The 2021 March Madness Tournament is just days away from kicking things off with the First Four games. That’s just the beginning of the road for each team competition to win their respective region. Once each region winner has been decided, those teams move on to the Final Four — one of the most exciting parts of March Madness.
Sportsbetting.ag has released their Final Four odds as to who they think will win each region. As of March 16, they have listed Illinois (+150), Baylor (+130), Michigan (+190) and Gonzaga (-220) winning their respective regions.
However, just because a team has good odds to win a region doesn’t mean that it’s a guarantee. March Madness is always unpredictable and any given team can be a part of an upset.
Final Four Odds: Illinois Favored to Win Midwest Region
Odds via Sportsbetting.ag as of Tuesday, March 16
- Illinois +150
- Houston +240
- Oklahoma State +850
- West Virginia +850
- San Diego State +1000
- Tennessee +1000
- Loyola Chicago +1400
- Georgia Tech+1600
With sportsbooks giving Illinois some of the top odds to win the entire 2021 March Madness Tournament, it’s no surprise that they’re favorites to win the Midwest Region. Entering the tournament fresh off of winning the Big Ten Championship, Illinois is a No. 1 seed for a reason. They’ve also only lost once in their last 15 games.
On the other hand, at +240, the Houston Cougars have decent odds to make the Final Four. They went 24-3 on the NCAAB season. While they haven’t faced the same competition as Illinois has, Houston is riding a momentum wave. Plus, momentum is one of the key factors for performing well during March Madness.
Baylor Looks to Dominate South Region
Odds via Sportsbetting.ag as of Tuesday, March 16
- Baylor +130
- Ohio State +425
- Arkansas +750
- Purdue +750
- Texas Tech +750
- North Carolina +1200
- Wisconsin +1400
- Villanova +1600
At +130, Baylor is the favorite to win the South Region and advance to the Final Four. The school has been on a lot of bettors’ radars to win March Madness all together. While they were undefeated for most of the season, a 71-58 loss to Kansas on February 27 ended that streak. Baylor then went on to lose again to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 semifinals.
Ohio State also has decent odds to win the South Region at +425. With wins over top teams like Michigan, Iowa and Illinois this season, Ohio State has shown that they could be a March Madness dark horse.
Final Four Odds: Michigan Likely to Win East Region
Odds via Sportsbetting.ag as of Tuesday, March 16
- Michigan +190
- Alabama +375
- Florida State +600
- Texas +600
- Colorado +1000
- UConn +1000
- BYU +1200
- LSU +1200
While Sportsbetting.ag has Michigan (+190) winning the East Region and advancing to the Final Four, some things need to be considered. Out of all the No. 1 seeds, Michigan has been the most inconsistent of late, losing three times in their last five games. Michigan may also be without forward Isaiah Livers for the tournament after injuring his right foot. Livers, who’s one of the team’s best players, said a return this month would be “miraculous.”
At +375, Alabama is on a six-game winning streak. While they haven’t beaten any notable teams in that stretch, their last game saw them winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament for the first time in 30 years.
Gonzaga Looks to Win West Division, Advance to Final Four
- Gonzaga -220
- Iowa +425
- Kansas +1200
- Virginia +1200
- Creighton +1600
- Oregon +1800
- USC +1800
- Oklahoma +2200
- Missouri +3300
It should come to no one’s surprise that Gonzaga (-220) is projected to win the West Division by a landslide. They’re the only undefeated team in the NCAA and have won their last 23 games in a row by double digits. They’ve also already defeated Iowa (+425), Kansas (+1200) and Virginia (+1200) this season. In each of those games, Gonzaga scored 98 or more points.
As mentioned before, it’s never a guarantee for any team to make the Final Four and that includes Gonzaga. However, the evidence shows that there isn’t a threat to stop them in the West Region.
