Get ready to adjust your favorites for the NCAA basketball tournament.
I broke down why I liked the long-shots in the upcoming men’s basketball tournament. That’s still my take on March Madness. However, since those odds were released last week, oddsmakers have adjusted the tournament’s favorite.
North Carolina hopped Oklahoma to become the odds-on favorite. The Tar Heels are now +700, up from +750, while the Sooners fell to +900 after losing to Kansas during the weekend.
There isn’t much time left for the college basketball season, but we doubt the musical chair game of who’s the favorite this week will change. There isn’t the dominant college basketball team this season. That should make for a memorable March Madness and gives bettors an opportunity to make out big with long-shots.
Michigan State also experienced a bump, going from +1200 to +900. The Spartans have won five of six.
Despite the movement at the top, I’m still avoiding the best teams heading into the tournament this season. Underdogs should be valued much higher this season due to the lack of quality, consistent teams. I’m not sure how a team will win six consecutive games (or more if they play in the opening round) against quality competition, since I haven’t seen any team do that yet this season.
That’s why I’m avoiding the favorites. So I’m skipping teams like North Carolina, who has the talent, but has lacked the consistency, Oklahoma, Kansas and Michigan State. The Spartans are usually at their best when no one is expecting much out of them and the Jayhawks have been on my no-pick list for more than decade.
Oklahoma is an interesting case, but it just doesn’t play enough defense at crucial points to survive a close game against an underdog.
