March Madness is one of the most exciting tournaments in the world of sports. From nail-biting finishes to shocking upsets, this tournament has it all.
We’ve already seen some upsets in this year’s tournament, including No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson shockingly knocking off No. 1 Purdue.
The Sweet 16 is a good time to look at Final Four odds because you can still find some value. Below, you’ll find an overview of the favorites, contenders, and sleepers to reach the Final Four.
All college basketball odds are current as of Monday, March 20, at noon ET.
NCAA March Madness Final Four Betting Odds 2023
Here are the current Final Four odds, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook:
- Alabama (-125)
- Houston (-115)
- Tennessee (+130)
- Creighton (+190)
- UConn (+210)
- Texas (+215)
- UCLA (+230)
- Gonzaga (+240)
- Michigan State (+320)
- Kansas State (+360)
Alabama remains the favorite to reach the Final Four following a pair of blowout wins against Maryland and Texas A&M-CC. With No. 2 seed Arizona and No. 3 Baylor already eliminated, Alabama has an easier road out of the South region.
Houston is second in odds to reach the Final Four after it rebounded from a bit of a scare against Northern Kentucky, knocking off Auburn, 81-64. It’s followed by Tennessee (easier path in East region with Purdue and Marquette eliminated) and Creighton (gets to face Cinderella team Princeton in Sweet 16).
We also can’t count out teams like UConn, Texas, UCLA, and Gonzaga. Each of these four teams is good enough to win the national championship.
Let’s now take a closer look at favorites, contenders, and sleepers for the Final Four.
NCAA Final Four Favorites 2023
Alabama (-125)
Alabama is a terrific defensive team, ranking third in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency, per KenPom. It’s a battle-tested group, coming in 10th in strength of schedule rankings.
Its season was highlighted by a 71-65 road win against top-seeded Houston on Dec. 10. This team is capable of beating anyone in the tournament and will be heavy favorites against San Diego State in the Sweet 16.
Houston (-115)
Houston came into the year as one of the tournament favorites, and it has delivered on lofty expectations thus far. The Cougars had some challenges with Northern Kentucky but cruised to victory against Auburn.
According to Pomeroy’s rankings, Houston gets high marks in both Adjusted Offensive Efficiency (ninth) and Adjusted Defensive Efficiency (fourth), making it look like a great bet to reach the Final Four.
Creighton (+190)
The Bluejays are now one of the favorites to get to the Final Four. Creighton ranks 12th overall on Pomeroy’s rankings, boasting balance on both sides of the court.
This team is 24th on offense and 13th on defense, which puts it in a position to make some noise in March. It’s heavy favorites against Princeton in the Sweet 16.
UConn (+210)
UConn is priced as one of the favorites at +210 odds despite coming in as a No. 4 seed. This is because it’s fourth overall on Pomeroy’s rankings.
The Huskies are ranked in the top 15 in both offensive and defensive efficiency and have an impressive 15-point win over Marquette on their resume. They’re short favorites in the Sweet 16 against Arkansas in a game they should win.
NCAA Final Four Contenders 2023
Texas (+215)
Texas is one of the more dangerous teams left in the tournament, ranking fifth on Pomeroy’s rankings. This is a balanced team that is top-15 in both offense and defense.
The Longhorns are favored to knock off Xavier in the Sweet 16. While they’ll likely have to get past Houston to reach the Final Four, this is a team that’s capable of accomplishing that daunting task.
UCLA (+230)
UCLA is the best bet for this tier because it has solid value at +230 odds. It ranks second in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency, which can help it advance deep into the tournament.
The Bruins are in top form right now, winners of 14 of their last 15 games, highlighted by their recent nine-point win over Arizona. They’re in for a tough matchup against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16.
NCAA Final Four Sleepers 2023
Kansas State (+360)
The East region is wide open right now following Purdue and Marquette’s early exits. That means that Kansas State is a terrific value at +360 odds.
This is a team that boasts the 17th-best defense in the country, per KenPom. It is good enough to get past Michigan State and Tennessee or Florida Atlantic, so take advantage of this nice price.
