The Villanova Wildcats are 7-0 straight up and 4-3 against the spread in their last seven games on the road, compiling a 21-3 SU and 13-10 ATS record through the first 24 games of the season.
NCAA basketball championship odds 2016: Wildcats trailing Sooners on futures
The Villanova Wildcats, Oklahoma Sooners and North Carolina Tar Heels lead a group of contenders on the 2016 NCAA Tournament odds.
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Currently sitting at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 Poll, Villanova is just one of a handful of teams considered to be contenders for this year’s national title.
Villanova is going off at +1200 on the odds to win the NCAA Tournament at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Critics will point to Villanova’s lack of explosiveness on offense as the team’s main deterrent, but the Wildcats rank in the Top 10 on defense allowing only 61 points per game and are the team to beat in the Big East.
The Oklahoma Sooners are currently the team on top of the crowded field to win it all, going off at +700 on the college basketball futures. Senior guard Buddy Hield is one of the nation’s most dangerous scorers averaging 25.7 points per game, leading the Sooners to 84.1 points per game and a 20-3 SU record.
Led in scoring by three seniors and a junior, Oklahoma will be one of the more experienced teams in the field come March.
Despite suffering losses in two of their last three games on the road against Louisville and Notre Dame, the North Carolina Tar Heels are still one of the nation’s top championship contenders at +750.
With six players averaging over 9.5 points per game, the Tar Heels get balanced scoring across their lineup which should help the team withstand an off-night from any of its top players.
Kansas (+1000 to win the championship) has held its own in the crowded Big 12 with a 20-4 SU and 14-8 ATS record through its first 24 games. Like the Sooners, the Jayhawks have veteran experience with three upperclassmen leading them in scoring. The Jayhawks have wins over Oklahoma, West Virginia and Kentucky on their resume so far this year.
Other top contenders to win the college basketball national championship this season include Michigan State (+1200), Maryland (+1200), Iowa (+1200), Duke (+1400), Kentucky (+1400) and Virginia (+1600).
Duke currently sits outside of the AP Top 25 with an 18-6 SU and 12-11 ATS record, but that could change after picking up a 72-65 win over ranked Louisville on Tuesday.
2016 NCAA Tournament Odds
Oklahoma +700
North Carolina +750
Kansas +1000
Michigan State +1200
Maryland +1200
Iowa +1200
Villanova +1200
Duke +1400
Kentucky +1400
Virginia +1600
