Betting on the Final Four? Here Is Our Guide to Betting Tournament Futures

If you are betting on the Final Four, but don’t know where to start; check out our guide to the Betting Tournament Futures! Future Odds are an exciting way to pick the winner of the NCAA March Madness Tournament that is set to begin this week.

The question is, which four teams have the talent, the coaching, and the staying power to win, beating six straight opponents, and winning in the Final Four? Future Odds are displayed by looking at the money-line odds at various sportsbooks.

The Moneylines are the betting odds that are attributed to a team to win. Each money-line is expressed in a number which is relative to $100.00. So, for example, if Gonzaga has a money-line of (-230), that means for every $210.00 bet on the Bulldogs, the house will pay out $100.00 if Gonzaga wins.

Likewise, on the underdog side, the money-line odds show the amount to be paid out on a bet of $100.00 if that team wins. Illinois, for example, shows a moneyline of (+150.00). So, if Illinois were to take it all, the house would pay out $150.00 per $100.00 wagered.

Of course, bettors can pick the favorite against a spread or the over-under, which may be the easiest way to bet at the NCAA tournament by simply betting whether the total points scored in the game will exceed or come in lower than the Over/Under number set by the sportsbook.

Any approach you want to take will add to the excitement of watching the Tournament. So, how can we pick the final four futures from a field of 68? Well, it definitely is much easier to bet on which of the teams will make it to the Final Four than to pick the champion.

But, it still is no easy feat. In order to do so, you definitely need a strategy, especially if you want to earn some money. Betting on all the Number 1 seeds is very tempting; in fact, when I first fill out my bracket, I find that that is what I tend to do. But, the most interesting way is to try to determine whether there is a long-shot that will be able to break through and beat a heavy favorite?

The ultimate question is, do the teams have a realistic chance to make the Final Four? The way to begin is to calculate the most realistic choices as you select from each of the four regions. The favorites are Gonzaga (-230), Baylor (+134), Illinois (+150), and Michigan (+200).

In the East, Michigan is the favorite. However, Michigan is dealing with an injury of senior Isaiah Livers. He is out indefinitely with a stress injury and has been one of the Wolverines’ leading scorers. Michigan may be vulnerable. It is unlikely that any of the top 12 seeds will make it out of the East, but at (+700) it might be worth a chance to go with Texas or Florida State, the third and fourth seeds.

In the West, Gonzaga is the undeniable favorite. It may not make sense to bet on them as they are (-230), but it sure is tempting as they are undefeated and on everybody’s radar to take it all. The good news here is that the payoffs for the number 3 seed, Kansas is (+650), and USC, the sixth seed (+1300) is worth a look.

In the South, Baylor is the favorite and #2 seed overall. However, Purdue has a fairly easy and straightforward path to the Sweet 16 and have a money line of (+850). In order to make the Final Four, the Boilermakers would have to knock off the winner of the likely match between Ohio State and Baylor. If Ohio State is the victor, Purdue has a chance to make it to the Final as they have beaten Ohio State twice.

In the Midwest Region, Illinois is the favorite. The Fighting Illini have my favorite player, Ayo Dosunmu. They are hard to bet against. But Iowa, with star player Luca Garza (+400) or the Oklahoma State Cowboys (+600), may have a chance to pull off an upset. The payoff might make it worth taking a long-shot.

2021 Final Four odds

Below are the odds on which teams will reach the Final Four, as of March 16, 2021, from DraftKings.

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