The March Madness Tournament is intriguing on a national scale, largely because it pits massive universities against tiny basketball colleges and provides the opportunity for enormous upsets that can deliver profitable payouts.
Most often, the big boys do take care of business and dispatch the tiny basketball schools from the tournament, but each year, there always seem to be double-digit seeds that advance to the Round of 16 and beyond.
Despite upset victories occurring so frequently during the March Madness Tournament, online basketball sportsbooks are not predicting that any of the underdogs will be victorious during the Elite 8 round.
In fact, none of these Elite 8 games are predicted to be closer than 7 points, with the higher-ranked seed advancing to the Final Four in every instance.
March Madness Elite 8 Betting Odds
Oregon State #12 vs. Houston #2 (-7.5)
- Money Line: Oregon State +275, Houston -350
- Over-Under: 129.0
Arkansas #3 vs. Baylor #1 (-7.5)
- Money Line: Arkansas +290, Baylor -380
- Over-Under: 148.0
USC #6 vs. Gonzaga #1 (-9.0)
- Money Line: USC +325, Gonzaga -450
- Over-Under: 155.5
UCLA #11 vs. Michigan #1 (-7.5)
- Money Line: UCLA +265, Michigan -330
- Over-Under: 136.5
What makes the job of the oddsmakers more difficult is the fact that every squad remaining in the Elite 8 is on at least a three-game winning streak against some of the nation’s top college basketball teams.
UCLA is actually on a four-game tournament win streak because they were part of the First Four, and have defied the betting odds posted at online March Madness sportsbooks since that opening-round contest.
We’ll find out tomorrow night if UCLA has finally met their match in the #1 seed Michigan Wolverines, where they are currently picked to lose by at least 7 points.
If none of the above game lines are attractive enough to lay some action on, perhaps the following March Madness Championship futures will generate some interest.
It should come as no surprise that NCAAB betting sites still favor Gonzaga to win the 2021 National Championship, but when glancing at the least likely option to hoist a title, it becomes clear that UCLA is not being given serious consideration despite their winning ways.
Odds To Win 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament
- Gonzaga #1 +135
- Baylor #1 +300
- Michigan #1 +550
- Houston #2 +600
- USC #6 +1200
- Arkansas #3 +2000
- Oregon State #12 +2500
- UCLA #11 +2800
If fans of the UCLA Bruins believe that they have what it takes to win it all in 2021, then consider placing a wager on their +2800 money line odds that are currently being offered their championship futures.
A bet of $100 has the potential to earn $2800, but these odds won’t last if they advance to the Final Four. If bettors place a wager on these NCAAB futures now, all options on the board will payout at more than the amount risked.
Elite 8 Odds: Bovada Sportsbook
Source: CBS Sports