The Kentucky basketball team was the favorite the last time 2017 NCAA Tournament odds were unveiled.
While they are still among the favorites, they are no longer at the top of the totem poll after having their spot supplanted by the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The Wildcats lost three of four games in late January and into early February which hurt them considerably. Despite finding a way to win their previous six games, the margin of victory has been double-digits in only one of those games; that hasn’t been enough to impress oddsmakers.
The Tar Heels, by contrast, have ridden a streak of double-digit wins over quality opponents to the top of the betting polls.
Here are the latest odds which have UNC at 6-to-1 to win the whole tournament. Kentucky, meanwhile, has gone from 6-to-1 to 8-to-1:
Freshly updated college basketball odds to win 2017 NCAA Tournament from @LVSuperBook pic.twitter.com/ZcRFQccvSd
— Covers (@Covers) February 27, 2017
Perhaps more remarkably, Gonzaga and UCLA have managed to improve on their 80-to-1 odds that they opened the season with. Both teams are now considered to have a 7-to-1 chance at cutting down the nets when the tournament concludes in a matter of weeks.
Meanwhile, defending national champion Villanova holds fast at 8-to-1 odds to win the tournament despite suffering their third loss of the season to Butler on Wednesday.
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
