2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament Odds: With the 2011-2012 college basketball season now officially underway, postseason supposition can begin in earnest. Of course, it doesn't take too long to come with a short list of potential national championship contenders as teams like North Carolina and Kentucky are loaded with both returning talent and promising newcomers. The latest 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament Odds have the Tar Heels (+350) and Wildcats (+500) listed as two of the favorites to win it all; they are joined by usual suspects Louisville (+850), Duke (+900), and Ohio State (+775).
No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (+775): Ohio State, which opens its 2011-12 schedule on Friday against Wright State, mowed
through the Big Ten last season, going 16-2 in league play to secure the conference championship. Thad Matta's crew finished the regular season with a 34-2 record, which helped them earn the No. 1 seed in the East Region. Unfortunately for Buckeyes fans, the team bowed out of the NCAA Tournament sooner than expected as the fourth seeded Kentucky Wildcats upset Ohio State 62-60 in the regional semi-final. The Buckeyes have enough returning talent to potentially correct last season's wrong as Jared Sullinger, William Buford, DeShaun Thomas, and Aaron Craft all made their way back to Columbus. Matta's also welcomes a top shelf recruiting class that features point guard Shannon Scott and small forwards Sam Thompson and LaQuinton Ross. Sullinger, a sophomore forward who earned first team All-American honors as a freshman, will, once again, anchor the team. Sullinger averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in leading Ohio State last season.
No. 6 Duke Blue Devils (+900): The Blue Devils also jump start their season tomorrow night as they take on the Belmont Bruins in the opening round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. Duke will begin play without its big three from last year, Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, and Kyrie Irving; however, some familiar names did return to Durham. The Plumlee twins, Mason and Miles, are back as are guards Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins. Coach K also reeled in another top notch recruiting class, nabbing shooting guard Austin Rivers out of Winter Park, Florida, point guard Quinn Cook from Maryland's famed Oak Hill Academy, and top five center Marshall Plumlee (the twins younger brother) from Warsaw, Indiana. It may take this team a while to gel, but come tournament time it should be hitting on all cylinders.
2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament Odds: Provided by JustBet.cx
Alabama +5000
Arizona +3000
Arizona State +15000
Baylor +3000
Butler +5000
BYU +17500
California +10000
Clemson +10000
Colorado +10000
Connecticut +1900
Duke +900
Florida +1500
Florida State +6000
Georgetown +3000
Georgia +10000
Georgia Tech +10000
Gonzaga +3000
Illinois +8000
Indiana +2500
Iowa +12500
Kansas +2200
Kansas State +5000
Kentucky +500
Louisville +850
LSU +17500
Marquette +10000
Maryland +8000
Memphis +2000
Miami +10000
Michigan +3000
Michigan State +2500
Mississippi +10000
Mississippi State +6500
Missouri +8000
North Carolina +350
North Carolina State +8000
Notre Dame +4000
Ohio State +775
Oklahoma +8000
Oklahoma State +8000
Oregon +8000
Pittsburgh +1900
Purdue +10000
San Diego State +12500
Seton Hall +10000
Southern Cal +10000
St. John's +2000
Stanford +10000
Syracuse +1200
Tennessee +8000
Texas +2000
Texas A&M +5000
UCLA +1800
UNLV +9000
Villanova +5000
Virginia Tech +12500
Wake Forest +25000
Washington +5000
Washington State +10000
West Virginia +6000
Wisconsin +4500
Xavier +10000
Vanderbilt +3000
The Field (Any Other Team) +2000
