The 2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament is upon us and I’m couldn’t be more excited! I’m going to list the 6 teams with the top odds and I’ll include my picks for the final four and the national champion!
Top 6 Odds
Tournament history information was retrieved from ESPN
1. Kentucky – 11/10 – #1 seed in the Midwest Region. 34 wins and 0 losses this season. Finished 18-0 in the SEC during the regular season and then won the SEC tournament championship. This is their 55th tournament appearance. They have won 8 national championships and made the final four 16 times. Their overall record in the tournament is 118-48. Last season they were defeated 60-54 by UConn in the National Championship game. They were 13-0 versus teams that made the tournament field this season. Their first game will be against 16th seeded Hampton in Louisville, Kentucky.
t2. Arizona – 8/1 – #2 seed in the West Region. 31 wins and 3 losses this season. Finished 16-2 in the Pac 12 during the regular season and then won the Pac 12 tournament championship. This is their 32nd tournament appearance. They have won 1 national championship and made the final four 4 times. Their overall record in the tournament is 51-30. Last season they were defeated 64-63 by Wisconsin in the Elite 8. They were 10-0 versus teams that made the tournament field this season. Their first game will be against 15th seeded Texas Southern in Portland, Oregon.
t2. Wisconsin – 8/1 – #1 seed in the West Region. 31 wins and 3 losses this season. Finished 16-2 in the Big Ten during the regular season and then won the Big Ten tournament championship. This is their 21st tournament appearance. They have won 1 national championship and made the final four 3 times. Their overall record in the tournament is 29-19. Last season they were defeated 74-73 versus Kentucky in the final four. They were 13-2 versus teams that made the tournament field this season. Their first game will be against 16th seeded Coastal Carolina in Omaha, Nebraska.
4. Duke – 9/1 – #1 seed in the South Region. 29 wins and 4 losses this season. Finished 15-3 in the ACC during the regular season and then lost 74-64 versus Notre Dame in the semi-finals of the ACC tournament. This is their 39th tournament appearance. They have won 4 national championships and made the final four 15 times. Their overall record in the tournament is 99-34. Last season they were defeated 78-71 versus Mercer in the 2nd round. They were 10-3 versus teams that made the tournament field this season. Their first game (in Charlotte, North Carolina) will be against the winner of the ‘first four’ game between 16th seeded Northern Florida and 16th seeded Robert Morris.
t5. Villanova – 10/1 – #1 seed in the East Region. 32 wins and 2 losses this season. Finished 16-2 in the Big East during the regular season and then won the Big East tournament championship. This is their 35th tournament appearance. They have won 1 national championship and made the final four 4 times. Their overall record in the tournament is 50-34. Last season they were defeated 77-65 versus UConn in the 3rd round. They were 12-1 versus teams that made the tournament field this season. Their first game will be against 16th seeded Lafayette in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
t5. Virginia – 10/1 – #2 seed in the East Region. 29 wins and 3 losses this season. Finished 16-2 in the ACC during the regular season and then lost 71-67 versus North Carolina in the semi-finals of the ACC tournament. This their 19th tournament appearance. They have never won the national championship and made the final four 2 times. Their overall record in the tournament is 24-18. Last season they were defeated 61-59 versus Michigan State in Sweet 16. They were 9-3 versus teams that made the tournament field this season. Their first game will be against 15th seeded Belmont in Charlotte, North Carolina.
My 1st round upset picks
These are my ‘straight-up’ winners upset picks
West Region – #11 Mississippi over #6 Xavier, #10 Ohio State over #7 VCU
East Region – #12 Wyoming over #5 Northern Iowa
South Region – #13 Eastern Washington over #4 Georgetown, #10 Davidson over #7 Iowa
My Predicted Tournament Winner
How can you go against Kentucky? I know I sure can’t. I wanted a reason to pick against them but I just don’t see it. They’ll breeze by Hampton in the 2nd round, then they’ll take out #9 seed Purdue in the 3rd round, they’ll control #4 Maryland in the Sweet 16, then they’ll narrowly beat #3 Notre Dame in the Midwest Regional final. In the Final Four they’ll beat West Region winner Arizona in a high-scoring contest and in the national championship game they’ll finish their undefeated quest with a victory over the Villanova Wildcats. Take the Kentucky Wildcats with 11/10 odds.
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