With elite, nationally-ranked title contending teams getting routinely beaten this season, the big question heading into the new week is whether or there are any ‘real’ favorites to win this year’s quickly approaching March Madness basketball tournament.Thanks to this expert analysis on the latest online sportsbook odds to win the NCAAB Championship, you’re going to find out. Now, let’s get started.
Analysis: Losses by former No. 1 Carolina (19-4) and No. 2 Oklahoma (19-3) show that not even the best teams in the country this season are capable of being beaten on any given night. Still, there’s a reason both ballclubs are top title favorites, seven if nether is my actual pick to win the 2016 NCAA Tournament.Unranked Duke (17-6) should have seen their odds change a couple of weeks ago after they suffered three straight losses and four loss over a five-game stretch last month.New, No. 1 Villanova (20-3) is looking very good right now, having won 12 of its last 13 games while extracting some revenge against No. 11 Providence in its 72-60 win on Saturday.I absolutely love New No. 2 Maryland (21-3) and believe the athletic, high-flying Terrapins have a great chance to make a deep March Madness tournament run.My other favorite teams out of this group include underrated Xavier (21-2), defensive-minded Virginia (19-4) and the versatile Iowa Hawkeyes (19-4).For me, Kentucky (17-6), Michigan State (20-4) and Kansas (19-4) all have the look of very good, but not great, teams right now, though that could change quickly over the ext couple of weeks.
Analysis: I really love all of the teams in this group, though, none quite as much as No. 20 South Carolina (20-3), St. Mary’s (19-3) and San Diego State (18-6).The Gamecocks play excellent defense in limiting their opponents to just 38.9 percent shooting from the field (18th). The Gaels have been even better defensively as they limit their opponents to a nation’s best 59.3 points per game (1st) while simultaneously ranking first in field goal shooting percentage offensively (51.4%) and third in three-point shooting percentage (42.4%).The Aztecs are also succeeding this season because of their sixth-ranked scoring defense (60.3 ppg) and No. 1 field goal defense (36.3 %).I wouldn’t be surprised to see one – or all three – teams make deep runs once March Madness gets under way next month.
Analysis: Out of this grouping, I say, keep an eye on Texas A&M (18-3), Iowa State (16-5), Purdue (19-4) and Oregon (18-4), not to mention upset-minded teams like Wichita State, Davidson, VCU and Iowa State.
New AP Top 25: https://t.co/Btc4JSMrao1. Villanova (32)2. Maryland (13)3. Oklahoma (7)4. Iowa (11) pic.twitter.com/grnelGqLZf
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 8, 2016
NCAAB Championship Betting Lines Favorites
| North Carolina | 13/2 |
| Oklahoma | 13/2 |
| Duke | 10/1 |
| Maryland | 10/1 |
| Iowa | 12/1 |
| Kansas | 12/1 |
| Michigan State | 12/1 |
| Villanova | 15/1 |
| Kentucky | 18/1 |
| Virginia | 20/1 |
| Xavier | 20/1 |
Don’t Sleep on These Teams
| West Virginia | 25/1 |
| Gonzaga | 150/1 |
| Saint Mary’s | 150/1 |
| San Diego State | 250/1 |
| South Carolina | 200/1 |
Where’s SMU?
The 12th-ranked Mustangs (20-2) are one of my favorite teams in all of college basketball this season, mostly because I’m a huge Larry Brown fan and believe the often eccentric head coach (nomad) is one of the greatest coaches at any level since Dr. James Naismith invented the game.SMU may be just 2-2 over its last four games after opening the season with 18 straight wins, but I believe the Ponies could derail some other team’s national championship hopes, even if they don’t have any of their own because of NCAA sanctions.Here is a look at the rest of the odds to win the 2016 NCAA Tournament.The Rest of the Pack
| School | Odds |
| Louisville | 24/1 |
| LSU | 30/1 |
| Miami, Fl. | 30/1 |
| Purdue | 30/1 |
| Texas A&M | 30/1 |
| UConn | 30/1 |
| Arizona | 35/1 |
| Iowa State | 35/1 |
| Oregon | 40/1 |
| Wichita State | 45/1 |
| Indiana | 50/1 |
| Syracuse | 50/1 |
| USC | 65/1 |
| California | 75/1 |
| Michigan | 75/1 |
| Providence | 75/1 |
| Baylor | 100/1 |
| Florida | 100/1 |
| Vanderbilt | 100/1 |
| Butler | 125/1 |
| Notre Dame | 125/1 |
| Texas | 150/1 |
| UCLA | 150/1 |
| Field (Any Other Team) | 150/1 |
| Cincinnati | 200/1 |
| Pittsburgh | 200/1 |
| Utah | 200/1 |
| VCU | 200/1 |
| Arkansas | 300/1 |
| Clemson | 300/1 |
| Florida State | 300/1 |
| Georgetown | 300/1 |
| Marquette | 300/1 |
| UNLV | 350/1 |
| BYU | 500/1 |
| Ohio State | 500/1 |
| Washington | 500/1 |
| Wisconsin | 500/1 |
| Alabama | 1000/1 |
| Arizona State | 1000/1 |
| Georgia | 1000/1 |
| Illinois | 1000/1 |
| Memphis | 1000/1 |
| North Carolina State | 1000/1 |
| Ole Miss | 1000/1 |
| Stanford | 1000/1 |
| Tennessee | 1000/1 |
| Richmond | 2000/1 |
| Temple | 2000/1 |
| Oklahoma State | 4000/1 |
| Davidson | 5000/1 |
| Kansas State | 5000/1 |
| Nebraska | 5000/1 |
| TCU | 5000/1 |
| St. John’s | 9999/1 |
| UTEP | 9999/1 |
