The West Region is a minefield, widely perceived around the country as the hardest of the four regionals. Some experts are calling the West the Bracket of Champions since eight of the 16 teams won their postseason tournaments. That doesn?t even include the top-two seeded teams.
Top-seeded Arizona (25-3 SU, 11-14 ATS) was the number one team in the nation for a majority of the year. Second-seeded Kansas (25-7 SU, 13-14 ATS) was the Big XII regular season champion ahead of third-ranked Oklahoma and fifth-ranked Texas. Both the Wildcats and Jayhawks stumbled in their conference tournaments.
Third-seed Duke (24-6 SU, 9-17 ATS) is a dangerous team despite being young. The Blue Devils, the ACC Tournament champions, make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament every year. Fourth-seed Illinois (24-6 SU, 13-11 ATS) captured the Big Ten Tournament title after finishing second during the regular season second behind 21st-ranked Wisconsin.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants had a busy week, releasing odds on all the individual games for the NCAA Tournament along with odds to win each individual region. The following chart breaks down each teams? chances of winning the West Region and the NCAA Tournament.
School Odds to win Odds to win
West Region NCAA Tournament
ARIZONA 9/5 3/1
KANSAS 5/2 6/1
DUKE 4/1 12/1
ILLINOIS 7/1 18/1
NOTRE DAME 12/1 25/1
CINCINNATI 20/1 75/1
MEMPHIS 20/1 35/1
GONZAGA 25/1 75/1
CREIGHTON 25/1 50/1
ARIZONA STATE 30/1 75/1
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 50/1 150/1
WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE 100/1 150/1
WESTERN KENTUCKY 150/1 300/1
COLORADO STATE 150/1 250/1
UTAH STATE 250/1 500/1
VERMONT 500/1 3000/1
Arizona has a history at the John M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Wildcats were the top-seeded West team back in 2000 on this court before losing to eighth-seed Wisconsin in the second round. The Badgers were a Cinderella Final Four team that year.
Coach Lute Olson?s team also suffered one of its most embarrassing defeats here in 1993 to 15th-seeded Santa Clara. Arizona was a second-seed that year before being bounced by the Broncos.
Another interesting sidenote concerning the Wildcats, Arizona?s three SU losses this season all occurred against unranked teams. First-round foe Vermont is making its first ever tournament appearance. LVSC installed the Catamounts as a 26-point underdog to Arizona, with the total listed at 141.
Vermont (21-11 SU, 0-0 ATS) finished second in the America East before dumping Boston University in the championship game, 56-55. The Catamounts will enjoy their first ever NCAA Tournament berth until the opening tipoff. This contest takes place Thursday in Salt Lake City at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas battles Utah State in Oklahoma City at Ford Center as a 16-point ?chalk,? with the total listed at 133 ?. The Jayhawks, gunning for their first NCAA Tournament championship since 1988, have been winning their road endeavors this year by an average score of 77-66.
The Aggies (24-8 SU, 11-17 ATS) won the Big West Tournament after finishing the regular season in third place. Utah State slipped past Cal Poly SLO as a 5 ?-point favorite in the championship game, 57-54. The Aggies are just 1-4 ATS their last five games. This game is scheduled to tipoff Thursday at 9:40 p.m. ET.
Duke is the third seed after enjoying a one-seed the last five years. The Blue Devils recorded their fifth straight ACC Tournament championship after beating North Carolina State as a seven-point ?chalk,? 84-77.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski?s team is 1-3 ATS the last five games. This will be the first time Duke has played in Salt Lake City, and against a Mountain West opponent. The Blue Devils are winning their road endeavors by an average score of 79-73.
Colorado State (19-13 SU, 13-12 ATS) ran the table in the Mountain West Tournament after beating UNLV as an 8 ?-point road underdog, 62-61. The Rams are 6-9 SU and 7-7 ATS on the road, losing by an average score of 76-69. Colorado State figures to have a huge fan turnout for the game against one of the premier programs in the country.
LVSC opened Duke as a 14-point favorite over Colorado State, with the total listed at 147. The total has remained the same, but the line has shifted slightly to 15. Tipoff is slated for Thursday at 9:50 p.m. ET.
Eleventh-ranked Illinois battles Western Kentucky in the first round Thursday at RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. LVSC opened the Illini as a 10-point favorite over the Hilltoppers, with the total set at 141.
Illinois is a modest 5-6 SU and 4-6 ATS on the road, winning by an average score of 70-69. The Illini improved to 4-1 both SU and ATS their last five games after beating Ohio State in the Big Ten championship as a 9 ?-point ?chalk,? 72-59.
Western Kentucky (23-9 SU, 16-13 ATS) won the Sun Belt Conference by beating Middle Tennessee State as a 10-point home favorite, 64-52. The Hilltoppers are 8-9 SU and 8-8 ATS on the road, losing by an average score of 73-72.
The intriguing eight versus nine matchup pits eighth-seed Cincinnati (17-11 SU, 10-16 ATS) versus ninth-seed Gonzaga (23-8 SU, 14-17 ATS). LVSC opened this game as a ?pick? before eventually moving the Bearcats as a slight one-point favorite. The total has remained at 135. Tipoff is slated for Thursday in Salt Lake City at 12:40 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati is a dismal 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS its last five games after losing to Southern Mississippi in the Conference USA Tournament as a 13-point favorite, 63-61. The Bearcats are 4-8 SU and 5-7 ATS on the road.
Gonzaga was one of the mid-majors to get an at-large bid after falling to San Diego University in the West Coast Conference finals as a three-point road underdog, 72-63. The Bulldogs maintain a 12-6 SU and 7-11 ATS road record, winning by an average score of 75-71.
Notre Dame is a five-point favorite over Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Fifth-seeded Notre Dame (22-9 SU, 11-14 ATS) is a dismal 1-4 both SU and ATS its last five games. The 22nd-ranked Fighting Irish fell in the first round of the Big East Tournament to St. John?s as a 2 ?-point favorite, 83-80. Notre Dame is 9-6 SU and 7-6 ATS away from home, winning by an average score of 77-73.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee earned its first ever NCAA Tournament berth by beating Butler in the Horizon League title game as a two-point home favorite, 69-52. The Panthers are 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS their last five games. Wisconsin-Milwaukee maintains an 11-7 SU and 9-5 ATS road ledger, winning by an average score of 77-74.
LVSC opened Notre Dame as a seven-point favorite over Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with the total listed at 153. The line has since moved to five, and the total is now 158. This contest is scheduled to tipoff Thursday at RCA Dome around 9:40 p.m. ET.
West sixth-seed Creighton (29-4 SU, 13-14 ATS) faces 11th-seed Central Michigan as a 4 ?-point favorite, with the total set at 152. This contest will take place in Salt Lake City Thursday around 7:20 p.m. ET.
The 15th-ranked Bluejays won the Missouri Valley Conference by beating Southern Illinois as a three-point ?chalk,? 80-56. Creighton is riding a four-game SU (2-2 ATS) winning streak heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Bluejays are a solid 13-4 SU and 9-6 ATS on the road, winning by an average score of 74-63.
Central Michigan (24-6 SU, 22-6 ATS) is 5-0 both SU and ATS its last five outings after beating Kent as a 1 ?-point favorite, 77-67. The Chippewas, who are representing the Mid American Conference, are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1987. Central Michigan is 12-5 SU and 13-3 ATS away from home, prevailing by an average score of 78-75.
Seventh-seed Memphis and 10th-seed Arizona State collide Thursday at Ford Center in Oklahoma City around 7:10 p.m. ET. LVSC has the Tigers as a three-point favorite over the Sun Devils, with the total listed at 143.
Nineteenth-ranked Memphis is 9-4 SU and 8-5 ATS on the road, prevailing by an average score of 73-70. The Tigers are 4-1 both SU and ATS their last five games after falling to 14th-ranked Louisville in the Conference USA Tournament as a six-point road underdog, 78-75.
Arizona State (19-11 SU, 13-14 ATS) is making its first Tournament appearance since 1995. The Sun Devils are 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS their last five games after losing to Oregon in the Pac-10 Tournament as a one-point ?chalk,? 83-82. Arizona State is 7-8 SU and 6-8 ATS on the road, winning by an average score of 75-73.
Top-seeded Arizona (25-3 SU, 11-14 ATS) was the number one team in the nation for a majority of the year. Second-seeded Kansas (25-7 SU, 13-14 ATS) was the Big XII regular season champion ahead of third-ranked Oklahoma and fifth-ranked Texas. Both the Wildcats and Jayhawks stumbled in their conference tournaments.
Third-seed Duke (24-6 SU, 9-17 ATS) is a dangerous team despite being young. The Blue Devils, the ACC Tournament champions, make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament every year. Fourth-seed Illinois (24-6 SU, 13-11 ATS) captured the Big Ten Tournament title after finishing second during the regular season second behind 21st-ranked Wisconsin.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants had a busy week, releasing odds on all the individual games for the NCAA Tournament along with odds to win each individual region. The following chart breaks down each teams? chances of winning the West Region and the NCAA Tournament.
School Odds to win Odds to win
West Region NCAA Tournament
ARIZONA 9/5 3/1
KANSAS 5/2 6/1
DUKE 4/1 12/1
ILLINOIS 7/1 18/1
NOTRE DAME 12/1 25/1
CINCINNATI 20/1 75/1
MEMPHIS 20/1 35/1
GONZAGA 25/1 75/1
CREIGHTON 25/1 50/1
ARIZONA STATE 30/1 75/1
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 50/1 150/1
WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE 100/1 150/1
WESTERN KENTUCKY 150/1 300/1
COLORADO STATE 150/1 250/1
UTAH STATE 250/1 500/1
VERMONT 500/1 3000/1
Arizona has a history at the John M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Wildcats were the top-seeded West team back in 2000 on this court before losing to eighth-seed Wisconsin in the second round. The Badgers were a Cinderella Final Four team that year.
Coach Lute Olson?s team also suffered one of its most embarrassing defeats here in 1993 to 15th-seeded Santa Clara. Arizona was a second-seed that year before being bounced by the Broncos.
Another interesting sidenote concerning the Wildcats, Arizona?s three SU losses this season all occurred against unranked teams. First-round foe Vermont is making its first ever tournament appearance. LVSC installed the Catamounts as a 26-point underdog to Arizona, with the total listed at 141.
Vermont (21-11 SU, 0-0 ATS) finished second in the America East before dumping Boston University in the championship game, 56-55. The Catamounts will enjoy their first ever NCAA Tournament berth until the opening tipoff. This contest takes place Thursday in Salt Lake City at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas battles Utah State in Oklahoma City at Ford Center as a 16-point ?chalk,? with the total listed at 133 ?. The Jayhawks, gunning for their first NCAA Tournament championship since 1988, have been winning their road endeavors this year by an average score of 77-66.
The Aggies (24-8 SU, 11-17 ATS) won the Big West Tournament after finishing the regular season in third place. Utah State slipped past Cal Poly SLO as a 5 ?-point favorite in the championship game, 57-54. The Aggies are just 1-4 ATS their last five games. This game is scheduled to tipoff Thursday at 9:40 p.m. ET.
Duke is the third seed after enjoying a one-seed the last five years. The Blue Devils recorded their fifth straight ACC Tournament championship after beating North Carolina State as a seven-point ?chalk,? 84-77.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski?s team is 1-3 ATS the last five games. This will be the first time Duke has played in Salt Lake City, and against a Mountain West opponent. The Blue Devils are winning their road endeavors by an average score of 79-73.
Colorado State (19-13 SU, 13-12 ATS) ran the table in the Mountain West Tournament after beating UNLV as an 8 ?-point road underdog, 62-61. The Rams are 6-9 SU and 7-7 ATS on the road, losing by an average score of 76-69. Colorado State figures to have a huge fan turnout for the game against one of the premier programs in the country.
LVSC opened Duke as a 14-point favorite over Colorado State, with the total listed at 147. The total has remained the same, but the line has shifted slightly to 15. Tipoff is slated for Thursday at 9:50 p.m. ET.
Eleventh-ranked Illinois battles Western Kentucky in the first round Thursday at RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. LVSC opened the Illini as a 10-point favorite over the Hilltoppers, with the total set at 141.
Illinois is a modest 5-6 SU and 4-6 ATS on the road, winning by an average score of 70-69. The Illini improved to 4-1 both SU and ATS their last five games after beating Ohio State in the Big Ten championship as a 9 ?-point ?chalk,? 72-59.
Western Kentucky (23-9 SU, 16-13 ATS) won the Sun Belt Conference by beating Middle Tennessee State as a 10-point home favorite, 64-52. The Hilltoppers are 8-9 SU and 8-8 ATS on the road, losing by an average score of 73-72.
The intriguing eight versus nine matchup pits eighth-seed Cincinnati (17-11 SU, 10-16 ATS) versus ninth-seed Gonzaga (23-8 SU, 14-17 ATS). LVSC opened this game as a ?pick? before eventually moving the Bearcats as a slight one-point favorite. The total has remained at 135. Tipoff is slated for Thursday in Salt Lake City at 12:40 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati is a dismal 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS its last five games after losing to Southern Mississippi in the Conference USA Tournament as a 13-point favorite, 63-61. The Bearcats are 4-8 SU and 5-7 ATS on the road.
Gonzaga was one of the mid-majors to get an at-large bid after falling to San Diego University in the West Coast Conference finals as a three-point road underdog, 72-63. The Bulldogs maintain a 12-6 SU and 7-11 ATS road record, winning by an average score of 75-71.
Notre Dame is a five-point favorite over Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Fifth-seeded Notre Dame (22-9 SU, 11-14 ATS) is a dismal 1-4 both SU and ATS its last five games. The 22nd-ranked Fighting Irish fell in the first round of the Big East Tournament to St. John?s as a 2 ?-point favorite, 83-80. Notre Dame is 9-6 SU and 7-6 ATS away from home, winning by an average score of 77-73.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee earned its first ever NCAA Tournament berth by beating Butler in the Horizon League title game as a two-point home favorite, 69-52. The Panthers are 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS their last five games. Wisconsin-Milwaukee maintains an 11-7 SU and 9-5 ATS road ledger, winning by an average score of 77-74.
LVSC opened Notre Dame as a seven-point favorite over Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with the total listed at 153. The line has since moved to five, and the total is now 158. This contest is scheduled to tipoff Thursday at RCA Dome around 9:40 p.m. ET.
West sixth-seed Creighton (29-4 SU, 13-14 ATS) faces 11th-seed Central Michigan as a 4 ?-point favorite, with the total set at 152. This contest will take place in Salt Lake City Thursday around 7:20 p.m. ET.
The 15th-ranked Bluejays won the Missouri Valley Conference by beating Southern Illinois as a three-point ?chalk,? 80-56. Creighton is riding a four-game SU (2-2 ATS) winning streak heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Bluejays are a solid 13-4 SU and 9-6 ATS on the road, winning by an average score of 74-63.
Central Michigan (24-6 SU, 22-6 ATS) is 5-0 both SU and ATS its last five outings after beating Kent as a 1 ?-point favorite, 77-67. The Chippewas, who are representing the Mid American Conference, are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1987. Central Michigan is 12-5 SU and 13-3 ATS away from home, prevailing by an average score of 78-75.
Seventh-seed Memphis and 10th-seed Arizona State collide Thursday at Ford Center in Oklahoma City around 7:10 p.m. ET. LVSC has the Tigers as a three-point favorite over the Sun Devils, with the total listed at 143.
Nineteenth-ranked Memphis is 9-4 SU and 8-5 ATS on the road, prevailing by an average score of 73-70. The Tigers are 4-1 both SU and ATS their last five games after falling to 14th-ranked Louisville in the Conference USA Tournament as a six-point road underdog, 78-75.
Arizona State (19-11 SU, 13-14 ATS) is making its first Tournament appearance since 1995. The Sun Devils are 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS their last five games after losing to Oregon in the Pac-10 Tournament as a one-point ?chalk,? 83-82. Arizona State is 7-8 SU and 6-8 ATS on the road, winning by an average score of 75-73.
