March Madness 2019 Odds: Bookies Change Favorites, Williamson Reveals Disappointment

The bookmakers’ favorites to win the 2019 NCAA Tournament – the Duke Blue Devils – were knocked by a spirited performance from the Michigan State Spartans on Sunday night. Zion Williamson and company were beaten 68-67 in the Elite Eight round, which has got to be the biggest upset of the tournament thus far.

The Blue Devils were the favorite having been the best team coming into the tournament, possessing players who are all expected to be picked in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft. But their journey was brought to an end by the Spartan with Cassius Winston top scoring with 20 points and 10 assists.

Williamson and fellow forward RJ Barrett had 24 and 21 points respectively for Duke, but it came down to a missed free throw in the final seconds by the latter to hand the game to Michigan State. Barrett could have tied the game and potentially sent it to overtime but missed the first of his two free throws with the Blue Devils down 68-66.

The predicted No.1 pick of the 2019 NBA Draft – Williamson – cut a dejected figure after the Blue Devils’ elimination and admitted that they were desperate to get to the Final Four. He revealed that the entire locker room was disappointed especially when they realized this could likely be their last game together.

“You know a lot’s obviously going through our mind right now. We’re very upset obviously because, you know, we wanted to go to the Final Four but congrats to Michigan State,” Williamson said in his post-game press conference, via USA Today Sports. “You know, they deserve it. They played a hell of a game. And, you know, just look around the locker room and see, like, your teammates and your brothers and you just think you know, this group probably will never play together again."

“Hats off to them, they are a great team. They played a great game and you know, Winston, I mean, he took over, so hats off to them, they are a great team,” the forward added.

The elimination of the Blue Devils in the Elite Eight stage of the 2019 NCAA Tournament has required the bookmakers to make changes to the odds on favorite. Atlantic Coast top seeds Virginia Cavaliers have now been installed as 3/2 favorites to win the national championships.

According to bookmakers sportsbook.ag, Virginia, which will take on No.5 seeds Auburn Tigers in the Final Four, will go on to win the tournament with Michigan State in second place with odds of 7/4. They are followed by Texas Tech, which beat fellow No.1 seeds Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday and the least favorites are the Tigers.