At the onset, the 2023 NCAA Tournament is expected to show more parity and potential for upsets than any previous edition. While the expected names are at the top of the College Basketball odds board, coaches such as Kentucky’s John Calipari believe over 40 teams have a legitimate chance to win the title. The betting favorites are the Houston Cougars, Kansas Jayhawks, Alabama Crimson Tide, and UCLA Bruins. But many alternatives could offer more value. The Purdue Boilermakers and Gonzaga Bulldogs come to mind.
2023 NCAA Tournament – Seedings and Brackets Overview
| Date and Time: | Thursday, March 16 through Monday, April 3, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Location: | Check Schedules |
| TV Coverage: | CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV |
National Championship odds at SBG
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Houston | +500 |
| Alabama | +800 |
| Kansas | +1000 |
| Purdue | +1200 |
| UCLA | +1400 |
| Gonzaga | +1500 |
| Arizona | +1600 |
| Texas | +1900 |
| Marquette | +2100 |
| Baylor | +2100 |
| Tennessee | +2200 |
| UConn | +2400 |
| Duke | +3100 |
| Kentucky | +3400 |
| Saint Mary’s | +3400 |
| Creighton | +3400 |
| TCU | +3400 |
| All Other Teams | +4300 or higher |
2023 NCAA Tournament Seeding Overview
First seeds are Alabama, Houston, Kansas, and Purdue. Second seeds are UCLA, Marquette, Texas, and Arizona. Alabama’s first sportsbook matchup is against Tuesday’s First Four winner between Texas A&M CC and SE Missouri State. Houston will face Northern Kentucky on Thursday. Meanwhile, Purdue will play Wednesday’s First Four winner between Arizona State and Nevada. While Kansas faces Howard on Thursday.
Gamblers Go, Sweet Home Alabama
Despite a ton of negative publicity for tragic off-court issues and their inept handling, the Alabama Crimson Tide remains a top favorite and #1 seed. Alabama dominated for the SEC regular season championship. Additionally, the Crimson Tide arguably has the best player in the Tournament in Brandon Miller. Alabama may be hated for handling a capital murder and Miller’s involvement in it, but this is a dominant unit on the hardwood.
Oddsmakers Saying, “Houston, We Have a Problem”
At the beginning of March Madness, the Houston Cougars will be a public betting favorite. Oddsmakers know this and must charge full retail and beyond for the stampede of squares that awaits. However, Houston held its betting value all season to finish in the black. And the Cougars boast one of the top defensive teams in the country. Houston could make its second Final Four in three years.
Can Jayhawks Walk Without Self?
The defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks were without head coach Bill Self at the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Thus, there are legitimate concerns about Kansas’s fate if Self can’t return to the sideline. Kansas successfully adapted to a vastly different lineup compared to 2022. But that was because Self was on hand to orchestrate it.
Is UCLA the Forgotten Power?
The UCLA Bruins made the Final Four as an NCAABB betting upstart two years ago. This year UCLA dominated the Pac-12 Conference as the regular season champions. UCLA is a traditional power and college basketball blue blood. But the Bruins play in the dying Pac-12 Conference on the west coast. Thus, UCLA is often forgotten by casual gamblers. And that can potentially add to their wagering value in the Big Dance.
Purdue Brings Dominant Big to the Dance
Namely, Zach Edey is potentially the most dominant player in the NCAA Tournament. Edey is a towering figure that takes gamblers back to a different age when big men ruled the game. Purdue easily won the Big Ten regular season championship and was ranked #1 in the country for much of the year.