The early odds for the 2011 NCAA tournament champion favor - as expected - Duke, Michigan State and Purdue, the three teams atop most way too early Top 25s.
According to Sportsbook.com, the Devils are the team to beat (6-1), while the Spartans (10-1) and Boilermakers (12-1) are right behind.
Behind those three are four usual suspects: Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio State and Villanova are all 20-1. After that, it’s a mix of traditional powers, elite mid-majors and a couple of re-building programs. Butler, Florida, Illinois, Kansas State, Memphis, North Carolina, Pitt and Syracuse.
And then, it got strange.
West Virginia is 30-1. Texas is 40-1, along with Baylor, Georgetown, Louisville, UConn, Wisconsin and Xavier. Gotta agree with Jeff Eisenberg: What are the Huskies and Cardinals doing at 40-1?
The best value on the whole list? UNLV at 100-1. Now those are odds worth putting $10 on. Not that I’m suggesting you do so. Our lawyers wouldn’t like that.
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