The defending national champion Duke Blue Devils opened as the top seed in 2011 NCAA Vegas odds after their title win in the ACC Tournament over arch rival North Carolina. Duke will open tournament play Friday from Charlotte when they take on Hampton. The Blue Devils opened in West regional bracket picks as a prohibitive 5/4 basketball betting favorites to win the West and 9/2 selection to repeat as national champions. The San Diego State Aztecs are coming off a win in the Mountain West Conference Tournament and have been ranked in the top ten for the vast majority of the season.
The Aztecs have earned a number 2 seed and will open play against Northern Colorado from Tucson on Thursday. San Diego State opened in 2011 NCAA Vegas odds as a 7/2 favorite to win in West regional bracket picks and 18/1 selection to win the national championship. The Connecticut Huskies of the Big East are the number 3 seed and will open up action on Thursday from Washington DC against Bucknell, who is well known for their epic upset win over Kansas in 2005.UConn opened at online sportsbooks as a 9/2 college basketball betting favorite to win the West and 18/1 longshots to win the national championship. The number 4 seed in the West regional is the Texas Longhorns as they will open up action on Friday from Tulsa against Oakland, who is considered to be a dangerous mid major program.
Texas was the runner up in the Big 12 Conference Tournament after a loss in the title game to Kansas, are 9/2 to win in West regional bracket picks and 18/1 to win the national championship. One of the most interesting first round match-ups will take place on Friday from Charlotte when Michigan takes on Tennessee. The Wolverines got the 8 seed while Tennessee is a 9. Michigan is playing with great momentum and improved throughout the season but aren't getting any respect as 80/1 longshots to win the West and 250/1 in 2011 NCAA Vegas odds to win the tournament. Be sure to play in the $5,000,000 March Mayhem bracket contest, make your college basketball picks for the 2011 NCAA tournament and win millions!