March Madness is here! With less than seven weeks to go, the field of 68 will be set, and the bracket will be complete. Just like the phoenix rising out of the ashes, so will be the 2022 March Madness. Because of the covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 NCAA tournament missed its thrill and fun. But not this time. If all goes well, the event will be held in multiple cities, the fans will turn up, and cheerleaders and bands will entertain the crowds.
The NCAA tournament schedule is out, and we’ll have the Selection Sunday on March 13th. Shortly after, the First Four matches will begin in Dayton, Ohio. At the moment, most teams have played well over 15 games, providing room for a bit of fun with predictions. Some teams have made a name for themselves and secured a ticket to the higher seed, while some regions are still unpredictable.
It may be hard to point out one team that will be crowned the 2022 NCAA Tournament winner, so we’ll take a look at a few that are top contenders for the title. These teams will likely finish as number 1 seeds and sail through to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight stages of the competition. We’ll take a look at their net rankings and performance so far.
This time around, the competition is unpredictable and sure to catch much attention. What will make the tournament even more interesting are the prop bets that you can place from the best betting apps. These bets won’t have you racking your brains and are usually silly and just for fun.
But if you are going to put your money where your mouth is, then these are the teams that rank as the favorites as it is.
Gonzaga | West Region
(Gonzaga Record: 15-2)
Gonzaga finished second in the 2021 tournament and is aiming for first place. In their West Coast Conference, the team has shown exemplary performance by hitting 110 points in three consecutive games. Outside their conference, the Bulldogs have won their matches against Texas Tech, Alcorn State, and UCLA.
Gonzaga’s track record shows that the team regularly makes it to the number one seed, and if they maintain this outstanding performance, they might be the top overall team back-to-back.
Auburn | South Region
(Auburn Record: 19-1)
The Auburn Tigers are also chasing the title, and things seem to be working for them in this competition. They have maintained a good winning streak, and their schedule is relaxed. We missed the chance to see the Tigers in action against top-tier team Baylor Bears in the Battle 4 Atlantis last November. The match would have provided great insight into how much heat the Tigers are packing.
Baylor | Midwest Region
(Baylor Record: 18-2)
Baylor Bears are the defending champions but will they retain their title? With such a fantastic start of the season having just a few losses, they just might. The Bears have also won their matches against Villanova, Michigan State, and Oregon, which further shows they are in it to win.
Despite a few injuries from stars Jeremy Sochan and James Akinjo, the team has maintained its top form. Even without a full deck, the Bears still pull through and don’t disappoint their fans.
Arizona & Kansas | East Region
(Arizona Record: 16-2) (Kansas Record: 17-2)
While it might be easy to guess the number one seeds for the other regions, the East Region isn’t that obvious. You might have a fascinating Final Four encounter between Tommy Lloyd and Mark Few or a lively clash between the Jayhawks and the Bulldogs.
The competition is still tight for this region, and one defeat can be crucial. If I were to go for one of the two teams, it would be the Wildcats. They have maintained a 16 points difference in 14 of their wins, so they show more potential.
The ultimate winner of the 2022 NCAA tournament will be decided on April 4th in New Orleans, and one of the five teams mentioned might carry the day.
