According to figures released Monday by oddsmakers at Las Vegas Sports Consultants, Kentucky, Auburn and Butler are the only schools to have their future book prices lowered.
That?s not a lot, considering the NCAA paired the field from 32 to 16 this past weekend.
?We lowered Kentucky from 9/5 to 3/2,? reported LVSC odds manager Cesar Robaina. ?The public money is all over the Wildcats, though their path to the Finals will not be an easy one.
Kentucky has been unbeatable the last three months and it was no different against Utah. The top-seeded Wildcats made the round of 16 for the ninth time in 11 years after routing Utah in the Midwest Regional, 74-54. Kentucky has won 25 straight, a run sparked by an 18-point loss to rival Louisville on Dec. 28.
The Wildcats were knocked out in the round of 16 the last two years, but it will take a major upset by Wisconsin to make it three in a row. Kentucky opened as an 11 ?-point favorite in Thursday?s game against the Big Ten champs, but the line quickly jumped to minus 12. The total opened at 130 before dropping slightly to 129 ?.
Butler had its future book odds drop from 150/1 to 75/1 after the school upset Louisville as a 7 ?-point underdog, 79-71.
?We lowered Butler?s odds despite the school facing a very tough game this Friday,? explained Robaina.
The 12th-seeded Bulldogs, who advance to the Sweet 16 round for the first time in school history, opened as an eight-point underdog against top-seeded Oklahoma. Enough early money appeared on Butler to lower the number to 7 ?. The total has slipped from an opening of 125 to 123.
Many thought Auburn shouldn't have made the NCAA tournament, and that was substantiated by its opening future book odds of 150/1 to capture the title.
However, the 10th-seeded Tigers stunned second-seeded Wake Forest in the East Regional 68-62 to advance to the round of 16 for the second time in five seasons under coach Cliff Ellis.
Respect for Auburn is now starting to build, as the squad has seen its future book price dip to 40/1. In addition, the Tigers were bet down from a seven-point underdog in Friday?s game against Syracuse to plus five. The total has jumped from 135 to 137.
The Big East improved to 8-0 SU in the NCAA tournament Sunday with wins by Syracuse (12/1) and Pittsburgh (12/1). The pair will be joined in the round of 16 by Notre Dame (40/1) and Connecticut (20/1).
With the four teams in different regions, an all-Big East Final Four is still possible.
Odds to win the 2003 NCAA Men?s basketball tournament, courtesy of Las Vegas Sports Consultants, appear below.
SCHOOL Open Last Week Current
KENTUCKY 2/1 9/5 3/2
ARIZONA 3/1 5/2 7/2
OKLAHOMA 5/1 4/1 4/1
KANSAS 6/1 5/1 7/1
TEXAS 6/1 5/1 8/1
PITTSBURGH 10/1 7/1 12/1
DUKE 12/1 10/1 15/1
SYRACUSE 15/1 12/1 12/1
U CONN 18/1 15/1 20/1
MARYLAND 18/1 15/1 18/1
MARQUETTE 20/1 18/1 40/1
NOTRE DAME 25/1 22/1 40/1
MICHIGAN ST 25/1 18/1 25/1
WISCONSIN 30/1 25/1 50/1
AUBURN 150/1 75/1 40/1
BUTLER 300/1 150/1 75/1
That?s not a lot, considering the NCAA paired the field from 32 to 16 this past weekend.
?We lowered Kentucky from 9/5 to 3/2,? reported LVSC odds manager Cesar Robaina. ?The public money is all over the Wildcats, though their path to the Finals will not be an easy one.
Kentucky has been unbeatable the last three months and it was no different against Utah. The top-seeded Wildcats made the round of 16 for the ninth time in 11 years after routing Utah in the Midwest Regional, 74-54. Kentucky has won 25 straight, a run sparked by an 18-point loss to rival Louisville on Dec. 28.
The Wildcats were knocked out in the round of 16 the last two years, but it will take a major upset by Wisconsin to make it three in a row. Kentucky opened as an 11 ?-point favorite in Thursday?s game against the Big Ten champs, but the line quickly jumped to minus 12. The total opened at 130 before dropping slightly to 129 ?.
Butler had its future book odds drop from 150/1 to 75/1 after the school upset Louisville as a 7 ?-point underdog, 79-71.
?We lowered Butler?s odds despite the school facing a very tough game this Friday,? explained Robaina.
The 12th-seeded Bulldogs, who advance to the Sweet 16 round for the first time in school history, opened as an eight-point underdog against top-seeded Oklahoma. Enough early money appeared on Butler to lower the number to 7 ?. The total has slipped from an opening of 125 to 123.
Many thought Auburn shouldn't have made the NCAA tournament, and that was substantiated by its opening future book odds of 150/1 to capture the title.
However, the 10th-seeded Tigers stunned second-seeded Wake Forest in the East Regional 68-62 to advance to the round of 16 for the second time in five seasons under coach Cliff Ellis.
Respect for Auburn is now starting to build, as the squad has seen its future book price dip to 40/1. In addition, the Tigers were bet down from a seven-point underdog in Friday?s game against Syracuse to plus five. The total has jumped from 135 to 137.
The Big East improved to 8-0 SU in the NCAA tournament Sunday with wins by Syracuse (12/1) and Pittsburgh (12/1). The pair will be joined in the round of 16 by Notre Dame (40/1) and Connecticut (20/1).
With the four teams in different regions, an all-Big East Final Four is still possible.
Odds to win the 2003 NCAA Men?s basketball tournament, courtesy of Las Vegas Sports Consultants, appear below.
SCHOOL Open Last Week Current
KENTUCKY 2/1 9/5 3/2
ARIZONA 3/1 5/2 7/2
OKLAHOMA 5/1 4/1 4/1
KANSAS 6/1 5/1 7/1
TEXAS 6/1 5/1 8/1
PITTSBURGH 10/1 7/1 12/1
DUKE 12/1 10/1 15/1
SYRACUSE 15/1 12/1 12/1
U CONN 18/1 15/1 20/1
MARYLAND 18/1 15/1 18/1
MARQUETTE 20/1 18/1 40/1
NOTRE DAME 25/1 22/1 40/1
MICHIGAN ST 25/1 18/1 25/1
WISCONSIN 30/1 25/1 50/1
AUBURN 150/1 75/1 40/1
BUTLER 300/1 150/1 75/1
