Trent Reinsmith
March Madness is fast approaching and the race for the NCAA Basketball champion is in full swing. Below are some important dates for the upcoming NCAA Basketball tournament.
- Selection Sunday: March 13
- First Four: March 15 & 16
- First Round: March 17 & 18
- Second Round: March 19 & 20
- Sweet 16: March 24 & 25
- Elite Eight: March 26 & 27
- Final Four: April 2 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans
- National Championship: April 4 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans
Last season saw Baylor win the NCAA title with a 86-70 win over Gonzaga. Despite that setback, the Gonzaga Bulldogs were the preseason favorites to win the 2022 NCAAB championship. Gonzaga has spent most of the 2021-22 NCAAB season at, or near, the top of the AP poll. With that being said, Baylor is in the mix to make another deep run in the NCAAB tournament.
There are also some surprising teams in the mix for Final Four consideration, including Arizona, a team that was not on many – if any – preseason top-25 lists before the start of the 2021-22 NCAAB season.
Let’s look at the best sites for March Madness 2022 betting. Also, be sure to check out our NCAA College Basketball betting page for tips and advice on how to wager on NCAA basketball.
Odds to make the NCAAB Final Four
| To Make NCAA Final Four |  |
| Gonzaga | -115 |
| Arizona | +150 |
| Kentucky | +175 |
| Auburn | +180 |
| Purdue | +190 |
| Duke | +250 |
| Kansas | +250 |
| Baylor | +275 |
| UCLA | +375 |
| Villanova | +500 |
| Illinois | +600 |
| Houston | +700 |
| Texas Tech | +1200 |
| Wisconsin | +1200 |
| Alabama | +1400 |
| LSU | +1400 |
| Texas | +1500 |
| Tennessee | +1500 |
| Ohio State | +1600 |
| Michigan State | +1800 |
| Marquette | +1800 |
| Connecticut | +2000 |
| USC | +2000 |
Gonzaga
The Gonzaga Bulldogs went 8-2 in their first 10 games of the 2021-22 NCAAB season. The team has not lost a game since then. Gonzaga, who are back at the top of the AP poll, is 22-2 with three games top play before the end of the season. None of the team’s opponents are ranked, so expect the Bulldogs to finish the season where they began it — at the top of the AP Top-25.
Arizona
The Arizona Wildcats were on the list of “others receiving votes” when the AP released its Top-25 list before the start of the 2021-22 NCAAB season. The team is now No. 3 on that poll. Arizona is 22-2 on the season. The club’s only setbacks came against Tennessee (No. 19 at the time) and UCLA (No. 7).
Auburn
Like Arizona, the Auburn Tigers exceeded expectations this season. Auburn was No. 22 on the preseason AP Poll. The team managed to make it to the top spot during the season and it held that spot for a few weeks before losing its second game of the season on February 8. Auburn, who is 24-2, won 19 consecutive games between its first loss of the season on November 24 and its second setback.
Baylor
Baylor has not had a good run in 2022. The Bears were unbeaten for the 2021 portion of the season, but they have now gone 9-5 since the calendar flipped to 2022. It should be noted that three of the team’s losses have come to ranked teams (Texas Tech – twice and Kansas), but those losses are not a good sign, especially with March Madness approaching.
Duke
This is the final season of Mike Krzyzewski’s vaunted NCAAB coaching career. “Coach K” has taken the Duke Blue Devils to 12 Final Fours and five national titles. I’m sure Krzyzewski’s team wants to get him deep into this year’s tournament and send him into retirement with fond memories of his last year, but the team seems like a long shot to make the Final Four this season. Duke is 22-4 and each of those losses came to an unranked team.
Ohio State
Ohio State is the sleeper to watch this year. The team is 16-6 on the season and No. 18 in the latest poll, but they have some solid players in E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham and the Buckeyes could surprise some teams during March Madness.
Our picks for the Final Four
- Gonzaga
- Baylor
- Duke
- Auburn
See below the best sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
