March Madness Sleeper Picks: 5 Sleeper Teams Who Could Win It All
It's the best time of the year, time to start filling out your March Madness bracket! Who are some sleeper picks you should consider adding? Oddschecker analyst Peter Alexis is here to break down five sleeper teams who could win it all.
Peter Alexis - March 17, 2024, 9:58 PM EDT
7 minMarch Madness Sleeper Picks: 5 Sleeper Teams Who Could Win It All
Everyone knows about the NCAA bracket's No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. But what about the sleepers?
A seed higher than No. 4 has only won March Madness once in the last 35 years, which would be the famous 7th-seeded 2014 UConn Huskies led by Kemba Walker. There aren't a ton of stronger high seeds in this year's tournament, but there are certainly teams that can make a deep run and challenge the best squads.
This list will take a look at teams outside the top-two seeds that can fight their way to the Final Four and National Championship. Here are five sleepers to think about.
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Top 5 Sleeper Teams
1. Auburn Tigers (+1800) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Auburn Tigers just went on an impressive run to win the SEC Championship. They aren't the typical overlooked sleeper, but they are still only a no. 4 seed. They've won six straight, with five of them coming by double digits.
The Tigers are stacked with talent, and can score the ball at will. Despite high scoring games, they have the top-5 defensive efficiency in the nation, with Johni Broome anchoring that unit and dominating on the glass.
The Tigers are saddled with the sixth-best odds to win it all at +1600, ahead of nearly all of the no. 2 and no. 3 seeds. Can they ride their SEC Tournament momentum to a strong start in a stacked East region that includes UConn, Iowa State, and Illinois? The metrics favor them to go deep, so watch out for them in big games.
2. Creighton Bluejays (+3000) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Creighton Bluejays were upset in their first game of the Big East Tournament by Providence after a slow start. But they fit the mold of a team that can go deep, ranking
The Bluejays have a roster stacked with veterans. They've been here before, and return the same core from last year's Elite Eight run. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Trey Alexander, and Baylor Scheierman are back and better than ever, and they've added sharpshooter Steven Ashworth to enhance their offense.
Creighton already took down the no. 1 overall team in the country, the UConn Huskies, in a 20-point home rout. They have exhibited the qualities of a team that can win big games, it will just come down to not having a letdown against lesser teams early on.
It is important to note that the Bluejays do work with a slower pace of play, and have had trouble coming back in some games when going down in the first half. That could place them on upset alert in an early round if they have a rough shooting night, but they can go the distance if they avoid a surprising loss.
3. Illinois Fighting Illini (+3000) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Illinois Fighting Illini have come on strong at the end of the season. They just grabbed their second Big Ten Tournament Championship in the last four years with a win over Wisconsin on Sunday.
Since Terrence Shannon Jr. returned to the team earlier this winter, they have been nearly unstoppable. They've only lost three games in the last two months, and all of the pieces seem to be coming together for them.
Brad Underwood's team ranks third in the nation in offensive efficiency, and they average over 84 points per game. However, they rank as one of the worst defensive teams at the top of the standings, similar to Kentucky.
Will the Illini be able to outscore all of their opponents? They are in the middle of a difficult East Region, and will have to step up defensively if they want to outlast the likes of UConn, Iowa State, and Auburn, all major conference champions in their own right.
4. New Mexico Lobos (+12000) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The New Mexico Lobos arrive to March Madness as one of the hottest teams in the nation. They just ran the table in the Mountain West Tournament, one of the most exciting conferences in the country, and were the first team to win four games in four days to claim the crown.
Richard Pitino, son of legendary coach Rick Pitino, has led the Lobos back to the NCAA Tournament for their first appearance since 2014.
Jamal Mashburn Jr., Jaelen House, and Donovan Dent headline as the stars for this team, and they have battle-tested experience. They just took down last year's NCAA Tournament runner-up, the San Diego State Aztecs, for the second time this season.
They'll get some much-needed rest ahead of Friday's clash with a sleep-walking Clemson team, and will get to show the country what they can do. Their path wouldn't be so difficult in the weaker West Region, so watch out for this squad who can stay hot and knows how to run the table.
5. Kentucky Wildcats (+2500) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Kentucky Wildcats are the least sleeper-esque on this list, but they have to be included nonetheless. The Wildcats are widely regarded as the most talented team in the country, and have several NBA lottery picks in their starting lineup.
Antonio Reeves, Reed Sheppard, and Rob Dillingham lead the way for the Cats, and can seemingly score an unlimited amount of points. But as previously mentioned in conjunction with Illinois, their defense has largely struggled. Their were several stretches of the season were Kentucky was allowing 95+ppg, but still kept winning by dropping over 100.
They showed flashes of defensive excellence in a February upset win on the road at Auburn, and will have to tap into that performance if they want to make a deep run in March Madness.
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