Final Four 2017: Prediction, Betting Odds For North Carolina, South Carolina, Gonzaga, Oregon

The March Madness 2017 Final Four is set, and it doesn’t exactly fall in line with many of the predictions made before the start of the NCAA Tournament. Two No.1 seeds are still in the hunt to win college basketball’s national championship, though two unexpected teams are also vying for the title.

No.1 North Carolina has been the favorite to win the championship for a few weeks, and that will stay the same after their win over No.2 Kentucky Sunday afternoon. No.1 Gonzaga seems to be their biggest competition, and the betting odds favor a meeting between the Bulldogs and Tar Heels in the national championship game.

READ: Final Four betting lines for North Carolina vs. Oregon and Gonzaga vs. South Carolina

Few fans or experts predicted No.7 South Carolina to make the Final Four when filling out their brackets, but Frank Martin’s squad overcame the odds and is still in contention to win the tournament. No.3 Oregon wasn’t exactly a longshot to reach the Final Four, but most experts picked either No.1 Kansas or No.2 Louisville to win the Midwest region.

With the way each team is playing, all four seem to have a legitimate shot to win the title. Let’s take a look at the Final Four betting odds for North Carolina, Gonzaga, Oregon and South Carolina, via Bovada.lv.

North Carolina (+140)

It’s no surprise that the Tar Heels are the Final Four favorites. They are easily the biggest name left in March Madness, reaching the Final Four for the 20th time in school history while no other team in the field has more than two appearances. North Carolina entered the NCAA Tournament with the best odds to win the national championship. They are five-point favorites against Oregon and would be favored against either Gonzaga or South Carolina.

The Tar Heels are the Final Four’s most talented team, and they’ll cut down the nets if they are playing their best. Justin Jackson was named Player of the Year in the nation’s best conference, and no one in the starting lineup has less than three years of experience. Betting favorites have won outright in 47 of the tournament’s 60 games, and North Carolina is well on their way to avenging last year’s devastating loss in the title game.

Gonzaga (+180)

The Bulldogs finally got over the hump, making their first Final Four appearance after 19 straight trips to the Big Dance. But Gonzaga won’t simply be happy to be in the Final Four, and they’ve got a real chance to win it all. They are the biggest favorite on Saturday’s schedule, and the Bulldogs have just one loss on the season.

Gonzaga might be the most well-rounded team in the Final Four. The Bulldogs rank in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and they’ve proven they can beat any type of opponent. Guard Nigel Williams-Gross is the team’s leading scorer, and Gonzaga has two seven-footers that can present problems for any team in the country. Don’t be surprised if they’re the last team standing when the tournament is over.

Oregon (+550)

The Ducks might have to beat three No.1 seeds on their way towards winning a national championship, but they’ve shown that they are up to the task. No.1 Kansas had looked like the best team in the country with three straight wins by at least 20 points, and Oregon defeated them soundly in the Elite Eight.

The absence of the injured Chris Boucher has barely been noticeable as a few players have raised their game. Sophomore guard Tyler Dorsey is scoring 24.5 points per game in the tournament, putting up 10 more points than his season average. Forward Jordan Bell has made up for Boucher’s injury by posting a double-double in three of the tournament games, and Dillon Brooks remains a top scorer. Oregon might not reach the title game, but they are certainly good enough to win their first championship since 1939.

South Carolina (+750)

The Gamecocks are clearly the longshot of the Final Four. The team had been playing poorly before the start of the tournament, and South Carolina has never come close to winning a national title in school history. None of that has mattered in this year’s tournament, however, and South Carolina is playing well enough to challenge for the title this weekend.

South Carolina made it to the Big Dance on the strength of their defense, and the unit has looked like the nation’s best in the tournament. Perhaps most importantly, the Gamecocks are getting offensive production like they haven’t all season. Leading scorer Sindarius Thornwell has arguably been the tournament’s best player, averaging 25.8 points per game. Defeating Gonzaga and either North Carolina or Oregon in three days might be too much to ask, but considering their odds, South Carolina might be the best bet of any Final Four team.

Prediction

The first few rounds of March Madness always feature a few major upsets, and at least one team usually makes an unexpected run to the Final Four. No.10 Syracuse did it last year, and a team seeded No.7 or lower has reached the Final Four in each of the last five years.

The cream usually rises to the top, however, by the end of the tournament. Eight of the last 11 national champions have been No.1 seeds, and the trend should continue this year with North Carolina beating Gonzaga at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3.