Sports Betting News

March Madness odds: Kansas is safe, West Virginia offers value

With the Super Bowl finished, it’s time to turn our attention to March Madness odds. Sportsbooks have lines available, so let’s examine the current odds and find some nice contenders, pretenders and sleepers in the mix.

Kansas is the favorite at both Sportsbook.com (+180), Sportsbetting.com (+200) and Bodog (2/1). The Jayhawks have been incredibly consistent, losing only once all season—on the road to a very good Tennessee team.

The Jayhawks field one of the most dangerous offenses in the country, ranking fourth in points per game at 83.7. Sherron Collins is the leading scorer at 15.6 points per game, but Kansas can hurt you in any number of ways with four players averaging double figures in scoring. Defensively, the Jayhawks are very good too. They’re surrendering just 62.7 points per outing and haven’t allowed more than 80 points all season.

This is a very balanced team that deserves to be Leader of the Clubhouse when it comes to March Madness odds.

Kentucky is second at Sportsbook.com (+400) and Bodog (3/1) and third at Sportsbetting.com (+300). Like Kansas, the Wildcats have lost just once all season, a 69-62 defeat in South Carolina. Kentucky closely trails Kansas in scoring at 83.7 points per game and much of the thanks belong to freshman sensation John Wall.

Many believe the key to winning March Madness is having the best player, and that distinction might belong to Wall when all is said and done this season. The freshman is showing signs of fatigue but, if he can get rested up for the Tournament, Kentucky’s chances are as good as Kansas’.

Texas is ranked fifth by Sportsbook.com (+1200) and Bodog (10/1) and second by Sportsbetting.com (+280). If there’s a team of all these contenders you should be wary of, it’s the Longhorns. After opening the year with 20 straight wins the Horns have lost four of their last six games. Texas hasn’t had the easiest schedule, but March Madness won’t exactly be a cakewalk either.

The defense is showing signs of caving after allowing 77.0 points per game during the slump, well above the season average of 67.7. Considering this team is regressing so deep into the season, you’d be advised to stay away on March Madness odds. These guys are pretenders, at least at those odds.

If you’re looking for a sleeper, you could do worse than West Virginia. The Mountaineers are getting nice underdog odds from Sportsbook.com (+1800), Sportsbetting.com (+2000) and Bodog (18/1). West Virginia is 19-3 on the year and all three losses came against respectable opponents—at Purdue, at Notre Dame and Syracuse.

The team is very solid in the defensive end (61.5 points per game) and, while they don’t light up the scoreboard, they have some nice players capable of big games, like senior Da’Sean Butler.