Duke Favored to Win March Madness Region

The 2015 NCAA Tournament got underway this past Tuesday night with the first two games of the First Four, but bettors are focusing their attention on the betting odds for the onslaught of games starting this Thursday.

The Duke Blue Devils earned the top seed in the South Region with a straight-up record of 29-4, and against the spread they come into this tournament at 18-14-1. They will open play this Friday at Charlotte against the winner of Wednesday’s North Florida vs. Robert Morris play-in game. Duke is listed by online sportsbook 5Dimes as a +168 favorite to win its region, and it is fourth on the futures to win a national title at +950.

Gonzaga is the No. 2 seed in the South and the Bulldogs’ betting odds to win this region have been set at +280. Their odds to win it all have been listed at +2300. A couple other teams to watch in this region include No. 3 Iowa State (+450) and No. 5 Utah (+900). Georgetown is the No. 4 seed in the South, but the Hoyas’ odds to win this region are back at +2250.

Undefeated Kentucky (34-0) is the clear choice to win it all on the 5Dimes NCAA Tournament title odds at +142, and the Wildcats are prohibitive -270 favorites to make it to the Final Four out of the Midwest Region. The No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks are next on the list to win this region at +1000 followed by No. 3 Notre Dame at +1100. The No. 7 Wichita State Shockers are fourth-favorites to win the Midwest at +1400 betting odds.

The Arizona Wildcats are the No. 2 seed in the West Region, but they are the favorites to win that part of the bracket at +150 odds. The top seed in the West is Wisconsin and the Badgers’ betting odds to make it to the Final Four are set at +165. Things drop off from there with No. 4 North Carolina listed as a +1000 third-favorite to win the West.

A third contending Wildcats team is favored to win the East with No. 1 Villanova set at +168 odds to win its region. No. 2 Virginia is a close second at +240, and No. 3 Oklahoma is third on the 5Dimes list at +1100 betting odds.