2012 NCAA Basketball Championship Odds

VCU and Butler made every NCAA Division I basketball team’s dream come true with a dramatic run to this year’s Final Four, but the reality is that most times one of the preseason favorites is the team cutting down the nets in early April. Connecticut was somewhat of an exception this year, opening up at +1800 to win it all, but was still considered one of the best teams in the Big East before the season started.

Turning to the 2011/2012 season all the early buzz has focused around North Carolina. The Tar Heels are the current odds-on-favorite at +350 to win it all next season. The decision by freshman Harrison Barnes to return to school next season rounds out a North Carolina roster that still has Tyler Zeller, John Henson, and Dexter Strickland. Add in a recruiting class that has high school standouts such as James McAdoo and P.J. Hairston and you have the makings of one very talented team.

Kentucky made it all the way to the Final Four this season with three freshman starters and is expected to be right back on top next season as the second favorite along with Ohio State at +600. Despite the fact that the Wildcats will most likely lose Brandon Knight and Terrance Jones after only one year with the team, they still have a solid core of talent in Doron Lamb, DeAndre Liggins, and Darius Miller. Even if any of these players decide to jump ship, head coach John Calipari’s recruiting class is once again one of the best in the country. He will add Anthony Davis, Michael Gilchrist, and Marcus Teague, who are all considered the top player in the country at their position along with the No.15 ranked player in the nation overall; Kyle Wiltjer.

Freshman sensation Jared Sullinger’s decision to return to Columbus for his sophomore season immediately makes the Buckeyes a solid contender for next year’s title. Sullinger has the capability of carrying this team much like Kemba Walker did for Connecticut this season, but will be joined by two quality players in Aaron Craft and Will Buford from last year’s roster. Ohio State will also have a solid recruiting class led by center Amir Williams and guard Shannon Scott to once again be in position to make a legitimate run at a title.

The fourth favorite at +1200 is Syracuse. The Orange’s only major loss from last year’s team is Rick Jackson as Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine return for one more run at a title. Syracuse also has an excellent recruiting class led by 6-foot-9 center Rakeem Christmas, who is the 19th ranked overall player in the country. It also signed guard Michael Carter-Williams, who is ranked fourth at his position and 20th overall.

NCAA Basketball Championship odds : as of April 26/2011 at 5Dimes.

• North Carolina +350
• Kentucky +600
• Ohio St +600
• Syracuse +1200
• Louisville +1200
• Texas +1500
• Duke +2000
• Pittsburgh +2500
• Connecticut +3000
• Memphis +3000
• Kansas +3500
• Michigan St +3500
• Arizona +3500
• Florida +4000
• Michigan +4000
• Wisconsin +4000
• Gonzaga +4000
• Xavier +5000
• Purdue +6000
• UCLA +6000
• Washington +6000
• West Virginia +6000
• Field (Any Other Team) +7500
• Butler +7500
• Marquette +10000
• Colorado St +10000
• Texas A&M +10000
• Alabama +10000
• George Mason +10000
• Temple +10000
• Cincinnati +10000
• Missouri +10000
• Baylor +10000
• Florida St +10000
• Wichita St +10000
• Clemson +10000
• New Mexico +10000
• Notre Dame +10000
• St Johns +10000
• Villanova +10000
• Minnesota +10000
• Arkansas +10000
• USC +10000
• Georgetown +10000
• Illinois +10000
• Maryland +10000
• Mississippi St +10000
• Indiana +10000
• Colorado +10000
• Tennessee +10000
• UNLV +10000
• Boston College +10000
• San Diego St +10000
• BYU +10000
• Iowa St +10000
• Vanderbilt +10000
• Oregon St +20000
• UTEP +20000
• Providence +20000
• Texas Tech +20000
• Tulsa +20000
• South Florida +20000
• Southern Mississippi +20000
• Utah +20000
• Long Beach St +20000
• Boise St +20000
• Auburn +20000
• UCSB +20000
• California +20000
• Old Dominion +20000
• Kansas St +20000
• St Marys +20000
• Northwestern +20000
• Georgia +20000
• Stanford +20000
• Oklahoma St +20000
• Miami FL +20000
• VCU +20000
• South Carolina +20000
• Iowa +20000
• Richmond +20000
• Nebraska +20000
• Virginia Tech +20000
• Oklahoma +20000
• Oregon +20000
• Dayton +20000
• Utah St +20000
• Duquesne +20000
• Belmont +20000
• Mississippi +20000
• Penn St +20000
• Arizona St +20000
• Seton Hall +20000
• North Carolina St +20000
• LSU +20000
• Washington St +20000
• Virginia +20000
• Rutgers +20000
• Georgia Tech +20000
• UAB +20000