Midwest Region betting preview: Houston or the field?

We've covered the East, West, and South regions. Now, we're diving into the fourth and final region in the bracket: the Midwest. Is Houston destined to make the Final Four, or can another team prevent the Cougars from heading to San Antonio?

Midwest Region odds

Odds via theScore Bet. No odds longer than 100-1 listed.

Midwest Region Winner: Houston +120

Houston is the only No. 1 seed with plus odds to advance to the Final Four. Let's pounce on the oddsmakers' mistake. All of the recent champions had exceptional guard play and veteran-led groups. The Cougars check both boxes, with L.J. Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and Milos Uzan averaging at least 11 points. Houston needs forward J'Wan Roberts back, but he's expected to return for the tournament.

The Cougars have been mostly immune to upsets, winning 26 of their last 27 games in one of the best conferences in the country. That shouldn't change against inferior opponents in the Big Dance. Houston has the nation's second-best defense and the 10th-best offense. This team has the makings of a national championship group. While a potential Round of 32 matchup against Gonzaga won't be easy, this region is relatively light on contenders.

Long-shot pick: Clemson +1400

Clemson is one of seven teams with top-25 offensive and defensive efficiency ratings, per KenPom. It won 15 of its last 17 games, which includes a win over Duke. Leading scorer Chase Hunter is a reliable guard who can create for himself in late-game situations as a 41% 3-point shooter. And he's surrounded by dependable shooting and frontcourt depth.

With eight players averaging at least 10 minutes, Clemson has the bodies to stay fresh. The Tigers open with a first-round contest against McNeese State, a solid mid-major program led by a great coach in Will Wade. If they escape the Cowboys, they play the winner of Purdue and High Point. Clemson will likely have to beat Houston to make a serious run. It's hard to imagine the Cougars losing, but Clemson has the personnel to give them a fight.

Best opening-round bet

High Point +7.5 vs. Purdue

Aside from a trip to the national title game with Zach Edey last year, Purdue coach Matt Painter doesn't have the best track record in the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers displayed their vulnerability down the season's stretch, losing six of their final nine games.

The concerns are almost entirely on the defensive end. Purdue's leaky perimeter defense allows opponents to get in the lane and shoot 56% from 2-point range, the worst mark of all tournament teams. High Point's defense isn't particularly dangerous either, so All-American guard Braden Smith could go nuclear. However, the Panthers' offense will score enough to hang around and potentially pull off the upset over the 4-seed.

Region future bets

Illinois to make the Sweet 16 (+120)

Illinois had a rough season relative to expectations, but that wasn't entirely its fault. Due to various injuries and illnesses, it implemented seven different starting lineups since Jan. 8, leading to a 4-7 stretch. However, Illinois closed the regular season with four straight wins before a blowout loss to Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament.

The Fighting Illini have been healthy and playing better over the last few weeks. They'll play the winner of the Xavier-Texas play-in matchup and then take on a vulnerable Kentucky team that has offensive firepower but has struggled to string together wins over the last couple of months.

Clemson to make Sweet 16 (+120)

I was surprised to see Clemson at plus-money for all the reasons previously explained. It's a 7.5-point favorite over McNeese State and would be favored over High Point if it pulled off the upset over Purdue. The Tigers have matchup advantages all over the floor if they face the Boilermakers in the Round of 32.

Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.