After a chaotic first two rounds that saw numerous favorites get eliminated, 16 teams remain in the NCAA Tournament. Here are the best March Madness national championship picks based on the top NCAAB odds.
After two rounds of play, we have seen two No. 1 seeds, two No. 2 seeds, one No. 3 seed, and two No. 4 seeds sent packing. With the defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks among the teams upset in the first weekend, we will have a new champion this season.
The two No. 1 seeds remaining, the Houston Cougars and the Alabama Crimson Tide, have the shortest odds at every major sportsbook to win the national championship. But with how this tournament has gone so far, is anyone really confident in taking them over more valuable plays?
Here are our best March Madness picks (odds via FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
National Championship picks
UConn Huskies (+1000 via FanDuel)
If the Huskies didn’t have a No. 4 seed next to their name, their odds would be even shorter than they are. This is a team that was underseeded on Selection Sunday, and the Huskies have played every bit like one of the best teams in the nation. They have won their first two tournament games by a combined 39 points and have done so against pretty solid competition.
They scored 39 points in the second half against the Saint Mary’s Gaels, and though the Gaels were without Alex Ducas during that time frame, it does not take away from just how efficient the Huskies looked.
The top seed in their region is gone, so rather than playing the Jayhawks, they will be taking on the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Razorbacks are a solid team with a great coach, but the Huskies match up well with them. They should get through that game to take on the winner of the UCLA Bruins vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs matchup.
Though both of those teams are better-seeded than the Huskies, and that game would be played in Vegas, the Huskies would likely be favored in that contest. This is a great team both inside and out, getting hot at the right time. They’ve won eight of nine with their only loss a two-point defeat at the hands of the Marquette Golden Eagles. If you’re looking for a favorite, this is one of the best to pick.