March Madness is nearly here for another year, and this one will prove to be perhaps the most unique in history with games not being played in front of fans. Anyone hoping to place a bet ahead of the tourney might be looking for some advice on where to put their money.
While making predictions is not always easy, the bookmakers have already begun to give odds on the teams that are tipped for greatness, as well as those that have an outside chance of causing upset during the tournament. Here is a quick look at how things are shaping up at the moment.
Frontrunners
Things are looking fairly close at the upper end of the odds sheets ahead of March Madness this year, although there seems to be a general consensus that the Kansas Jayhawks are the favorites. 
Some sites are offering odds as short as 7/1, and following a recent victory over Baylor they are certainly in a strong position going into the tournament, in spite o claims from Bill Self that the players could run out of gas. If you like to gamble, you may also want to check out some of the games on this site, including the Basketball Stars slot game. 
The Bears themselves are second to the Jayhawks in the estimations of most bookies, with odds of 11/1 offered. This puts them roughly on level pegging with other top teams like Gonzaga and Duke. 
Of course there is always the opportunity for surprises during March Madness, so while these handful of safer bets might appeal, you have plenty of other options to consider.
Mid Tier Prospects
Cast your eyes further down the list of likely victors of March Madness 2020 and the odds get a lot longer, although this means that you can put a smaller amount of money on the line and potentially take home a much bigger payout if the stars align.
Syracuse would have to win the ACC Tournament to likely get in, and that seems unlikely. But as a fan they could be on your radar as a betting option. If you want to express a little loyalty, and odds of between 100/1 and 200/1 are available on them. There are lots of other teams in a similar ballpark, with the likes of Mississippi State and Harvard also floating around this area.
Plucky Outliers
The all-encompassing nature of the tournament means that there are some teams who participate without really being in with a genuine shot of taking the top prize. Even so, you can still bet on a bevy of outliers who could theoretically win, even if this seems almost impossible on paper.
With a streak of solid performances under their belt, Weber State could be one to watch, especially with odds of 1000/1 offered. Similar odds are available for everyone from Massachusetts to Georgia State.
The Montana Grizzlies, Charleston Cougars, Northeastern Huskies and Kent State are all even further down the list of likely winners, with odds of 2000/1 offered on most sports betting sites at the moment.
The fact that this tourney will likely be played without fans means there’s a higher chance of crazy endings and outcomes. Long shots could be the play. But it’s probably worth waiting for Selection Sunday before coming to any decisions so you can see how the schedule pans out.
