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The regular season is complete. The conference tournaments are in the past. Now it is time for the best time of the year. March Madness.
Below, we look at Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament Midwest Region futures odds and and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Houston, which lost its conference title game without star Marcus Sasser, comes into the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest. The Cougars received a difficult draw with either Iowa or Auburn in the 2nd round. Although the Cougars are the favorite to get through this region, they are likely not my pick, especially if Sasser is unable to return.
There are some intriguing lower-seed teams in this bracket. Unfortunately for some, they do not have good matchups, but there will be upsets. There always are. A few could come out of the Midwest. Texas A&M and Miami better be on their toes.
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Midwest Region futures odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines for team to win region last updated Monday at 4:18 p.m. ET.
1 seed: Houston Cougars +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
2 seed: Texas Longhorns +400 (bet $100 to win $400)
3 seed: Xavier Musketeers +1000 (bet $100 to win $1000)
4 seed: Indiana Hoosiers +1200 (bet $100 to win $1200)
5 seed: Miami Hurricanes +1200 (bet $100 to win $1200)
6 seed: Iowa State Cyclones +1500 (bet $100 to win $1500)
7 seed: Texas A&M Aggies +1800 (bet $100 to win $1,800)
8 seed: Iowa Hawkeyes +1500 (bet $100 to win $1500)
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9 seed: Auburn Tigers +3000 (bet $100 to win $300)
10 seed: Penn State Nittany Lions +4000 (bet $100 to win $4000)
11 seed: Mississippi State/Pitt +6000 (bet $100 to win $6000)
12 seed: Drake Bulldogs +5000 (bet $100 to win $5000)
13 seed: Kent State Golden Flashes +10000 (bet $100 to win $10000)
14 seed: Kennesaw State Owls +10000 (bet $100 to win $10000)
15 seed: Colgate Raiders +10000 (bet $100 to win $10000)
16 seed: Northern Kentucky Norse +10000 (bet $100 to win $10000)
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Midwest Region expert pick and prediction
Texas Longhorns (+440)
Texas has dealt with a lot this season, but it was still able to win the Big 12 Conference Tournament over Kansas and comes in as the No. 2 seed in a region headed by a weakened Houston squad.
If Texas is able to make it through to the Elite Eight and Houston is able to keep form, this will be a difficult matchup for Houston. Texas has the big men to pound with Houston down low. The Longhorns also have the perimeter shooting to knock down shots and avoid the physicality the Cougars hope to bring.
Texas will have a big test with its 2nd-round matchup. Whether it takes on the hated Texas A&M Aggies or the Penn State Nittany Lions, the Longhorns will need to handle a team coming in on a hot streak to reach its ultimate goal.
Top 25: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Midwest Region contenders
These 3 teams are worth a futures bet to win the region.
Houston Cougars (+135)
If not for a loss to Memphis in the AAC Championship Game, Houston (31-3), not Alabama, would be the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. Sasser missed the title game with an injured groin, leading to a lopsided 75-65 decision.
With time to heal, Sasser should return healthy for the Cougars. If he does, this team has the talent and the elite defense to win the entire thing.
The Cougars are the +500 betting favorite to cut down the nets in their home town. But with the injury to Sasser being the looming factor, Texas is the pick and Houston is just a major contender.
Miami Hurricanes (+1200)
The Hurricanes, who rank top 25 in the nation with 79.6 points per game, will be one of the best offensive teams in the entire bracket. Along with Iowa, the Hurricanes will be able to put points up against any opponent.
A 2nd-round game against Trayce Jackson-Davis and Indiana could be a stumbling block. But if Miami can find a way past the Hoosiers, a Final Four bid could be in sight.
Iowa Hawkeyes (+1500)
Despite the seed, Iowa could have one of the easier draws Auburn has struggled heading into the tournament and have been unable to find any offense late in the season. Much of the offense it has found was due to mis-steps by opponents allowing them to remain close. Iowa will not allow this to happen and its offense, which is averaging 80.6 points on the season and will be able to move up and down the floor on the Tigers.
With Auburn struggling and Houston not being completely heathy, Iowa could find itself in a Sweet 16 game against Miami. This would be a fun, high-scoring game. But one which could go either way.
The Hawkeyes are dangerous in this region. Some of the top teams have warts. And this could be a region of havoc.
Midwest Region long shot
Penn State Nittany Lions (+4000)
Texas A&M is criminally underseeded. It is likely the most egregious thing the committee did this season. But Penn State has been on a roll in recent days.
Before losing a 67-65 decision to No. 1 seed Purdue in the Big Ten Conference final, Penn State rallied to make the tournament by defeating Northwestern twice, Maryland, Illinois and Indiana, all who are seeded higher in the tournament than the Nittany Lions.
Guard Jalen Pickett, a 1st-team all-Big Ten performer, has been everything for the Nittany Lions, averaging 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds and he’s 5th in the nation with 6.7 assists per game.
Penn State is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the nation. If the shots are falling, the Lions can beat anyone. If they are not, they will get blown out by anyone. This is a longshot for sure. But Penn State is dangerous.
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