This is not about which teams top USA betting sites give the best odds to win the 2021 NCAA Basketball Tournament. You know, the Kansas Jayhawks. The Gonzaga Bulldogs. The Duke Blue Devils. This is about teams that might win it in spite of the best online sportsbooks odds-makers. Teams that could star in the proverbial Cinderella story. And which could pay off big time when it is all said and done. Teams like the following:
BYU +5000
The Cougars have lost to the likes of to Utah, Boise State and San Francisco. That right there doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. On the other hand, BYU has won 10 games either as the away team or in neutral courts. The ability to thrive away from home is a very valuable trait to have come March Madness. Moreover, the Cougars have racked up a few upsets here and there. The most notorious of which is a 91-78 win over then No. 2 Gonzaga on February 22nd. BYU has scored over 80 points in eight of their last 11 games. Many of those points are a result of the Cougars very high three-point percentage. Team leaders Yoeli Childs, TJ Haws and Jake Toolson not only have the skills, but also the ability to propel BYU into a deep run.
Ohio State +2300
All that the Buckeyes need is to get back to their early-season level. OSU started the season 9-0 (and 8-1 ATS according to top USA betting sites). Victims of that hot streak included Villanova, Kentucky, Penn State, Cincinnati and North Carolina. Sadly, it would appear as if the Buckeyes blew their wad too soon. They went as far as their momentum took them, and then they settled nicely into mediocrity. Now, if only they could manage to rattle off another string of wins, they could Ice Man their way to the national championship. To do this, though, they must kill from a distance. The Buckeyes have many three-point shooters. Seven different players have made at least 18 three-point shots this season. More importantly, Ohio State is 13-1 when shooting above 35% from beyond the arc.
Florida +7000
When senior forward Kerry Blackshear transferred from Virginia Tech, the idea was he’d be the centerpiece of a young team. He has delivered on his end of the bargain, with 7.5 rebounds and 12.8 points per game. However, his talented albeit inexperienced teammates have struggled to keep up with him. Mind you, they all have come together at times, and the results have been promising.
For example, in a win over Auburn, they went on a 20-1 spree late in the second half. They were down by as many as 21 versus Alabama, but a 16-1 rally in less than four minutes led to a double-overtime victory. And in a win over Georgia, they erupted for a 31-4 run in less nine minutes, going from a 17-point deficit to a 10-point lead in the blink of an eye. If the Gators can get in that zone more often, they would be a force to be reckoned with.
Marquette +15000
Senior guard Markus Howard is the Golden Eagles’ best player, but not their only good player. He shots over 40% from both the field and the three-point range, and scores 27.8 points per game. But if it comes to deadly long distance shooters, Marquette also has Sacar Anim, Brendan Bailey, and Koby McEwen. Ironically, the closer the Eagles get to the basket, the more likely they are to miss it. Top USA betting sites don’t give Marquette much of a chance, but Howard could very well prove them wrong all by his lonesome.
