOURNAMENT ODDS
KENTUCKY even money
WISCONSIN 6 to 1
DUKE 6 to 1
VILLANOVA 8 to 1
ARIZONA 15 to 1
VIRGINIA 15 to 1
GONZAGA 18 to 1
NORTH CAROLINA 25 to 1
KANSAS 40 to 1
BAYLOR 40 to 1
IOWA ST 40 to 1
NOTRE DAME 60 to 1
OKLAHOMA 60 to 1
MICHIGAN ST 60 to 1
UTAH 60 to 1
SMU 60 to 1
MARYLAND 75 to 1
WICHITA ST 75 to 1
LOUISVILLE 75 to 1
WEST VIRGINIA 100 to 1
TEXAS 100 to 1
OHIO ST 100 to 1
NORTHERN IOWA 100 to 1
FIELD 100 to 1
BUTLER 200 to 1
ARKANSAS 200 to 1
XAVIER 200 to 1
VCU 200 to 1
LSU 200 to 1
GEORGETOWN 200 to 1
UCLA 300 to 1
CINCINNATI 300 to 1
INDIANA 300 to 1
OREGON 300 to 1
OKLAHOMA ST 300 to 1
OLE MISS 300 to 1
NC STATE 300 to 1
PROVIDENCE 300 to 1
GEORGIA 300 to 1
SAN DIEGO ST 300 to 1
ST JOHNS 300 to 1
IOWA 300 to 1
PURDUE 500 to 1
BYU 500 to 1
BOISE ST 500 to 1
DAYTON 500 to 1
SF AUSTIN 500 to 1
DAVIDSON 500 to 1
VALPARAISO 1000 to 1
E WASHINGTON 1000 to 1
