NCAA Futures Odds
One of the most exciting aspects of the NCAA Tournament is that the best team doesn’t always win. It’s the team that gets hot at the right time that ends up cutting down the nets, and there have been several examples over the years of teams that came in a little under the radar and ended up with a national championship.
Perhaps the most recent shining example was a few years back when an unheralded group of freshmen and sophomores such as Joakim Noah and Al Horford led Florida to the first of its back-to-back national titles. Anyone who was savvy enough to pick the Gators to win it all received 30-to-1 on their money. In 2002, Syracuse bettors cashed in at a 40-to-1 clip for the Carmelo Anthony-led national title run.
So suffice to say, some real value can be found in the NCAA Tournament on teams with long odds. This season, North Carolina is head-and-shoulders the best team in college basketball. This is reflected in the future odds to win it all, as the Tar Heels will bring you barely better than even money at this point. Well, the Tar Heels were probably the best team last year, too, and they didn’t win the championship. Other favorites such as Connecticut (6/1) and Pittsburgh (8/1) don’t provide a whole lot of value for your dollar.
Thus, TodaysPicks.net always finds value in looking at a few longshots. Teams that are well-coached and might be peaking toward the end of the year always are threats to take the NCAA Tournament by storm and win it all.
Here is a look at a few dark horse teams that would provide a huge payday if they win the national title; at the very least, these clubs should be able to give you a good sweat for your money (current odds from BetUS.com).
Oklahoma 25/1 – Player of the year candidate Blake Griffin is good enough to carry this team deep in the NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma has other solid role players, and second-year coach Jeff Capel has the Sooners clamping down on defense as well. They are definitely worth a shot at this price.
Gonzaga 30/1 – This is veteran coach Mark Few’s most talented club in years, and it’s also one of his most experienced. Point guard Jeremy Pargo has added a lot of playmaking ability to go with his scoring touch, and Josh Heytvelt is one of the nation’s best big men. A deep run from the Zags would not be a surprise.
Michigan State 30/1 – Star Raymar Morgan is capable of leading the way for the Spartans, who have a nice dose of balance to go with their superstar. Coach Tom Izzo’s defense-oriented style always gives his Spartans a fighting chance in the NCAA Tournament, where rebounds and stops are at a premium.
Notre Dame 35/1 – Coach Mike Brey’s clubs never have played much defense to speak of, but their high-scoring offensive attack can be fun to watch. It can be effective, too. If the Irish catch fire, as they are capable of doing, their high-scoring style could be conducive to a good run in the tournament.
Tennessee 75/1 – Coach Bruce Pearl’s clubs are getting a reputation for being streaky, but the right streak at the right time is all it takes to make a deep tournament run. Despite losing Chris Lofton and other talent to graduation, the Vols still are deceptively loaded with talent and might be in a better mindset for causing a stir when not much is expected from them.
Stanford 200/1 – This one is a stretch for sure, but the Cardinal have been nothing short of impressive during their surprising early-season run. Whereas former coach Trent Johnson liked to pull in the reins and make the team half-court oriented, the Johnny Dawkins-led Cardinal have displayed an exciting, up-tempo style that Dawkins learned from his days at Duke. They might be a player or two shy of serious contention, but keep an eye on this club.
Read more NCAA Basketball Handicapping Information Articles
