The NCAA Tournament officially starts Thursday, but the bulk of the action begins Friday, which means time is running short to grab some of the best values in the futures and game markets.
Fear not, we've got you covered with five of our favorite values for March Madness, starting with a long shot to win it all ...
Alabama to win the NCAA Tournament (+2000)
Few teams can match Gonzaga's fast-paced style with the efficiency that Alabama brings to the table. In fact, those two teams are the only ones in the nation to boast a top-10 defense and top-10 tempo, per KenPom. That's a blistering combination for teams to prepare for on short notice.
The Crimson Tide are fortunate to be in a region alongside Michigan, which is easily the weakest of the four No. 1 seeds if senior Isaiah Livers isn't at full strength. If they can emerge from the region (+400), they'll give Gonzaga or whomever they face a run for their money - at which point you can always hedge, given the value you're getting at these odds.
Tennessee to reach the Final Four (+1200)
This was my best bet in the Midwest Region, and it's one of my best bets of the entire tournament. Yes, Tennessee has flaws - the Vols haven't won four straight games since before SEC play began, and that's exactly what they'd need to do to reach the Final Four. But boy, do they have the talent.
Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer are both potential top-10 picks whose physicality and athleticism make them tough to handle offensively. Their heady play on defense, though, is what makes Tennessee a top-five team on that end of the floor. My bet is that coach Rick Barnes can draw the best from this group ahead of a potential Final Four run.
USC to reach the Elite Eight (+600)
Earlier this week, I mentioned USC as a dark horse to win the West Region (+800). That would likely require knocking out Gonzaga in the Elite Eight, though, so why not bet one step lower at similar odds?
The Trojans are a force to be reckoned with behind 7-footer Evan Mobley, who's averaging 16.8 points and 8.6 rebounds on 58.4% shooting as KenPom's No. 2 player in the country. He and his brother Isaiah Mobley anchor the nation's second-most efficient 2-point defense, which is key ahead of a potential Sweet 16 matchup with Iowa and star big Luka Garza.
UC Santa Barbara to reach the Sweet 16 (+800)
How about them Gauchos? My favorite potential bracket-buster this year is UC Santa Barbara. The program won 18 of its last 19 games and is led by star guard JaQuori McLaughlin, an AP All-American honorable mention who averaged 16.2 points and 5.2 assists on the season.
The Gauchos are a tough matchup for Creighton, which was blown out by 25 points in the Big East final and could struggle to find a rhythm on offense against UCSB's tight perimeter defense. Then, the Gauchos will either face a short-handed Virginia squad or No. 13 seed Ohio. The stage is set for Joe Pasternack's crew to make a run.
Eastern Washington (+10.5, +550) vs. Kansas
What Kansas team are we going to see Saturday? The Jayhawks were floundering in January before an 8-1 run to end the season sparked optimism at a potential title run. Then they withdrew from the Big 12 Tournament after three of their players - starters David McCormack and Jalen Wilson and reserve Tristan Enaruna - tested positive for COVID-19.
McCormack is expected to play Saturday, while the other two will likely miss at least one game in quarantine. Still, we don't know how any of them will respond, especially without practicing during that stretch. It doesn't help that they'll face an Eastern Washington team that loves to push the pace and control the perimeter on both ends.
This game should be close. It could be an outright upset. Either way, keep your eye on the Eagles in the first round.
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.
