By now, you’ve certainly heard about how much parity there is in college basketball and how that might make for yet another unforeseeable competition. In order for that to occur, though, a group or 2 have to emerge as a Cinderella from the field of 68, and pull off a couple upsets to make us start paying attention.
Last year, we saw 9-seed Florida Atlantic trip that type of wave all the method to a Final Four that likewise consistedof 2 other groups making their veryfirst ever look in the nationwide semifinals. Princeton likewise made a good run to the Sweet 16 as a 15-seed.
So, who may that group be in this year’s field? These are the finest bets from each area, with title chances from BetMGM, and a coupleof respectable pointsout.
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Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Can a group still be thoughtabout a Cinderella if it simply made the Final Four the previous year? I state definitely. Especially when the group is just one seed greater than it was throughout stated run to the Final Four.
FAU’s chances to get back do at least rank in the top-third of the 68-team field, however I’m not sure anybody is anticipating the Owls to infact get previous UConn, which they would have to play in the 2nd round. That’s what makes them a long-shot. The experience of last year’s run and an offense that can definitely light it up is what provides them a possibility.
Honorable reference: 10 Drake (+25000)
Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal bymeansof AP
James Madison travelled to the Sun Belt tourney title, staying unbeaten consideringthat the start of February. That’s 13 straight wins for perhaps the mostpopular group going into the competition, and that’s not simply the outcome of conference play. The Dukes are legally excellent, going 31-3 while publishing a leading-60 Kenpom score buoyed by a 56th-ranked offending performance.
If first-round challenger Wisconsin permits them to get out and run, appearance out. They have the scoring chops to hang with prospective second-round challengers Nebraska and Texas A&M too.
Honorable reference: 13 Vermont (+100000)
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
You’d be forgiven for presuming this choice was just due to McNeese getting the chance to play Gonzaga in the veryfirst round, as the Zags are understood for flaming out come competition time. But this choice is about more than Gonzaga. It’s about a 30-3 group riding an 11-game winning streak with 9 double-digit wins in that period, led by a senior guard called Shahada Wells who scored 27 points in each of his last 2 videogames. A group with the ninth-best 3-point portion in the nation. A group that appears to allset to offer anybody a difficulty if they have it going.
Honorable discusses: 13 Samford (+100000), 11 Oregon (+25000)
AP Photo/Ian Maule
Grand Canyon has 2 things going for it: an capability to filth up a videogame with excellent defense that held challengers to 40 percent from the field this season. And a go-to scorer who can win those close videogames for the Lopes when the defense keeps the scorer within reach.
Tyon Grant-Foster is averaging 20 points on the season, and he kicked it up to 25 points through 2 videogames of the WAC competition. Along with the increased scoring punch of Ray Harrison, he’ll offer GC a possibility.
Honorable reference: 11 New Me