Early Final Four Betting Preview: Baylor, Gonzaga Favored

• The Baylor Bears are favored at -210 to beat the Houston Cougars in the Final Four.
• The UCLA Bruins have +700 longshot odds to beat the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
• UCLA has pulled the upset in their last two games.

INDIANAPOLIS – The March Madness Tournament is getting closer to its climax with the Final Four tipping off on Saturday.

The dominating Gonzaga Bulldogs and the surprising underdogs UCLA Bruins will face off as well as the Baylor Bears and the Houston Cougars.

With so many upsets, shocking moments, and unpredictable outcomes so far in the tournament, March Madness betting has already seen that anything can happen during this NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Houston Cougars Vs. Baylor Bears Odds

• Moneyline: Baylor -210, Houston +175
• Spread: Baylor -5.0
• Totals Over/Under 135.0

The Baylor Bears are the current favorite to move on to the Championship Game thanks to their dominant performance throughout the season, and their strong wins in the tournament.

The Bears beat the Hartford Hawks 79-55 in the first round, the Wisconsin Badgers 76-63 in the second round, the Villanova Wildcats 62-51 in the Sweet 16, and the Arkansas Razorbacks 81-72 in the Elite Eight.

Baylor also covered the spread constantly, currently 5-1 against the spread in their last six NCAA Tournament games.

Junior guard Jared Butler leads the team in both points (16.5 PPG) and steals (2.0 SPG) on the season while shooting 46.7% from the field. During the tournament his scoring output increased, averaging 16.8 PPG while shooting 49.5% from the field and 44% from three.

With the consistent play Baylor has put up, it is understandable why college basketball betting fans are leaning so strongly in their favor.

The Houston Cougars have also been solid throughout the tournament but suffered two near losses against lower-seeded teams already.

In the second round, the Cougars escaped with a 63-60 win against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and in the Elite Eight, they beat the Oregon State Beavers just 67-61. After having a strong 34-17 lead in the first half of the Oregon State game, the Cougars were outscored in the second half 44-33.

If they show defensive lapses like this against the Bears, they will surely be crushed in their matchup.

UCLA Bruins Vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Odds

• Moneyline: Gonzaga -1200, UCLA +700
• Spread: Gonzaga -14.5
• Totals: Over/Under 146.0

The UCLA Bruins and Gonzaga Bulldogs are truly a David vs. Goliath story, with the Bulldogs looking to be the first undefeated team since 1976 to win the tournament, and the Bruins pulling upset after upset.

Gonzaga has dominated all competition in the tournament so far. They have covered the spread in their last four games overall, their last four games following a straight-up win, their last four games that they have been favored, and in all of the tournament matches.

Every game the Bulldogs have played they have won by double digits, just recently defeating the USC Trojans 85-66.

This explains why legal sports betting fans have leaned so heavily on the Bulldogs. Not only in this game, but throughout the tournament, as most of the money has been placed on Gonzaga.

Gonzaga has not been tested, but the Bruins may have something to say about that. No matter the opponent, no matter the odds, UCLA has managed to take down the giant standing in their way.

The Bruins had +250 longshot odds against the No. 1 seeded Michigan Wolverines but still managed the 51-49 upset. This came just days after the 88-78 upset over the No. 2 seeded Alabama Crimson Tide. The Bruins are an 11 seed team.

With the confidence and proven track record so far in the tournament that they can beat anyone, the +700 odds on UCLA are a longshot betting fan’s dream.

This will be their toughest opponent yet, but with another standout performance from sophomore guard Johnny Juzang, UCLA may be able to continue their Cinderella story and make it to the NCAA Championship Game.

March Madness has truly lived up to its name in this tournament, and sports betting fans have managed to cash in on upsets constantly. Will the underdogs prevail? Or will the favorites continue their domination?

News tags: Baylor Bears | CBB | College Basketball | Gonzaga Bulldogs | Houston Cougars | Indiana | Indianapolis | March Madness | NCAA | UCLA Bruins