Elite Eight Odds Preview: UConn, Texas Now Favored

Upset Friday! Tournament Odds Make Huge Shift...

March 25, 2023 746 3 minutes readNCAAB Picks & Parlays

Elite Eight Odds Preview: UConn, Texas Now Favored — JAMIE SQUIRE / GETTY IMAGES

The Top Tier
The Second Tier
The Longshots

The Elite Eight odds preview shows a drastically different set of numbers than were seen before the Sweet 16 round began. The odds have a completely new look after Alabama and Houston were eliminated Friday. Those who jumped on one of the outsiders Wednesday are looking good. But it’s not too late to find a team to latch onto the rest of the way and get a decent payout.

Right now, the winner of the UConn vs Gonzaga game is the likely favorite heading into the Final Four. Both teams are in the top three betting choices prior to the start of the Elite Eight games on Saturday.

The Top Tier

Connecticut Huskies (+325)

The Connecticut Huskies are the highest-rated team remaining by Ken Pomeroy and Jeff Sagarin. Pomeroy has UConn rated as his new No. 1 team, while Sagarin has the Huskies No. 2. UConn is ranked No. 3 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 13 on defense. But the Huskies also have the toughest draw in the Elite Eight, going up against Gonzaga.

The college basketball lines have UConn favored by 2 with a total of 153.5. Pomeroy and Sagarin both have the Zags rated No. 6, so the Huskies have their work cut out for them. But the Elite Eight odds preview have UConn favored for good reason.

Texas Longhorns (+350)

Texas is the highest remaining seed in the NCAA Tournament and is ranked No. 5 by Pomeroy and in the Sagarin college basketball ratings. The Longhorns are also the biggest favorite in the Elite Eight, with Texas -4.5 over Miami and a total of 149.5. The Texas Longhorns ranks No. 15 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 10 on defense.

Gonzaga Bulldogs (+550)

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have the top-rated offense in the country. It’s the defense that’s the biggest question mark heading into Saturday night’s game with Connecticut. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 73 in defensive efficiency, seventh of the eight remaining teams. Gonzaga enters the game with the longest winning streak in the nation at 12 games, but the next three will be the toughest.

The Second Tier

Creighton Bluejays (+650)

The Bluejays are the smallest favorite in the Elite Eight games, with Creighton -1.5 and a total of 133 against San Diego State. Creighton is No. 22 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 14 on defense, so it’s a well-balanced team capable of making plays on both ends of the court. The winner of this game will meet the winner of the FAU vs Kansas State contest, so it’s considered the easier half of the bracket.

Kansas State Wildcats (+850)

The Kansas St Wildcats haven’t gotten much attention in terms of a national championship. But KSU is now three wins away from a title. Kansas State comes from the Big 12 Conference, which is the best conference in college basketball.

The Wildcats have been tested all season. Kansas ranked No. 35 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 27 on defense. Kansas State is favored by 2 over Florida Atlantic and a total of 144. The Wildcats’ game with FAU is one of the most even NCAAB matchups of the Elite Eight.

San Diego State Aztecs (+900)

The San Diego St Aztecs pulled off the stunner Friday night. Now it’s up to San Diego State to not show the effects of that one and get back to business Sunday against a tough Creighton team.

The Aztecs are on the more favorable side of the bracket but will need the offense to come up big. San Diego State is No. 70 in adjusted offensive efficiency, the worst of the eight remaining teams. The Aztecs are No. 4 on defense.

The Longshots

Miami Hurricanes (+1100)

The Miami Hurricanes are coming off a big win against the Houston Cougars and now have another team from Texas standing in their way. Miami is No. 6 in adjusted offensive efficiency but No. 104 on defense, the worst of the eight remaining teams. The winner of the Miami vs Texas game has the winner of UConn vs Gonzaga up next, so the Hurricanes have the toughest path of any team to the championship game.

Florida Atlantic Owls (+1400)

The Florida Atlantic Owls have surprised people all tournament and now they have a chance to do it again. FAU has a decent draw against Kansas State for a Final Four berth. Florida Atlantic is No. 26 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 29 on defense. So the Owls don’t really have any weak links.

FAU has played the easiest schedule of the remaining teams but does have the most wins and fewest losses in the nation. A Final Four berth is a definite possibility if the 3-pointers are falling against Kansas State.

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March 25, 2023

746 3 minutes read