Following Duke’s narrow escape from an early upset on Thursday, the Blue Devils have seen their odds lengthen from +360 to +425 to claim the national championship, placing them third on the betting board. This means that Arizona (+340) is now the new frontrunner for the title, with Michigan (+370), who secured a win but failed to cover the 30.5-point spread against Howard, closely trailing behind.
Houston (+950) and Illinois (18-1) both experienced improvements in their long-term betting lines after successfully covering as favorites on the initial day of competition. Arkansas (50-1), Michigan State (50-1) and Gonzaga (55-1) also saw slight enhancements to their odds after progressing from the Round of 64.
Attention will focus on the favored teams competing in their opening matches on Friday. The current titleholder, Florida, saw its odds extend marginally from +750 to +800 to accommodate a number of the previously mentioned advancements, while Purdue and UConn (both 25-1) remained steady as two of the most wagered-on teams in the long-range betting pools; numerous bookmakers consider the Boilermakers and Huskies to represent significant potential payouts for them.
MORE: Point differentials, outright win odds, over/under scores, and BPI forecasts for all contests
Betting lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, liable to fluctuate.