The Sweet 16 is set and there are new odds out, these via www.Bovada.lv, as to who will win it all.
With Duke and Villanova out of the way, Kansas, the top seed in the Midwest, is the new favorite, just barely over North Carolina, the No. 1 seed in the South.
Arizona has moved up into a tie with Gonzaga as the third betting favorite. If the seeds hold, the second-seeded Wildcats will be able to settle the matter on the court against the No. 1 seed Bulldogs in the West Region final.
The tournament’s biggest upsets — Wisconsin over Villanova; South Carolina over Duke; Michigan over Louisville — have been authored by Power 5 conference teams. Arizona hasn’t had to play one of those yet. The Wildcats have had a great path so far, and that continues — at least on paper — in the Sweet 16. Arizona plays the only remaining double-digit seed in the field — No. 11 Xavier — which is the longest shot in the field to win the national title, at 75-1 odds.
Moreover, neither Villanova nor Duke would be waiting in a potential Final Four matchup. The East is filled with various shades of underdogs (albeit dangerous underdogs) — No. 3 Baylor, No. 4 Florida, No. 7 South Carolina and No. 8 Wisconsin.
Arizona’s game against Xavier is set for about 7:10 Tucson time on Thursday, with the game on TBS.
Here are the betting odds to win the national title for all the teams left in the field:
Kansas, 19/4
North Carolina, 5/1
Arizona, 13/2
Gonzaga, 13/2
UCLA, 9/1
Kentucky, 10/1
Florida, 12/1
Baylor, 16/1
Michigan, 16/1
Oregon, 18/1
West Virginia, 18/1
Wisconsin, 18/1
Purdue, 20/1
Butler, 40/1
South Carolina, 50/1
Xavier, 75/1
