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
| 7 min
March Madness Sleeper Picks: 5 Sleeper Teams Who Could Win It All
Everyone knows about the NCAA Tournament 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 Kemba Walker's legendary run with the 7th-seeded UConn Huskies in 2014. But that shouldn't discourage you from advancing the underdogs, a 5-seed and 8-seed have made the National Championship game in two of the last three years.
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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March Madness Sleeper Picks
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs +5000 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
A No. 8 Seed sleeper? Yes, you're reading that right. We aren't talking about Cinderella squads here, this is the real deal. The Gonzaga Bulldogs are a serious threat in this tournament, and widely considered a top-10 team by most metrics. They're led by Ryan Nembhard at the point, Graham Ike down low, and Khalif Battle out wide. They are loaded with senior leaders, and are riding nine-straight Sweet 16 appearances as a program.
So why are they an 8-seed? That's a great question, and there is no great answer. They did amass eight losses, with four coming in the West Coast Conference, but still. Their four non-conference losses were close games and to tournament-level competition. OT to West Virginia, by three to UCLA, by six to UConn, and by 1 in OT to Kentucky. They also beat Indiana, Baylor, and San Diego State. At worst, the Zags should've been a 6-seed.
But that is neither here nor there, because if anyone underestimates the Bulldogs, they will pay the price. Mark Few is a tremendous coach, and has his team playing their best ball over the last month. They got revenge over Saint Mary's in the WCC Tournament Championship, and they're ready to protect their Sweet 16 streak.
Standing in the way is No. 1 Houston, who will be the test of all tests if Gonzaga can defeat Georgia first. The reality is, it can only get easier for Gonzaga if they survive that second-round showdown. They match up well with Houston, who is certainly not pleased to have them in their path. Gonzaga doesn't turn the ball over (4th-fewest), rebounds it well (34th-best), and doesn't rely on the three ball to carry them. They are top-10 in 2-point scoring percentage at 57%, which of course Houston will look to shut down, but they are fully equipped to challenge these giants. Houston also lacks a true sharp with Jamal Shead off to the NBA, which could bite them in tournament clutch moments. The Zags are here to make some noise, so don't overlook their seeding.
2. Texas Tech Red Raiders +3500 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are one of the most complete teams in the tournament, and they are well-built to make a run. They are by far the best 3-seed in the field, and even rank ahead of some of the 2-seeds in efficiency.
Unfortunately for the Red Raiders, they are trapped in the Region of Death out West, having to deal with red-hot squads like St. John's, Maryland, and Florida. It certainly wasn't a desirable landing spot, and this team would've had a much higher chance to make the Final Four in a grouping like the Midwest or South. But you take what you get, and the Red Raiders will try to press onward with these new challenges, one game at a time.
Texas Tech has a top-6 offense in the country, and can stroke it from three-point land as good as anyone. The Red Raiders greatest asset was their road record this year, going 8-2 away from home. They can play in the toughest environments, which should serve them well in March Madness neutral courts while other teams are missing their home gyms.
3. Maryland Terrapins +6000 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Maryland Terrapins are checking in as a 4-seed, and they have the stats that can take them deep, including a great collection of starters. "The Crab Five" as they are called, the Terps are boasting the highest-scoring starting five in the country.
Maryland had won 12 of their last 14 games dating back to mid-January, before getting upset by Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. The Wolverines sprinted the length of the court and banked it in with seconds remaining to steal the one-point victory, but it shouldn't affect Maryland's momentum.
4. Arizona Wildcats +5000 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Arizona Wildcats may have 12 losses, but they are one of the most improved teams in the country from their early form. If you told people that the 4-5 Wildcats would be a 4-seed back in mid-December, no one would fall for that joke. They've really found chemistry in this unit throughout the conference schedule, ripping off 12 wins in their first 13 Big 12 games.
Arizona also delivered a strong Big 12 Tournament, which is always a good sign. It started with revenge against Kansas, followed by a slight upset of a stacked Texas Tech team, and then went down to the wire with the juggernaut Houston Cougars in the Big 12 Championship. The Cats are playing great ball as a team right now, and can score with anyone thanks to a top-10 offense.
Star guard Caleb Love obviously has tournament experience, dating back to his National Championship game appearance with UNC a few years ago. The Cats made the Sweet 16 last year before getting upset by Clemson as a 2-seed, and will look to avoid a similar fate this time. This team may have a different look, but they still have loads of talent, and it's much more evenly spread around.
5. Kansas Jayhawks +8000 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Laugh all you want, but we are obligated to put the Kansas Jayhawks on this list. Despite all their shortcomings, this team could very easily make a deep run. They haven't played to their full potential for 90% of the season, but Bill Self is no stranger to March. He's won two National Championships, and knows how to get the most out of his guys in the late stretch of the season.
Out of all the teams on this list though, Kansas easily has the highest chance of losing in the first round. Which is fine, that's the nature of being a No. 7 seed and taking on John Calipari's Arkansas squad, who has been a rollercoaster ride this season. They can show up and drop 90, or completely collapse and put up just 53 like they did against South Carolina a few weeks ago.
On that same trend, it's important to note that Kansas is in easily the hardest bracket region of the West, with teams like St. John's, Maryland, Mizzou, UConn, and others that could derail their chances, and the obvious hottest team in basketball with the Gators on the 1-line here. Do we think the Jayhawks are going to make a run? From this list, they have by far the lowest chance. Kansas has +1300 odds to make the Final Four in that region of death, worse than Texas Tech at +550 and Maryland at +950. But if some domino's fall their way, the experience and veteran leadership is there.
Hunter Dickinson is well-versed in the tournament as a fifth-year senior, and DaJuan Harris + KJ Adams are still left over from that 2022 National Championship team. People forget that Kansas was the preseason No. 1 team, and held that rank for about a month of the season before it unraveled. The talent is still there, they just have to activate it. Keep an eye on this squad if they can string together a few wins.
Which of these teams has the best shot to make the Final Four? Check out the latest March Madness Final Four Odds
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