NCAA March Madness: Favorites, top teams, bracket busters, odds and predictions

With its 67 games, March madness is a prime betting event. The seeding system makes it easy to identify favorites, while the frequency with which unknown teams rock the boat always makes for an interesting landscape in terms of odds. Join us for a look at the favorites, the odds and of course the prediction.

Houston Cougars are favorites?

As odds on favorites to win the National Championship - +550 to be exact - the Cougars come into March Madness with a season record of 31-3 following their first defeat in 13 games on Sunday in the ACC Tournament championship game. To be clear, this is a team that ranks in the top-10 in both offense and defense. Their other two losses came against Alabama back in December, a game they lost by 6-points and Temple in January, which was a contest that they lost by just 1. Where the numbers are concerned, they’ve allowed only 55.9 points per game, which ranks No. 1 in the nation, and they’ve outscored their opponents by 20 points per game. This is a well-oiled machine that we are talking about.

Who are the other No. 1 seeds?

Alabama Crimson Tide

Though Houston is highly favored, they’re not actually overall No. 1 seed. That honor belongs to Alabama whose odds currently stand at +650. Yet, we’ve got to address the elephant in the room which has nothing to do with the team’s performance on the court, but rather the actions of some its players off of it. Now former player Darius Miles, was recently indicted for the murder of Jamea Harris. His teammate and SEC Player of the Year, Brandon Miller, is now known to be the individual who provided him with the firearm that was used in the shooting which led to Harris’ death. On the other hand, Alabama comes into the tournament with just two losses and having become one of only three teams to beat Houston at home in the last three seasons.

Kansas Jayhawks.

Next in line are the Kansas Jayhawks (+800). Who could forget the way in which they overturned a 15-point deficit two win the 2022 national title game against North Carolina? Led by Jalen Wilson, the Kansas has also seen the likes of NBA bound Gradey Dick and Kevin McCullar Jr. make waves on their way to the ‘big dance.’ With a ‘kill count’ that includes the likes of Duke, Texas, Indiana and Kentucky, the Jayhawks have not been messing around this year. If there is one flaw, it’s the shooting from beyond the arc, which has been 31%.

Purdue Boilermakers

Bringing up the rear, we’ve got the Purdue Boilermakers and it’s got to be said, if there is a standout talent in the tournament, it’s got to be their big man, the 7-foot-4 star, Zach Edey. With an average of 21.9 ppg, 12.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, Edey is quite frankly a shoo-in for MVP. To be clear, 75.5% of his attempts have been made at the rim, which only indicates the kind of dominance that he has displayed. From Marquette to Gonzaga and even Duke, many teams have had to learn the hard way, that Edey requires extra men to mark him, which in turn only leaves players like Fletcher Loyer, to do major damage. If there is a catch, it’s their record coming into the tournament. At 4-4 in their last eight, Purdue has been a victim of its own errors with consistent turnovers. Their lack of success from beyond the arc (32%) has also been an issue. Ultimately, if they can correct those two areas in a short time, they will be more than a handful.

The Bracket Busters of March Madness

Oral Roberts

Who doesn’t love a ‘Cinderella team’ when it comes to sports? In this year’s March Madness, there are a handful of teams who more than look like they fit that description. Indeed, among them are some giant killers such as Oral Roberts who put down Ohio State. Led by the sensational Max Abmas, it could be worthwhile keeping an eye on the Golden Eagles. Ranked at No. 12, the team will also be relying on the 7-foot-3 senior, Connor Vanover, when they take on the heavily favored Duke Blue Devils.

Memphis

If you find it strange to see the Tigers ranked at No. 8? We forgive you. This is a serious team and though they did lose to the No. 1 Houston Cougars twice in eight days, they went toe-to-toe with them in both games. That’s to say, they will be feeling confident that they can beat anyone. If they can beat Florida Atlantic in Round 1, they will face Purdue and by all indications, that’s a game they can win.

Vermont

The No. 15 ranked Vermont will be liking their chances against Marquette in Round 1. With a roster full of ‘veterans’ this is a team that makes few errors and knows exactly what its strengths and weaknesses are. While it’s true that they had a dismal time in November last year, losing 7 of their 8 games, they enter the tournament on a 15-game winning streak which is to say, they’ve improved.

Full March Madness 2023 odds

From Houston all the way to Texas Southern, here’s a look at the full list of odds for the 2023 NCAA National Title: