When it comes to overall viewership, the NCAA college basketball tournament is the biggest college sports event in the United States. With over 2000 teams across the country, it is certainly the most participated in sport among college students. College basketball, like most college sports, is regulated and organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. 

Among the most popular sporting events in the country, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament certainly ranks high. March Madness, as it is popularly referred to, sees 68 college basketball teams from Division I go fight it out in the tournament bracket, in order to determine the national championship. 

The annual event is commonly accompanied with a good deal of hype and excitement, coming from players, fans, and of course, punters. College basketball is a huge sport in the United States, eclipsing in popularity even some professional sports, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to learn that it is hugely popular on the betting scene.

It is 2022, and this year’s March Madness is right around the corner. Many are waiting with baited breath for their college team (or just their favorite team) to go head-to-head with the opposition, and many are excited to see how it turns out. In this article, we are going to take a look at March Madness, and some of the teams that are listed among the favorites. 

A Lookback at 2021

Before we talk about 2022, let’s first take a little lookback at the 2021 bracket. The 2021 NCAA Division I finals were quite an exciting time. The Final Four teams that managed to rise above the distinguished competition ended up being UCLA, Gonzaga, Baylor, and Houston. The semi-finals, as usual, were played in the beginning of April, more specifically on April 3. 

Baylor and Houston faced off first in the Lucas Oil Stadium, Unity. The game ended in a score of 78 – 59 in Baylor’s favor, and they moved on to the Finals. Gonzaga and UCLA went up against each other in the second round of the Semi-Finals, and though the match was a close call, Gonzaga ended up taking the lead, finishing the game with a score of 93 – 90.

On April 5, in the final round, Baylor and Gonzaga went toe-to-to, and Baylor ended up winning the game, and the tournament, pulling ahead of Gonzaga by 16 points. 

The Projected No.1 Seed Team’s Victory Odds

While Gonzaga lost the title last year, the team has been working hard to improve their individual style and their team play, and are fully expected to wreak havoc in the 2022 tournament. With an average scoring margin of 25 points, and led by Chet Holmgren, the Zags are currently listed among the top favorites (and in some cases the favorite) to win the title in 2022. 

Apart from Gonzaga, other teams projected in the no. 1 seed with a good chance of winning the title include the Auburn Tigers, who have significantly improved their game since 2021, rising from a 60-1 chance at a win, to a 10-1. The Arizona Wildcats are also among fan’s favorites to win the title, having done significantly well in their games leading up to March Madness. 

What should we expect this year?

The 2022 March Madness looks to be an exciting one. Each of the teams have been preparing for this moment, and honing their skills since last year, and in a few weeks, we are going to see the fruits of their labor on full display.