After winning the SEC regular season title, Tennessee is taking aim at the program’s first Final Four spot, but they’ll probably have to get through Purdue and All-American center Zach Edey to get there. We’re going to break down the March Madness betting odds for the Midwest region and share with you the best NCAA Tournament promo codes so you can bust some brackets of your own.
Best NCAA Tournament promo codes: How to get up to $4,900 in bonuses
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2024 March Madness betting odds: Midwest Region preview, betting favorites
Despite losing their last two games, Tennessee drew the 2 seed in the Midwest Region and opens up play against St. Peter’s. The Peacocks are no ordinary No. 15 seed. They were the program that went all the way to the Elite Eight as a No. 15 seed in 2022 and captured the nation’s attention. Tennessee is up to a 20-point favorite at most sportsbooks and has gone 16-15-1 against the spread this season. The Peacocks are 20-11 against the spread.
Top seed Purdue is the favorite to come out of the Midwest and reach the Final Four in Phoenix. BetMGM lists the Boilermakers at +150 to get to the Final Four, with Tennessee the sixth overall pick at +350.
If seeds hold, Tennessee would meet Purdue in the Elite Eight. The two teams played in the Maui Invitational back in November, with the Boilermakers holding on for a 71-67 win. The game was a foul fest and ugly. Neither team shot well from the floor.
Purdue brings back all five starters from last year’s team, but remember, the Boilermakers were stunned by Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round, becoming just the second No. 1 seed to lose to a 16.
Stopping Zach Edey is not easy. He is 7-foot-4 and a throwback to when centers were the main option in college basketball. He has a soft touch around the basket. Like Tennessee, Purdue’s conference tournament showing was less than inspiring, the Boilermakers were bounced by Wisconsin the Big Ten semifinals.
The No. 3 seed in the Midwest is Big East power Creighton. There’s been a lot of talk about the Big East only getting three teams in the Big Dance, so the Bluejays will have something to prove. Creighton opens up against Akron as a 12.5-point favorite in the first round.
Kansas started the season as preseason No. 1 in America, but struggled in the Big 12 and got the No. 4 seed in the Midwest. They get Samford in the first round. The Jayhawks are 8.5-point favorites, but are just 13-18 against the spread this season.
Vols fans may recognize a face in the 12 vs. 5 game. McNeese State, a school in Lake Charles, La., is the 12 seed and coached by former LSU head man Will Wade, who racked up wins and NCAA violations during his tenure. The Cowboys have 30 wins and are 5.5-point underdogs to Gonzaga.
The Vols’ SEC rival South Carolina is the sixth seed and in the NCAA Tournament for the second time since 2005. They take on Oregon who stole a bid by winning the Pac-12 Tournament title. The Gamecocks are only a slight favorite.
Seventh seeded Texas is waiting to see who they meet in the first round, either Virginia or Colorado State. The 8/9 game is Great, no literally. Eighth-seeded Utah State is led by British-born Great Osobor, who scores 18 points a game. The Aggies take on a TCU team that started 7-0, but is only 13-11 since then. The Horned Frogs are 4.5-point favorites to advance.
