Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images. Pictured: Ohio State, Michigan
We know that Baylor and Gonzaga are set for top seeds in the men’s NCAA Tournament. Michigan looks likely, too. But the competition for the final No. 1 seed is wide open.
Selection Sunday is March 14 following conference tournaments, but a lot can change between now and then, which means there could be value on the odds board.
DraftKings Sportsbook posted odds to be No. 1 seeds with Baylor (-1000), Gonzaga (-1000) and Michigan (-500) all overwhelming favorites. It’s a close market for that last spot.
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At time of publish, Alabama has the fourth-best odds at even money. The Crimson Tide are the +250-favorite to win the SEC tournament with an 18-5 overall record and 13-1 in the conference.
Florida State and Ohio State are next at +200. The Seminoles finish the regular season with four conference games, three coming on the road. There could be an opportunity in the ACC tournament to solidify their resume, perhaps in a conference championship against Virginia.
The Buckeyes have multiple resume-boosting opportunities left on the schedule. They end the regular season with road games against Michigan State and home games against top-10 teams in Iowa and Illinois — and all that’s before reaching the conference tournament.
Illinois’ chances took a hit with a loss to Michigan State on Monday, but the Illini are still +300 to earn a top seed. That’s just ahead of Villanova and West Virginia at +400.
NCAA Tournament Odds: No. 1 Seed
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Baylor | -1000 |
| Gonzaga | -1000 |
| Michigan | -500 |
| Alabama | +100 |
| Florida State | +200 |
| Ohio State | +200 |
| Illinois | +300 |
| Villanova | +400 |
| West Virginia | +400 |
| Oklahoma | +600 |
| Iowa | +1500 |
| Missouri | +1500 |
| Houston | +2000 |
| Virginia | +2000 |
| Texas | +3000 |