The bracket is set, regions are being dissected and computers are simulating the March Madness Tournament.
Naturally, the UConn Huskies are favored to win it all again, but I’m taking a different approach a bit further down the odds board.
Dan Hurley’s group, despite having the best team in the country all year long, has drawn a tough region this year.
Assuming an advancement to the Sweet 16, the Huskies will have to face last year’s runner-up, San Diego State, or SEC champion Auburn, two teams that are capable of beating anyone on a given night.
If you think they get past that tough matchup, you’re looking at a likely Elite Eight date with Iowa State or Illinois, pending a massive upset.
USA Today called UConn’s path in the East Region a gauntlet and “the region of death.”
A look further down the odds board shows some value elsewhere to win the 2024 March Madness Tournament.
| UConn +370 | Gonzaga 50/1 | Dayton 150/1 | UAB 1000/1 |
| Houston +600 | Wisconsin 60/1 | Oregon 200/1 | Wagner 1000/1 |
| Purdue +700 | Saint Mary’s 60/1 | South Carolina 200/1 | Colgate 1000/1 |
| Arizona 13/1 | Florida 65/1 | Nevada 200/1 | Charleston 1000/1 |
| North Carolina 17/1 | Michigan State 65/1 | Utah State 200/1 | Morehead State 1000/1 |
| Tennessee 17/1 | Texas Tech 75/1 | Drake 200/1 | Longwood 1000/1 |
| Iowa State 20/1 | San Diego State 75/1 | Virginia 250/1 | Stetson 1000/1 |
| Auburn 22/1 | New Mexico 75/1 | NC State 250/1 | Oakland 1000/1 |
| Creighton 25/1 | Texas 100/1 | Northwestern 250/1 | South Dakota State 1000/1 |
| Marquette 25/1 | Clemson 120/1 | Boise State 250/1 | Montana State 1000/1 |
| Kentucky 30/1 | TCU 120/1 | Colorado State 250/1 | Howard 1000/1 |
| Duke 30/1 | Nebraska 120/1 | James Madison 250/1 | Akron 1000/1 |
| Alabama 35/1 | Colorado 150/1 | Grand Canyon 500/1 | Saint Peter’s 1000/1 |
| Baylor 35/1 | Washington State 150/1 | McNeese 500/1 | Western Kentucky 1000/1 |
| Illinois 35/1 | Texas A&M 150/1 | Yale 500/1 | Long Beach State 1000/1 |
| Kansas 45/1 | Mississippi State 150/1 | Samford 500/1 | Grambling 1000/1 |
| BYU 50/1 | Florida Atlantic 150/1 | Vermont/1 | Duquesne 1000/1 |
You can forget about betting on Purdue.
For me, they are a great regular-season team but whistles get swallowed in the postseason.
The team is just too reliant on center Zach Edey to manufacture offense for them. They only take 20.4 3-point attempts per game, something that leaves them susceptible to hot streaks from an opponent.
It’s not available yet but would love to bet a prop on the winner to come out of the South Region.
Since that’s unavailable, feel free to take a long-shot flyer on the winner to come out of the South Region, backing Kentucky (30/1) to outscore the field this year.
There are plenty of solid teams to choose from in this division but Kentucky is a particularly tasty target thanks to their high-volume offense.
The Wildcats have the fifth-best offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, and their 89.4 points per game was the second-most in college hoops.
PICK: Winner to come out of the South region (Bet to +150); Kentucky Wildcats long shot (30/1, FanDuel)