March Madness Futures - 2009 Championship Odds

It’s at that point in the college basketball betting season for BetUS Sportsbook fans to take a look at the NCAAB odds on teams in the sportsbook to win the NCAA Championship.

Good odds can still be found on legitimate teams to win the top prize.

As opposed to the Power Rankings, assessing the chances of a team to win the NCAA Championship requires looking at the teams overall talent and not just its record against the spread.

Let’s analyze the top teams to win the NCAA Championship.

NCAAB Futures: 2008 – 2009 NCAA Championship

1. Pittsburgh Panthers +600 - - They just beat Connecticut on the road and their best player, DeJuan Blair, is starting to dominate. By halftime against the Huskies he had over 10 points and 10 rebounds. That was against Hasheem Thabeet who is considered one of the best players in college basketball. This team is rock solid.

2. Oklahoma Sooners +800 - - With Blake Griffin on your team, you always have a shot to win. The Sooners will dominate lesser opponents and no double or triple team can contain Griffin who racked up 40 points and 23 rebounds in his last game. If Griffin stays healthy, they are a legit team to win the whole thing. Oklahoma should gather more steam by pummeling Texas on the road this Saturday.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels +240 - - The hype at the beginning of the season caused their odds to plummet to where they are right now in the sportsbook. I still like NC to win the whole thing because of Tyler Hansbrough, their experience, and Coach Roy Williams, but the odds just don’t justify their chances. They’re going to have to play against some tough squads in the NCAA Tournament.

4. Michigan State Spartans +2000 - - Sure, they tend to lose focus in games…for now. Coach Tom Izzo is just warming his fellas up for a solid NCAA Tournament run. Their odds are fantastic and Izzo has won the tourney before with lesser teams.

5. Villanova Wildcats +3500 - - They are still underrated and will remain so as long as they play in the Big East. ‘Nova has the guard play and nice inside game to get it done. That Big East schedule will prepare them for the Big Dance and they’ve got experience. The Wildcats are a nice long shot play.

6. Louisville Cardinals +2000 - - Like Tom Izzo, Coach Rick Pitino just knows how to get his team ready for the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals are a top team that just needs to remain focused in order to make a solid run in the tourney. They’ve got a shot. Pitino will make sure of it.

7. UCLA Bruins +2000 - - Unless they have to tackle ASU, who has beaten them twice this season, UCLA should be right there in the final two weekends of the tournament. UCLA regularly makes the Final Four. Maybe, it’s time for them to get over the hump and gather in their first championship in a long time.

8. Connecticut Huskies +650 - - The Huskies will struggle now that Pitt has exposed them as a soft team, but there’s no doubting their talent and Coach Jim Calhoun as won two championships already. The Huskies should begin to tighten up some until the start of the tournament by beating up the South Florida Bulls on Saturday.