March Madness is underway, and Day 1 did not disappoint.
No. 3 Kentucky fell 80-76 to No. 14 Oakland on the first day of the tournament. The Kentucky Wildcats were +3000 to win it all before losing to the Grizzlies.
No. 11 Duquesne was another lower seed that notched an upset victory over a higher seed on Thursday. The Dukes defeated No. 6 BYU 71-67.
In the Midwest bracket, No. 6 South Carolina was ousted by No. 11 Oregon as the Ducks handily defeated the Gamecocks 87-73.
RELATED: Kentucky loss huge for sportsbooks: ‘A monumental result for us’
From a betting perspective, the defending champion UConn Huskies continue to be the favorites to win the men’s college basketball national title (+380), but the Houston Cougars aren’t far behind (+550).
Let’s look at the latest FanDuel Sportsbook odds to cut down the nets in Phoenix, with insight from FOX Sports college basketball reporter John Fanta.
2023-24 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TITLE ODDS: *
UConn Huskies +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)
Houston Cougars +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)
Purdue Boilermakers +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
Arizona Wildcats +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Tennessee Volunteers +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
Auburn Tigers: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Iowa State Cyclones: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
North Carolina Tar Heels: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Marquette Golden Eagles: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Creighton Bluejays: +2300 (bet $10 to win $240 total)
Duke Blue Devils +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Illinois Fighting Illini: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Gonzaga: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Baylor Bears: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Alabama Crimson Tide: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Michigan State: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Florida: +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total)
Saint Mary’s: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Wisconsin: +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total)
Colorado: +7500 (bet $10 to win $760 total)
Kansas Jayhawks: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
New Mexico: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Oregon: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total)
Texas: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total)
TCU: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total)
San Diego State: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total)
Florida Atlantic: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total)
NC State: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Clemson: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Texas A&M: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Nebraska: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Washington State: + 20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Dayton: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Northwestern: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
James Madison +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Duquesne: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Utah State: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Grand Canyon: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Yale: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
UAB: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Charleston: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Longwood: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Stetson: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Oakland: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Colgate: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Vermont: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Western Kentucky: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Grambling: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
* odds as of 3/22/24
FOX Sports college basketball reporter John Fanta had some early thoughts on which 1-seed has the most favorable draw:
To answer this question specifically, I truthfully believe UConn will be untouchable in this region.
Honestly, the draw is more challenging than it should be with Big 12 Tournament champion Iowa State, Big Ten Tournament champion Illinois and the Tigers to round out the top four. But, there’s no conceivable way the Huskies don’t make it to the Sweet 16 in Boston.
I do get that Auburn, with a KenPom rating of four and an elite defense, could give the Huskies some fits with the way they guard, but I don’t think it’s definitive that Auburn gets to the second weekend because I despise their draw.
As much as I want to say Iowa State would challenge the Huskies more, I still would rather play the Cyclones than 2-seeds Tennessee or Arizona.
Yes, I’m well aware that Iowa State crushed Houston in the Big 12 Tournament championship game but I still have some concerns about their offense.
Who do you think is going to lay claim to the 2024 NCAA Men’s Title? Follow along with FOX Sports for all the March Madness action!
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