It’s almost time for this year’s most insane tournament. That’s right, March Madness is right around the corner, and bookies are offering some of the best odds in the Canadian market on NCAA Basketball futures. We are fast approaching the First Four, who face off on March 14th and 15th. Our concern though, is who will be the top college team and raise that trophy on April 3rd. Have no fear. We’re here to help you out.
NCAA Future Odds 2017
So what do the odds offer right now? Well they have Gonzaga as the favorite at +800 or 8/1. Coming in at close seconds are UCLA and Kansas at +900 or 9-1, and at a longer shot, Arizona, Duke and Oregon at +1000, or 10-1 each. Gonzaga is still undefeated at 26-0, so definitely deserves it’s status as least likely team to win the championship. Villanova is currently ranked 2nd, with a 24-2 record, and is priced at +1100, or 11-1. While Baylor doesn’t have as much depth as the top teams, they are still ranked 4th, so might be something to look at.
Interestingly enough, we see 4th ranked Baylor at long odds of +3300, or 33-1. Second ranked Villanova is priced reasonably at +1100. They have the second best record at 24-2, right behind Gonzaga. Kansas and UCLA are given the same odds to win the tournament, yet they are ranked 3rd and 6th respectively, with UCLA holding a slightly better record at 23-3. The same holds true with Arizona, Duke, and Oregon, who bookies have at the same price to win, while each holding different records, Duke's by far being the worst at 20-5.
Best Odds To Win NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
Comparing odds, we find different favorites to win the Championship. Sports Interaction has Duke, Kentucky, Villanova, Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA, and Gonzaga, all priced at +800, and most likely to win the tournament. William Hill has Kentucky as favorite with +550 odds. Kansas is at +700, and UCLA at +800. Interestingly, Gonzaga is tied for 5th likely at +1000 after Villanova. Shopping at different books is important to get the best prices. Why would you take Louisville at some bookies at +1100 when you can have the same bet at William Hill at +2200? It's literally double the value. Shop smart, and you might even get a ton of hedging opportunities come tournament time. Your selection starts right here.
It's not too early to put in some plays on some futures. Judging by the rankings and prices, the value is definitely there if you look for it. Villanova and Baylor's high ranking should merit putting down a bit for a play. The value is from the discrepancy of their prices to their record and rank. High rank, good record, and good odds, make it a play. If you want to go another route and follow the sharps, there has been movement on Louisville and consensus is that they are undervalued.
Some sharps seem to be going hard on Florida also and are currently pounding the line, especially after Florida's huge victory on Saturday, so get online and pounce on it before it becomes worthless. If you don't want to go either of those routes, you can do the tried and true method of picking a couple of top teams and hoping for the best.
Sure, there might not be as much value, but undefeated Gonzaga at +800 to win the tournament looks to be a great bet. Maybe sprinkle on a bit of Kansas and UCLA. The odds are so high, that even multiple losses and a win can net you some coin. Just be wary of big name schools as that's who the public will flock to. Whichever strategy you choose, be sure to check our top sportsbooks for great bonuses and create accounts on each so no matter which team you pick, you'll be able to get it at the best price. Good luck everyone!
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