Odds are: Everyone Pumped for March Madness

In the 2016 Final Four: North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) dunks against the Syracuse Orange in the second half in the 2016 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at NRG Stadium. (photo Robert Deutsch / USA TODAY Sports)

Coming off a dramatic Final Four last year with the exciting win by the Villanova Wildcats over the North Carolina Tar Heels has everyone pumped up for this year. The 2017 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is looking to be the best it has been in years with a number of teams that could be poised to make a deep run towards the first weekend of April in the desert.

Gonzaga, having its best season in school history, has always been that lovable fan favorite mid-major team to be Cinderella. However, this year, sitting at #4 the Bulldogs look to be a real favorite with a possible #1 seed.

Anyone one of the traditional perennial powerhouses like Kansas, UCLA, Villanova, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisville… ok you get it, are all in position to make a run at college basketball’s holy grail.

Although Gonzaga may be ranked #4 Las Vegas still views the inexperienced Bulldogs as a longshot at 80-1. Duke currently ranked #14 is a 9-2 favorite which one can only imagine it is Coach K’s tournament experience because certainly this has not been Duke’s best team. Kentucky, Kansas and Villanova are heavy favorites and Michigan State has favorable odds considering it has been an implosion of a season to the unlike tune for a Tom Izzo team.

Whoever your favorite team or Alma mater is be ready for a great 2017 NCAA basketball tournament. The road to Phoenix should be extra exciting this year.

By the way, my back door on the down low favorite, who is getting respect from the pollsters but not the odds makers, the Wizard of Westwood is smiling from the hardwood in the sky, it’s UCLA.