by Ben Perks
After two opening rounds packed with upsets, the Zags are still the March Madness favorites ahead of the Sweet 16 games. As various big hitters are already off the board, Vegas oddsmakers have had to majorly reassess odds tables. The Bulldogs are now at +220 to win the NCAA Division I Championship title, followed by Kansas (+450) and Arizona (+500). With last year’s winners Baylor out of the bracket, the stage is set for a new team to lift the trophy in a few weeks. Check out betting info and the latest odds for top contenders before the next round.
The Zags Hold onto Their Favorite Tags
So far, Gonzaga has not missed top players Jalen Suggs and Corey Kispert after they left for the NBA last year. Apart from minor hiccups (three losses), they dismantled opponents and charged to their 18th West Coast Tournament championship since 2000 before March Madness began.
As a result, the Bulldogs became the top overall seed and the betting favorite at online sportsbooks. By putting on two solid performances in March Madness, beating Georgia State by 21 in the first round (93-72) and defeating Memphis (82-78), they’ve stuck to the script. However, bigger challenges are yet to come in a tricky West Region that features Duke as the No. 2 seed, the best defensive team in the country in No. 3 Texas Tech, and No. 4 Arkansas.
It’s not plain sailing for the Zags, but the bracket sets up nicely for a compelling showdown with Duke in the Elite Eight – the Blue Devils defeated the Bulldogs 84-81 in the regular season.
View the latest odds for Gonzaga’s Sweet 16 matchup against Arkansas (#4)
Iowa State (+8000)
The longshots are still in it, but should we be that surprised? This season, Iowa State managed some impressive wins, including victories over Texas Tech, Texas, Iowa, Creighton, and Memphis. The Cyclones made the most of the current turmoil surrounding No. 6 LSU (the program fired its coach after five Level I NCAA violations in the first round) to upset the odds and beat the Tigers 54-59 in their opening game. Yesterday, Iowa State kept the momentum going to take Wisconsin 49-54. This team is playing without fear and confident of reaching the latter stages of this tourney. Therefore, although their betting value has decreased from +20000 at Bovada, the Cyclones are still a tempting bet at +8000.
View the latest odds for Iowa State’s Sweet 16 matchup vs. Miami Florida (#10)
UCLA Bruins (+1400)
After ending the regular season having fallen from No. 3 to No. 11 in the country, the Bruins showed they’re a solid team by reaching the title game of the Pac-12 Conference Tournament. Despite losing the final to Arizona, they proved their quality with victories against USC and Colorado in the competition.
Because the Bruins ranked eighth in the nation in adjusted efficiency and have some serious talent –
Johnny Juzang, Jaime Jaquez, Tyler Campbell, etc. – many futures bettors will back them at +1400, especially now that they won’t face Baylor.
View the latest odds for UCLA’s Sweet 16 matchup vs. North Carolina (#8)
Houston Cougars (+1000)
After finishing fifth in adjusted efficiency, 10th in adjusted offensive efficiency, and 11th in adjusted defensive efficiency, the Cougars were always a top contender. However, many have dismissed Houston’s chances, as their only meetings with ranked teams (Wisconsin, Alabama) ended in defeat. Yet during March Madness, the outfit has swept aside UAB and Illinois to arrive at the Sweet 16.
Ok, they face No. 1 seed Arizona next, but they will more than fancy their chances.
View the latest odds for Houston’s Sweet 16 matchup vs. Arizona (#1)
Ben is a sports journalist & part-time trader with a passion for finding +EV bets. Ben lives in Madrid, Spain where he enjoys the live poker scene, and sunshine where he covers UFC, MLB, NHL, NBA, as well as tennis betting.
