There is a good chance you ripped up your NCAA basketball March Madness bracket after the first day of the tournament. It isn’t called March Madness for nothing.
The tournament is now down to the Final Four, as Florida Atlantic, San Diego State, Miami, and UConn are left to play for the national title. Few college basketball fans would have predicted any of the four teams to make the Final Four.
Of the four teams, UConn is the highest-ranked side. The Huskies are a No 4 seed. San Diego State and Miami are both No 5 seeds. Florida Atlantic is a No 9 seed. The Owls are the Cinderella team of this season’s tournament. There is always at least one, and FAU is wearing the glass slipper.
Can Florida Atlantic win the NCAA Basketball Tournament?
FAU opened the tournament with a one-point win over the Memphis Tigers. The Owls followed it up with a 78-70 win against FDU, who had knocked off No 1 seed Purdue in the first round.
The Owls ended Tennessee’s tournament in the Sweet 16, 62-55, and shocked No 3 Kansas State in the Elite Eight by three points. FAU has a chance of making the final. The Owls avoided the strongest team left in the tournament, UConn, by being in the East region.
Outright winner odds: +550
Can San Diego State win the NCAA Basketball Tournament?
San Diego State will be full of confidence going up against FAU. The Owls are the lowest seed left in the tournament. The Aztecs defeated the College of Charleston, Furman, Alabama, and Creighton to reach the Final Four.
San Diego State was expected to win against CoC and Fuman, but the team surprised fans with a seven-point win over No 1 seed Alabama. State’s Elite Eight game against Creighton was nip and tuck, with the game ending 57-56.
The Aztecs are not a tall team. So, FAU could dominate down low. San Diego State will likely try to unsettle FAU in transition.
Outright winner odds: +375
Can UConn win the NCAA Basketball Tournament?
UConn basketball is back on the big stage. This season’s tournament is the deepest the Huskies have progressed since winning the national championship in 2014. UConn only qualified for three of the last seven NCAA tournaments.
The Huskies smashed Iona to start the tournament, before beating St Mary’s by 15. An impressive 13-point win over Arkansas followed in the Sweet 16. The Huskies then humiliated Gonzaga by 28 points in the Elite Eight.
UConn is playing the best basketball of the four teams remaining in the tournament. It is no wonder the Huskies are the bookmakers’ favorites to win the NCAA national championship.
Outright winner odds: -115
Can Miami win the NCAA Basketball Tournament?
Of the four teams left in the tournament, Miami arguably had the most difficult route to the Final Four. The Hurricanes started with a 63-56 win over Drake. An 85-69 victory against Indiana followed before an 89-75 win over the No 1 seed Houston Cougars in the Sweet 16. Miami kept the good times rolling in the Elite Eight with a seven-point win over Texas.
It is a shame that Miami will play UConn in the Final Four rather than the national championship game. Of the four teams remaining, Miami and UConn appear to be the best at both ends of the court.
Outright winner odds: +450
Who will win the NCAA Basketball Tournament?
The Huskies look fantastic and are the bookmakers’ favorite to win the NCAA tournament. The team finished fourth in the Big East with a 29-8 record. The team averaged 78.5 ppg, with Adama Sanogo leading the way with 17.1 a night. Sanogo has been impressive in the NCAA Tournament and will be key in UConn’s Final Four showdown with Miami.
UConn scored 82 or more points in three of their four tournament games. No team scored more than 65 points against the UConn defense. Gonzaga scored a pitiful 54 pints in the Elite Eight against the Huskies.
UConn should win the NCAA Basketball Tournament and could smash its way to its first title since 2014 this weekend.
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