We are closing in on that time of the year again: March Madness. We didn’t get any last year, so this year’s should be extra special. With the month of March rapidly approaching, let’s take a look at the teams with a shot to win and their odds.
The Favorites
The Baylor Bears (+270) are co-favorites to win this year’s March Madness. They are currently 17-0 and have allowed only 62.8 points per game so far. They aren’t just fantastic on the defensive end, though, as they have also showed how talented they are offensively, putting up 87 points per game. They are primed for a very deep run this year.
Sharing the top spot with them are the Gonzaga Bulldogs (+270). Led by their star forward Corey Kispert, this team is a perfect 20-0 so far. They lead the NCAA in scoring per game with 93 as well. The only hitch for this team has been that they haven’t faced strong competition with a weaker schedule than most. This tough Gonzaga team is going to have the opportunity to prove the doubters wrong in this tournament.
The Longshots
The Ohio State Buckeyes (+1200) are an outstanding team that could win it all – if they get some breaks. They are 18-5 on the season and are in a three-way tie for first place in their conference. Their offense flowed through forward E.J. Liddell along with guard Duane Washington Jr. with the pair combining for about 30 points and 10 rebounds per contest. This is a team that loves to speed up the pace of a game and they do it with high intensity and energy.
The Alabama Crimson Tide (+1800) are the opposite as they focus on defense. They may not have been the highest ranked team in the nation, but they are a solid group that can make a deep run. They are 18-5 on the year so far and have the second-ranked defensive efficiency rating, according to the KenPom.com ratings. They’re very tough to score on.
The Florida State Seminoles (+1600) are underrated in the eyes of many – especially their offense. They are 10th in adjusted offense. This is a roster that has only suffered three losses on the year and has benefited from the leadership of M.J. Walker and Raiquan Gray. They’ve been steady in recent NCAA Tournaments but can they go deep again this year?
Texas Tech (+3500) is another longshot to win the tournament but they have the talent to do so – if they put it all together. They have guys like Mac McClung, Terrance Shannon Jr. and Kyler Edwards, who combine to score 40.1 points per game. They were also able to put up a terrific fight against Baylor earlier in the season, which is a good sign. Their defense, which is normally stellar, ranks 23rd in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. If they can improve on that a little and if they can clean up some of their turnover issues, this could be a sleeper team in the tournament.