NCAA Tournament 2024 Odds - March Madness Favorites

• The 2024 NCAA Tournament’s Final Four will feature the reigning champions, the No. 1 UConn Huskies, the No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers, the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide, and the No. 11 N.C. State Wolfpack.

• The Alabama Crimson Tide have never made a Final Four, while the Purdue Boilermakers have not been to a Final Four since 1980.

• UConn is a heavy -195 favorite to win its second consecutive National Championship, which would be the first time a team has won back-to-back titles since the Florida Gators were able to do it in 2006 and 2007.

The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight featured several upsets, a few beatdowns, and another No. 11 seed that was able to make it to the Final Four against all odds! 

The UConn Huskies continue dismantling opponents, extending their winning streak (by double-digits) in the NCAA Tournament to ten consecutive games. At the same time, the Purdue Boilermakers overcame an 11-point deficit to topple the Dalton Knecht-led Tennessee Volunteers.

The Alabama Crimson Tide also unexpectedly squeezed into the Final Four as a No. 4 seed, beating No. 1 North Carolina and No. 6 Clemson in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, respectively, to make history for their program. 

Lastly, N.C. State erupted for a 55-point second half against the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils to continue their unlikely run into the Final Four. Just a few weeks ago, it was inconceivable that the Wolfpack would make it into the NCAA Tournament, as they would have to run the table in the ACC Tournament: five wins in five days. 

Not only did N.C. State won five games in five days to get into the “Big Dance” and secured wins in its first four NCAA Tournament games!

This season’s Final Four is set with Purdue, UConn, N.C. State, and Alabama. Below, we will analyze their betting odds and tournament runs to this point to see if there might be any value in betting on them.

NCAA Tournament Odds 

See the complete list of NCAA teams below and their NCAA Tournament odds, courtesy of  DraftKings Sportsbook. Click the odds in the table below and head over to DraftKings to place your bets and claim $150 in bonuses!

NCAA Tournament Predictions - NCAA Favorites to Win 

Which of these four remaining NCAA Tournament teams will take home the hardware in 2024? Take a look at our 2024 NCAA Tournament predictions below:

Purdue Boilermakers

Concerns about the Purdue Boilermakers not getting as favorable of a whistle as they did in Big Ten play have entirely subsided. Purdue has committed just 9.8 fouls per game through the first four games of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, which would rank it first in the nation (Creighton committed just 11.5 fouls per game) if maintained over the entire season.

However, opponents are committing 19.8 fouls per game against the Boilers since the Round of 64, giving the Boilers a ten-foul advantage. The Boilermakers are also averaging 18 more rebounds per game than their opponents thus far, dominating on the glass on both ends of the floor. Purdue’s only remaining competition that can match its aptitude on the glass is the UConn Huskies, who it will not have to play until the championship game.

Purdue has shot the lights out of the ball in the tournament, hitting close to 52% of its field goal attempts and 39% of its three-point attempts. The Boilers did give up efficient three-point shooting to Tennessee, allowing the Vols to knock down 42.3% of their attempts. Most of that was courtesy of Dalton Knecht, one of the best players in the nation, so that likely won’t happen again, though.

Further, Zach Edey has been even better than he was in the regular season, which is a nearly impossible task; he has averaged 30 points and 16.3 rebounds per game on 65.6% shooting from the field. Edey’s dominance helps out in the stat sheet and on the scoreboard, but he also gets opponents into significant foul trouble, making it tough for opponents to consistently play their best players and gain the necessary chemistry to beat a team like Purdue. 

The Boilers also proved in their Elite Eight matchup against Tennessee that they could win despite shooting poorly, which will come in handy against N.C. State and the winner of UConn and Alabama, as all of those teams can grind out wins.

Bet $5 at DraftKings and claim $150 in bonus bets!

UConn Huskies

As expected, the UConn Huskies destroyed their first four opponents to get to their second straight Final Four. UConn’s most recent game against No. 3 Illinois was further proof of how much better the Huskies are than the next closest team, winning by 25 points and holding the Fighting Illini to roughly 25% shooting from the field and 26% from behind the arc. 

Donovan Clingan, in particular, was the key to securing this win; Illinois went 0-for-19 on field goal attempts he contested, putting together one of the all-time greatest defensive performances in college basketball’s history.

When Clingan was off the floor early in the first half, Illinois hit six of its 11 field goal attempts in that stretch. When he returned to the floor, the lid on the opponent’s rim was also put back on.

UConn has extended its NCAA Tournament winning streak to ten games, with all ten coming by double-digits. The Huskies have won by an average of 28 points so far, holding opponents to roughly 32% shooting over and 23% from three-point land.

Overall, the Huskies’ offense has been efficient, carving up opponents in the half-court and shooting better than 51% from the field as a team; however, they are only shooting 28% from deep in that stretch!

UConn isn’t an elite three-point shooting team, hovering right around 36% on the season, but it has two elite three-point sharpshooters, including Cam Spencer and Alex Karaban, who are both capable 40% shooters.

UConn’s dismantling of opponents despite horrendous three-point shooting should be frightening for the three remaining teams in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, including the Purdue Boilermakers.

Claim $150 in bonus bets when wagering just $5 at DraftKings Sportsbook!

Alabama Crimson Tide

The talented senior point guard Mark Sears led the Alabama Crimson Tide against Grand Canyon and Clemson. Against the top-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels, 6-foot-11 unicorn forward Grant Nelson had a breakout game to propel Bama past the Heels. 

And in all four of the Crimson Tide’s 2024 NCAA Tournament games, some combination of Rylan Griffen, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., and Aaron Estrada have stepped up for the team in critical moments.

There is a reason the Alabama Crimson Tide are in the Final Four: their high-octane offense, which ranks third in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom. 

This season, Bama has hit the 21st-highest percentage of its three-point attempts (37.1%) while shooting the fourth-most threes (30.1) of any team in the nation. Unsurprisingly, it also ranks tenth in effective field goal percentage!

Another aspect of the game that makes Alabama dangerous is on the offensive glass, as it pulls down many of its misses, giving it more opportunities to score. In fact, Bama ranks 21st in offensive rebounding percentage (33.7%) this season.

However, that percentage has been even higher over its past three games (39.8%), a ludicrous average. The Crimson Tide rank seventh nationally in that span, which is incredible considering their competition has been teams in the NCAA Tournament field.

Alabama’s frenetic pace (ninth in adjusted tempo) also allows it to score the most points per game of any team in college basketball. The Crimson Tide are daring opponents to outscore them, and none have been able to do that in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Alabama’s downfall could come on the defensive end, where it ranks 104th in adjusted defensive efficiency. While the Crimson Tide don’t fare well in advanced metrics defensively this season, they have held opponents to sub-30% shooting from deep in the tournament, which has been vital for them to survive and advance.

If the Crimson Tide knock down threes, avoid fouling too much and giving up layups, rebound the ball at their current level, and limit turnovers, they could run the table. Few teams in college basketball have the talent that they do. UConn stands in their way, though, so if you are a fan, don’t get your hopes too high.

Head over to DraftKings to place your NCAA bets!

N.C. State Wolfpack

Just a few weeks ago, the N.C. State Wolfpack were about to embark on the impossible journey: win five games in five days to punch their ticket to the “Big Dance.” A last-second shot by Michael O’Connell to send the ACC Tournament semifinal game into overtime spurred the complete 180-degree turn in the Wolfpack’s momentum.

Since the beginning of the ACC Tournament, the Wolfpack are 9-0 with an ACC Tournament championship and a Final Four appearance. Further, they have shot roughly 48% from the field and 35% from deep in that span while limiting turnovers (8.8 turnovers per game) and fouls (14.0 fouls per game).

N.C. State has also outrebounded its opponents by about three boards per game, which is fantastic given the level of its competition. In fact, the Wolfpack had to beat Duke, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas Tech, Oakland, Marquette, and Duke, again, to get to this point!

Defensively, the Wolfpack look like a completely different team, too, holding opponents to just 28.4% shooting from deep, which is impressive given the volume of games and the quality of their opponents. N.C. State has locked in on that end of the floor, giving it something it can turn to when shots aren’t falling.

The Wolfpack have also gotten exceptional play from big man D.J. Burns Jr., a 6-foot-9 senior center who has averaged 13 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game on 53.4% shooting from the floor. However, he has posted nearly 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists on 70% shooting in his past six games despite a four-point outing against Marquette. 

Burns will need to perform much closer to his most recent game against Duke (29 points, four rebounds, and three assists on 13-for-19 shooting) than the game against Marquette if the Wolfpack want any shot at getting by reigning Naismith winner Zach Edey and the Purdue Boilermakers. 

Then, more than likely, they will have to knock off Donovan Clingan and the UConn Huskies, a team that is riding a ten-game winning streak in the NCAA Tournament, all of which came by double-digits.

Is it unlikely for the No. 11 seed N.C. State Wolfpack to win a National Championship this season? Yes. Is it impossible? Clearly, anything is possible based on what this team has been able to do in the past few weeks.

Follow our exclusive link to place your bets at DraftKings and claim $150 in bonuses!

Who Will Win the NCAA Tournament - My Pick 

UConn Huskies

This team might be unbeatable. The UConn Huskies have won 25 of their past 26 games, winning by an average of nearly 18 points in one of the country’s best conferences (Big East). In that span, they have held opponents to an awe-inspiring 38% shooting from the floor and 29% from behind the arc.

Donovan Clingan puts a lid on the rim, deterring opponents from penetrating and trying to shoot over or around him. Clingan’s interior dominance was displayed in the Huskies’ game against the Illinois Fighting Illini, the top-ranked offensive unit. Clingan somehow held Illinois to 0-for-19 shooting when he was the primary defender; his impact is borderline unfathomable at the collegiate level.

UConn is fresh off a 25-point win (while letting its foot off the brake in the final minutes) despite only hitting three of its 17 three-point attempts. The Huskies have now won ten consecutive NCAA Tournament games by double-digits, and we expect them to make that 11 and 12 in the next two games.

Place your bets at DraftKings using our exclusive link and get $150 in bonus bets when wagering just $5!

Who Won the NCAA Tournament in 2023

The UConn Huskies won the NCAA Tournament in 2023, beating all six of their opponents by double-digits and leaving no doubt about which team was the best in college basketball.

NCAA Tournament History

The NCAA Tournament was founded in 1939, making it 85 years since the inception of one of the most popular sporting events in the world. In its beginning stages, the NCAA Tournament only had eight teams but has since expanded to 68 teams as of 2011, when the “First Four” games were introduced. There are two ways for teams to get into the NCAA Tournament: winning their conference tournament or receiving an at-large bid.

There are 32 conferences in Division I basketball, meaning 32 teams punch their ticket before “Selection Sunday,” completely avoiding the “sweat” of waiting to hear their name called. The remaining 36 teams are “at-large,” which is awarded for having a successful season and winning meaningful games.

Despite having not won a National Championship since 1995, the UCLA Bruins have the most titles of any college basketball team, with 11 titles. During his tenure, legendary UCLA head coach John Wooden won 10 National Championships with the Bruins. Kentucky (8), North Carolina (6), Duke (5), UConn (5), and Indiana (5) rank second through fourth (three-way tie), respectively. 

Past NCAA Tournament Winners

Listed below are the past 15 NCAA Tournament champions, starting with the most recent champions. Take a look.

How to Choose the Best Sportsbook for Betting on the NCAA Tournament

Several factors determine how to choose the best sportsbook for betting on the NCAA Tournament. First, you should always consider which sportsbook has the best odds for the bets you want to place. If you wish to place a number of bets during the NCAA Tournament, it might make sense to have multiple sportsbooks to ensure you get the best value possible.

Beyond finding out who has the best odds, you should also consider which sportsbooks offer the best welcome bonus, what their payment options are for depositing and withdrawing funds, the user interface of their apps, and much more!

The table below details some of the advantages of BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel. Check it out.

How to Read NCAA Tournament Winner Odds

Understanding odds can get confusing if you are newer to the betting scene. If a team’s betting odds have a minus in front of them, they are a favorite; if the betting odds have a plus in front, they are an underdog.

For example, if the Houston Cougars are -115 to make the Final Four, then they are considered a favorite (greater than 50% chance of making it). You would have to bet $115 to win $100.

However, if you are betting the Purdue Boilermakers to win the National Championship at +750, you would only have to bet $100 to win $750 because they are significant underdogs to win six consecutive games in the NCAA Tournament.