The Final Four is set and despite all the upsets throughout the NCAA Tournament, the semifinals will include a pair of No. 1 seeds to go along with a No. 2 seed and one No. 11. Each team had different expectations from the beginning of the season throughout the year, and here’s a look at the odds history for each Final Four participant.
No. 1 Gonzaga
The Gonzaga Bulldogs came into this college basketball season as the favorite for many to come away with a national championship and 30 games later, the Bulldogs are unbeaten. Even though Gonzaga is playing in the West Coast Conference, it’s hard to believe any team would come close to replicating what they’ve done this season. The Bulldogs have won 29 of 30 games by double digits this year and played a tough non-conference schedule.
Final Four odds
Nov. 25: +100
Jan. 1: -303
Feb. 1: -303
Mar. 1: -303
Mar. 27: -295
National title odds
Nov. 25: +700
Jan. 6: +350
Feb. 3: +315
Mar. 3: +250
Mar. 29: +135
No. 1 Baylor
For much of the season, it appeared to be the Baylor Bears and Gonzaga on their own tier before a drop off for the next national title contenders. As we head into the Final Four, the experts were correct all season long. The Bears were hit with a COVID-19 outbreak and missed weeks of action in mid-February. It took a few weeks for Baylor to get back on track, but they have returned to midseason form, and they are the best challenger to Gonzaga in the Final Four.
Final Four odds
Nov. 25: +125
Jan. 1: +125
Feb. 1: -250
Mar. 1: -303
Mar. 27: -167
National title odds
Nov. 25: +700
Jan. 6: +350
Feb. 3: +315
Mar. 3: +250
Mar. 29: +250
No. 2 Houston
The Houston Cougars certainly did not come into the college basketball season with nearly the expectations the previous two teams on this list did, but it’s been a fun ride for Kelvin Sampson’s group. The Cougars have been solid all season long and showed their dominance by crushing bad teams. They excel on both ends of the floor as one of the most balanced teams in the country. Houston was gifted with their road to the Final Four by beating only double digit seeds to get here. Regardless, they did what they needed to do and should be taken seriously.
Final Four odds
Nov. 25: +900
Jan. 1: +200
Feb. 1: +200
Mar. 1: +400
Mar. 27: +100
National title odds
Nov. 25: +4000
Jan. 6: +1100
Feb. 3: +1100
Mar. 3: +2000
Mar. 29: +600
No. 11 UCLA
What a wild second year it has been for the UCLA Bruins and second-year head coach Mick Cronin. The team lost a very key player with senior guard Chris Smith to a torn ACL on New Year’s Eve, but three months later they’re in the Final Four. This was certainly unexpected as UCLA nearly missed the NCAA Tournament and needed an overtime win in the First Four to make it into the field of 64. The Bruins waited till mid-March to play their best basketball, and they beat the top two teams in their region to get this far.
Final Four odds
Nov. 25: +650
Jan. 1: +650
Feb. 1: +650
Mar. 1: +1150
Mar. 27: +700
National title odds
Nov. 25: +3300
Jan. 6: +3500
Feb. 3: +5000
Mar. 3: +6000
Mar. 29: +2800
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (NH/CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN). 21+ (18+ NH). CO/IL/IN/IA/NH/NJ/PA/TN/VA/WV/MI only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.