Odds to Win the 2016 NCAA Tournament
Conference tournaments have already gotten underway in some cases and the bulk of them will begin next week, which means the Big Dance is nearly upon us as…
Conference tournaments have already gotten underway in some cases and the bulk of them will begin next week, which means the Big Dance is nearly upon us as well. The 2016 NCAA Tournament is scheduled to tip off on Tuesday, March 15 with the First Four squaring off at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Those squads are still unknown at this juncture, but rest assured, none of them will be expected to make a big splash in the tournament.
Those expectations are reserved for familiar names like Kansas, North Carolina, Villanova and Duke according to Bovada’s most recent 2016 NCAA Tournament odds.
The Jayhawks and Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans are the bookmaker’s top choice to win the national championship at +500 odds apiece ($100 wins $500). The Tar Heels are third on the list at +900 odds; Kentucky, Xavier and Oklahoma round out the top six at +1000, +1200 and +1200 odds, respectively.
Kansas, barring a collapse in the Big 12 Tournament, will enter the NCAA’s as, arguably, the hottest team in the country. Bill Self’s squad rebounded from a 2-3 January stretch with 10 straights wins, ensuring themselves of a 12th consecutive Big 12 regular season title.
The Spartans are heating up at the right time as well, having won nine of 10 since dropping three straight between January 14 and January 20. How Michigan State enters the tournament may not be relevant, though. Izzo has proven himself a master at advancing teams deep into the tourney, reaching the Final Four seven times since 1999.
Odds to Win the 2016 NCAA Tournament: College Basketball Odds Provided by Bovada.lv
Kansas +500
Michigan State +500
North Carolina +900
Kentucky +1000
Xavier +1200
Oklahoma +1200
Villanova +1400
Virginia +1400
Maryland +2000
Duke +2000
Iowa +2500
Wisconsin +2500
Miami, FL +2800
Arizona +3300
Wichita State +3300
Oregon +3300
Iowa State +3300
West Virginia +3300
California +3300
Indiana +3300
Texas +4000
Purdue +4000
UConn +5000
Texas A&M +6600
LSU +6600
Providence +6600
Utah +6600
Notre Dame +7500
Baylor +10000
Dayton +10000
Vanderbilt +10000
Syracuse +10000
Pittsburgh +10000
USC +15000
Gonzaga +15000
Florida +20000
Michigan +20000
Butler +20000
St. Mary’s +20000
VCU +20000
Valparaiso +25000
South Carolina +25000
Cincinnati +25000
Ohio State +30000
San Diego State +30000
Marquette +50000
UCLA +50000
Colorado +50000
Washington +50000
Georgetown +50000
Florida State +50000
UNLV +50000
BYU +50000
Chattanooga +50000
St. Joseph’s +50000