It is hard to believe, but the college basketball season has passed the midway point. In just over one month from now, teams will be preparing for their conference tournaments with hopes of making the big dance this March. So which teams are favored to make it to the Sweet 16 and beyond?
Duke on top for now
Yes, we are still in January, but so far, several teams have separated themselves from the pack. The Duke Blue Devils seem to be everyone’s choice to take home the NCAA crown just over two months from now, however, several teams have the talent and depth to give the Blue Devils all they can handle.
247 Sports indicates that the Blue Devils are the overwhelming favorites to win the 2019 NCAA March Madness tourney at 8/5 odds. Of course, that has a lot to do with the great play of freshmen sensations R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish and Zion Williamson.
These kids play well beyond their years and most likely will enter the NBA draft next season or stay for the sophomore campaign before they bolt for the big bucks. Barrett leads the Bule Devils in scoring with an average of 23 points per game, followed by Williamson's 20 per contest. Williamson has been compared to LeBron James, who never played in college, and instead made the jump from high school to the NBA.
Zags, Wolverines battle tested
Right behind Duke is Gonzaga, Michigan, and Virginia.
All three of these teams are having outstanding seasons and if they aren’t paired up against each other in the March Madness brackets early on, they should all cruise into the Sweet 16 round.
Heading into action on January 13, the Virginia Cavaliers and Michigan Wolverines are the two teams left in college basketball who have yet to lose a game.
The Wolverines have been one of the hottest teams in all of college sports. They have won their last 25 regular season games and 30 of their last 31 overall. That is pretty impressive. The only loss Michigan has suffered in the last 10 months or so was losing the NCAA Championship last season to Villanova.
Vegas insider indicates that the Wolverines are in a three-way tie for second overall on the Las Vegas odds board, tied with Virginia and Gonzaga at 10/1.
Kansas is listed at No. 4 at 12/1 while the Tenessee Vols round out the top five at 14/1.
Below is a look at the top 25 favorites to win the 2019 NCAA Championship.
- Duke -- 9/4
- Gonzaga -- 10/1
- Michigan -- 10/1
- Virginia -- 10/1
- Kansas --12/1
- Tennessee --14/1
- Kentucky -- 16/1
- Michigan State --16/1
- Nevada --16/1
- North Carolina --16/1
- Auburn -- 25/1
- Kansas State -- 33/1
- Florida State -- 40/1
- Texas Tech -- 40
- Virginia Tech -- 40
- Arizona State -- 50
- Buffalo -- 50
- Indiana -- 50
- Marquette -- 50
- Mississippi State -- 50
- Oklahoma -- 50
- Villanova5 -- 50
- Houston -- 66
- Iowa -- 66/1
- North Carolina State -- 66/1