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The NCAA Tournament field of 68 is set, and oddsmakers have been hard at work figuring out which four teams will be the last ones standing in Indianapolis a few short weeks from now.
With two days left until the tournament kicks off, we’re here to help you place your bets with a favorite, a sleeper and a dark horse team from each region of the bracket. For the West region though, you might be better off saving your money or throwing it all on the favorite.
Favorite: Gonzaga
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are the only undefeated team in the nation and are the overwhelming favorite to win the national title. They come into the field with -230 odds to make the Final Four, one of only two teams with an upside down price to get to Semifinal Saturday.
The Zags sit at 26-0 and really haven't been as much as tested by an opponent since the opening weeks of the season, with a mild scare against BYU in the WCC title game. KenPom says they’re the best team in America with the best offense as well, and they also boast a top-10 defense. The only team in this region fit to give them a challenge is Iowa, who the Bulldogs beat by double-digits back in December.
Sleeper: Iowa
All the 15 other teams not named Gonzaga are sleepers in this region. The Iowa Hawkeyes are solid, and in any other part of the bracket could have a legitimate shot in making it to the Final Four. They have +400 odds to get there, but odds to make it to the Elite Eight are just +100. That’s how much Gonzaga hangs over this bracket.
KenPom has them listed as the fifth-best team in the country with the second-best offense, behind the Zags. Senior Luka Garza has been a one-man wrecking crew, scoring 24 points per game and nearly nine rebounds per contest too.
Dark Horse: UC Santa Barbra
The UC Santa Barbra Gauchos have only lost two games all season, and come into the NCAA Tournament on a five-game winning streak and have won 18 of their last 19. The team’s only loss in that span came on the far end of a back-to-back against UC-Riverside.
They're a No. 12 seed and would have to knock off Creighton and the winner of the Virginia-Ohio game before a potential meeting with the best team in the land. But if they stay hot, who knows what can happen.
Odds to reach 2021 Elite Eight, Final Four — West region
| Team | Make Elite 8 | Miss Elite 8 | Make Final 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Make Elite 8 | Miss Elite 8 | Make Final 4 |
| Gonzaga | -305 | +230 | -230 |
| Iowa | +100 | -124 | +400 |
| Kansas | +330 | -455 | +650 |
| Oklahoma | +1500 | -10000 | +1000 |
| USC | +600 | -910 | +1000 |
| Virginia | +675 | -1115 | +1000 |
| Creighton | +600 | -1000 | +1150 |
| Missouri | +3000 | -10000 | +2500 |
| Oregon | +800 | -2000 | +2500 |
| Drake | +4000 | -10000 | +3000 |
| Wichita State | +3000 | -10000 | +3000 |
| VCU | +1500 | -10000 | +4000 |
| Ohio | +4000 | -10000 | +6000 |
| UC Santa Barbara | +3500 | -10000 | +6000 |
| Eastern Washington | +5000 | -10000 | +10000 |
| Grand Canyon | +5000 | -10000 | +12000 |
| Appalachian State | +5000 | -10000 | +15000 |
| Norfolk State | +5000 | -10000 | +15000 |
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