The Gonzaga Bulldogs will be looking to become the first team in 45 years to cap off an undefeated season with an NCAA Tournament title when they open their March Madness schedule as strong +200 favourites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Bulldogs have dominated while racking up a 26-0 straight up record, and have suffered just one loss in their past 50 overall games entering the NCAA Tournament this week in Indiana.
Gonzaga has faced little resistance in its drive toward a ninth straight West Coast Conference title, with 25 of this season’s 26 wins coming by double-digit margins. Unsurprisingly atop the Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Bulldogs are also heavy -250 chalk on the odds to win the West Region. But despite 21 straight trips to the Big Dance, the Bulldogs have reached the Final Four on just one previous occasion, and have never won a national championship.
In addition, the Bulldogs face no shortage of formidable challengers for the crown at this year’s tournament. Winners in each of their past seven outings, the Illinois Fighting Illini sit second to Gonzaga on the March Madness futures at +550. The Baylor Bears follow at +700, ahead of the Michigan Wolverines, who round out the list of betting favourites at +1000.
The Fighting Illini closed out their campaign with a conference-leading 16 SU wins. However, the team lagged behind the Wolverines on win percentage, forcing them to settle for second place in the Big Ten standings. Illinois sports an impressive resume that features seven straight victories over nationally ranked opponents, including a 76-53 rout of Michigan earlier this month, earning the Fighting Illini the top seed in the Midwest Region.
The stretch run did not go so well for the Wolverines, who have lost three of their past five games after opening their campaign on an 18-1 SU run. Michigan has also turned in uneven results in recent trips to the NCAA Tournament, advancing past the Sweet Sixteen just once in their past four appearances at the event.
The Bears will be looking to rebound after making an early exit from the Big 12 Tournament. Baylor has also covered just three times in its past nine contests, but remains listed as strong +100 chalk at sports betting sites to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1950.
Other notables on the March Madness odds heading into this week include the defending champion Virginia Cavaliers, who lag at +5500. As well, national champions in two of the past four years the tournament was held, and preseason betting favourites this time around, the Villanova Wildcats trail at a distant +10000 on the futures board.
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