March Madness Midwest Region Odds: Houston In Minus Money
A wild opening weekend of March Madness is in the books, and only 16 teams remain. With the Sweet 16 kicking off on Saturday, a crazy number of upsets in the opening two rounds has caused a major shift in regional odds.
In the Midwest Region, only No. 2-seeded Houston, No. 8 Loyola Chicago, No. 11 Syracuse and No. 12 Oregon State remain in the hunt to go to the Final Four.
Online sportsbook BetUS has updated its March Madness Midwest Region odds with Houston the favorite at -120, followed by Loyola Chicago (+150), Syracuse (+600) and Oregon State (+1000).
Who Will Win the March Madness Midwest Region?
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Houston Cougars | -120 |
| Loyola Chicago Ramblers | +150 |
| Syracuse Orange | +600 |
| Oregon State Beavers | +1000 |
Odds as of March 25 at BetUS
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Midwest Region Has Been Nearly Unpredictable
There’s a big group of Cinderella teams appearing in the Sweet 16, and two of them reside in the Midwest.
Oregon State and Syracuse join No. 15 Oral Roberts and No. 11 UCLA as the teams making the biggest surprise appearances in the Sweet 16. No. 8 seed Loyola Chicago is another team to defy the odds through the opening two rounds of the tournament.
In the Midwest, Loyola Chicago will tip off against Oregon State, while Syracuse does battle vs Houston. For a full betting breakdown on the Ramblers-Beavers game, we have you covered. Click here for a preview of Orange-Cougars.
The Cougars remain the team to beat after opening the tournament in second place on the oddsboard at +300. In a March Madness that’s been full of crazy upsets, it’s hard to find much value in the current -120 price despite the talent the Cougars possess.
Loyola Chicago is on a Mission
The Ramblers entered the NCAA Tournament as one of the strongest No. 8 seeds we’ve seen in quite some time. Eighth seeds have proven they can go on deep runs in March Madness – just look at the eighth-seeded Kentucky squad of 2014 led by Julius Randle that made it all the way to the national championship game.
According to KemPom’s efficiency rankings, Loyola Chicago is the No. 9 team in the nation, and it’s the No. 10 team in America via the NET rankings. Loyola’s biggest strength is its defense, which is the top-rated unit in the country. The Ramblers’ defense is a 10th of a point better than No. 2-rated Alabama.
The Ramblers’ Final Four run in 2018 is fresh in everybody’s minds, and this year’s Loyola Chicago group has the potential to make yet another deep tournament run.
Head coach Porter Moser proved he has the chops to upset the higher-ranked teams in the NCAA Tournament just three years ago and did the exact same thing in a Round of 32 win over No. 1-seeded Illinois. Loyola Chicago dispatched No. 9 Georgia Tech in the Round of 64 before sending the state-rival Fighting Illini home early.
The Ramblers clearly should’ve been a much higher seed than No. 8. If you got them at their opening number of +1200 in March Madness Midwest Region odds, you’re sitting pretty. If you didn’t, they’re still a great option at +150.
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March Madness Midwest Region Historical Information
Illinois continues a concerning trend for No. 1 seeds in the Midwest Region. A No. 1 seed hasn’t made it out of the Midwest and into the championship game since Kentucky accomplished the feat in 2014, and that’s going to continue in 2021.
Here’s a look at the March Madness Midwest Region results since the 2012 season:
| Season | No. 1 Seed | Midwest Region Winner | Midwest Region Winner Final Four Result | Midwest Region Winner Championship Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | North Carolina | Auburn (#5) | Virginia 63, Auburn 62 (Loss) | N/A |
| 2018 | Kansas | Kansas (#1) | Villanova 96, Kansas 79 (Loss) | N/A |
| 2017 | Kansas | Oregon (#3) | North Carolina 77, Oregon 76 (Loss) | N/A |
| 2016 | Virginia | Virginia (#1) | Syracuse 68, Virginia 62 (Loss) | N/A |
| 2015 | Kentucky | Kentucky (#1) | Wisconsin 71, Kentucky 64 (Loss) | N/A |
| 2014 | Wichita State | Kentucky (#8) | Kentucky 75, Michigan 72 (Win) | UConn 60, Kentucky 54 (Loss) |
| 2013 | Louisville | Louisville (#1) | Louisville 77, Oregon 69 (Win) | Louisville 85, Duke 63 (Win) |
| 2012 | North Carolina | Kansas (#2) | Kansas 64, Ohio State 62 (Win) | Kentucky 67, Kansas 59 (Loss) |
March Madness Midwest Region Odds FAQ
Where can I bet on the odds to win the Midwest Region for March Madness?
There are many places online where you can bet on the odds to win the Midwest Region for March Madness. If you wish to wager on Midwest Region odds, simply visit any one of our best March Madness betting sites online, and all of your March Madness Midwest Region betting needs will be met.
How should I bet on the Midwest odds for March Madness?
If you are looking at placing a futures bet on the winner of the Midwest Region, you should consider the favorite, but also the potential value of some underdogs. Odds Shark’s How to Bet on March Madness guide has in-depth strategies and tips on how to successfully bet on March Madness futures this year.
Who has the best odds to win the Midwest Region for March Madness?
Right now, the Houston Cougars have the best odds to win the Midwest Region in this year’s March Madness. While the favorite does not always win, Houston is seen by oddsmakers as the 2021 college basketball team with the best chance to advance through the Midwest Region and progress to the Final Four.
