We are a long way from Selection Sunday and now we know the March Madness final four odds. 2024 March Madness hasn’t been quite as crazy as the NCAA tournament of a year ago, but we have had some surprises across the four regions so far. It isn’t as easy as just taking the top seeds because certain teams come alive as the tournament unfolds.
We will take a look at March Madness Final Four odds going forward and how this college basketball season could conclude. Though the national semifinals has a couple of top seed teams left – the UConn Huskies and Purdue Boilermakers – there have been more than a few surprises in this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Understanding March Madness Final Four Odds
One of the most talked about things in this tournament – aside from the national championship – is March Madness odds. March Madness Final Four odds and the national championship odds will look quite different. There are even future odds, too.
We’ll take a deeper look at the top teams, who had the best odds to reach the Final Four and who has the shortest odds of reaching the championship game. This is a highly anticipated event in NCAA men’s basketball each year.
Bet on the Purdue vs UConn game for March Madness final below:
What Are The Teams In The NCAA Championship Final?
- UConn – The defending national champions were dominant in the second half of the regular season, dominated each round so far (even topping San Diego State in a rematch of last year’s final game), and came out of the east region looking dominant on the path to a repeat.
- Purdue – The top seed in the Midwest region, they’ve topped teams like the Bulldogs to reach the Final Four. A win over North Carolina State would propel them to the next round and put them closer to men’s basketball glory.
Cinderella Stories in March Madness 2024
Cinderella stories are always the focal point of the college basketball season. March Madness is at its best when at least one team makes a deep run, advances through the bracket and manages to win more than a few upset games.
There are two teams that fit the bill heading into the final weekend of the college basketball season. There is one true Cinderella story and one that would be in any other year. Here is what each Cinderella team has to bring to the table.
N.C. State
Without a doubt the biggest Cinderella story in the tournament this year. Each win has been a major surprise, so getting to this point is no doubt shocking. Beating Duke is just another step in the process to them but is a game that no one expected them to win.
North Carolina State isn’t content, either. Teams like this don’t make a run of this kind in college basketball or March Madness like this. Unfortunately their run stopped in the final four against Purdue, but that doesn’t erase an incredible season for NC State.
Alabama
Alabama isn’t a Cinderella story on the same level of North Carolina State, but they aren’t far behind. This was their first-ever Final Four appearance, and they got here by being one of the best teams in the nation shooting from three.
A team dangerous from long range can wind up winning any round. This season, teams haven’t been able to solve the long ball from the Crimson Tide, and that is how they have reached this stage. Their run ended against UConn, but it was still one of the best seasons in their history.
Betting Strategies for March Madness Final Four Odds
Throughout March and the tournament, it is important to have a strategy. You might use the same one you used all season or choose to go with another strategy based on the game. Don’t just wing it because you will find yourself on the short end of the stick.
There’s one simple one: don’t just bet on the favorites. As we have seen with teams like Duke, North Carolina, and Arizona, they can and will lose. Even strong teams like Iowa State can run into a surprise and find themselves on the outside looking in.
Promotional Offers
One of the best things to do is check out the bonus bets offered by each sportsbook. Those bonus bets can be a great way to build on your bankroll without having to use your own money. A win is a win and turning that free bet into money is definitely sweet.
When the tournament begins, there are typically larger offers to take advantage of. But at any point, you can make any game in any round a bit more interesting by implementing one of the various bonus bets out there for the taking.
Bankroll Management
An important part of putting down a bet is managing your bankroll. Think of the money as entertainment. By managing your bets and putting down the proper amount, you stretch out your entertainment dollar.
The goal is to win, but that is very tough to do, especially during March Madness. All throughout March and April, there are a ton of games to bet on. By using proper bankroll management, you can ensure that you have the funds to bet with each round. You can also look at March Madness prop bets here.
Shop the Odds
One of the best things you can do when it comes to March Madness odds is to shop around. In addition to bonus bets, odds can substantially impact your potential winnings. The odds to win will largely be similar but can change from sportsbook to sportsbook.
This is the same for all sports. Before you make a bet, check out the odds that are officially set. You may find that the opening odds change over the next few days leading into the game, especially at this stage of the college basketball season.
The Role of Momentum and Performance Trends
When making bets, there are a few things to keep in mind throughout the tournament. Shopping the odds is important heading into the national final, but there are a few other factors worth considering. Momentum throughout the tournament is definitely important, especially as the pressure goes up in each round.
Historically, the higher seeds and the best odds to win are the way to go. Some opening odds change, especially for a power program like Duke, Arizona, North Carolina, etc. It is a safer bet that a top seed will come out on top in March Madness, though it is anything but a guarantee.
North Carolina State’s DJ Burns Jr. (30) shoots against Duke’s Sean Stewart (13) during the second half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Dallas, Sunday, March 31, 2024. North Carolina State won 76-64. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Expert Picks and Predictions
Now that we are down to four teams in March Madness, choosing a college basketball national champion is tough. Though the blue bloods like the North Carolina Tarheels, Arizona Wildcats, Duke Blue Devils, and newcomers like the Houston Cougars are gone, there is still plenty of power left in this tournament.
The UConn Huskies are the team to beat. They steamrolled their way through the tournament a year ago and have done the same so far during this March Madness. They are the kings of college basketball and will be until they are uncrowned.
However, Purdue looks like the current favorite according to sportsbooks, due to Zach Edey, who has been a standout player this tournament.
A Final Four Like Few Others
The cool thing about 2024 March Madness is how anything can happen. It isn’t as crazy as last year when San Diego State and Florida Atlantic took great team after great team down in the basketball tournament. Though the UConn Huskies wound up dominating their way to the title, men’s basketball never felt so uncertain.
Though power programs like the UCLA Bruins, North Carolina Tar Heels, Arizona Wildcats, and Duke Blue Devils are not here, there is plenty of power in Purdue and UConn. The east region and west region have looked the strongest, though many had the Houston Cougars out of the south to win it all.
Since Selection Sunday, the odds to win have changed with each round. Every team looks to put its best effort forward, to extend their season one more round, and to right any wrongs of the regular season. The tournament may not have gone exactly as expected, but some of the opening odds certainly look interesting. The NCAA tournament is coming to a close but March Madness is far from over.
