For many sports fans, the month of March can be the most exciting time of the year. This is because of the NCAA tournament known as March Madness, where 68 of the best collegiate basketball teams come together from the second week of March until the first week of April, and battle it out to determine which team is the most deserving to carry the title of national champion.
March Madness has become a social phenomenon among fans because, each year, it sends millions into a synchronized frenzy by trying to create a perfect bracket and predict the winners of each game, round and the tournament as a whole. However, the odds are very slim. In fact, fans have a better odds of being elected president than creating the perfect bracket. Whether it’s filling out brackets, the last second buzzer-beaters or a number one team being upset by a number 16 team, it’s this chaos that gives the tournament its nickname of March Madness.
In a college basketball season that has seen six different teams hold the top spot in the AP poll, it might be difficult for fans to pick a single team as their favorite to win it all, but we can certainly speculate. With that being said, here are four of the teams that have the best chances of taking home the title of national champion.
The first of the teams is Duke. The Blue Devils are almost always a favorite to win the NCAA tournament and this year is no different. With players like Luke Kennard, Grayson Allen and Jayson Tatum, there is no doubt that this is one of the best teams Mike Krzyzewski has ever coached. After winning the ACC Championship, one of college basketball’s hardest conferences, and finishing a difficult stretch of four consecutive games against ranked opponents, where the team went 4-0 with a win over rival North Carolina, it’s hard to bet against the Blue Devils who are entering the big dance with momentum by their sides.
The second team that has a chance to win it all is the Kentucky Wildcats. The Wildcats look very similar to Duke this year with a 30-5 record. The team has faced some heartbreaking losses and some unforgettable wins against top ranked opponents. With a ton of youthful talent, like De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky has the ability to beat anyone. After winning the SEC Championship, the team seems to have the momentum needed to make some noise during the Big Dance.
The next team is the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Many fans believe that this is one of the best teams that coach Mark Few has ever assembled. The Bulldogs are the only one-loss team left in the country and are entering the NCCA tournament with a 32-1 record, being attributed to how efficient the team is at scoring.
Lastly, the final team that could make a run for the national championship is the Kansas Jayhawks. They are the top seed in the South region and, according to Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, are the favorites to win the NCAA tournament with odds listed at 9-2. With players like Frank Mason and Josh Jackson, it’s hard for teams to prepare for their offense’s two-headed attack.
When the dust has settled and the chaos of March Madness has come to a conclusion, expect to see the Duke Blue Devils hoisting the National Championship on April 3, after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats in the championship game. Until then, we can only prepare for one thing: madness.
