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Sports Betting Futures Odds: And Then There Were Four


by - 4/2/2019

Jarrett Culver of the Texas Tech Red Raiders

Duke: out. North Carolina: out. Gonzaga: out. Traditional powers such as Kentucky and Kanas: out. This weekend's Final Four is not going to set any ratings records-but if the Elite Eight is anything to go by, the remaining teams are capable of putting on an enthralling show. It's Virginia, Michigan State, Texas Tech, and Auburn.

Odds provided by Bovada Sportsbook unless otherwise indicated.

National Championship

Virginia (+150) - When Virginia trailed Gardner-Webb by double-digits in the first round, it looked like back-to-back stunning losses to No. 16 seeds might be the cards. Instead, the Cavaliers are now two wins away from bouncing back from the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history in storybook fashion.

Michigan State (+185) - Michigan State vs. Duke wasn't as unbelievable as Virginia vs. Purdue, but it was pretty darn good. The Spartans' reward for ousting the No. 1 overall seed is a national semifinal in which it is favored against Texas Tech. Head coach Tom Izzo is in his eighth Final Four and bidding for his second title.

Texas Tech (+425) - It's unlikely that anyone outside of Lubbock, Tex. remembers, but Texas Tech was actually in the Elite Eight last year (lost to eventual champion Villanova). The Red Raiders have gone one step further this time around, knocking off Northern Kentucky, Buffalo, Michigan, and Gonzaga.

Auburn (+600) - No. 3 seed Texas Tech (+2.5 vs. Michigan State) and No. 5 seed Auburn (+5 vs. Virginia) are the two underdogs on Saturday. But don't sleep on either one. The Tigers have become the first program in NCAA Tournament history to beat Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky in succession.

UEFA Champions League

Manchester City (+225) - While we're down to the Final Four on the hardwood, there are eight clubs left on the pitch-at least in the Champions League. Quarterfinal action begins next week, when four English Premier League clubs take center stage: Man City, Man United, Liverpool, and Tottenham.

FC Barcelona (+325) - An EPL team has not won the Champions League since 2011-12 (Chelsea). That resulted was preceded by Barcelona's triumph in 2010-11, and Lionel Messi and company also lifted the trophy in 2014-15. FC Barca and Manchester United will square off in the quarters.

Juventus (+325) - Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid won each of the last three Champions League titles. Then he bolted for Juventus. Now Real is already eliminated and Juventus is alive and well in the quarterfinals. Ronaldo has his new club atop Italy's Serie A as it now turns its attention to a showdown with Ajax.

Liverpool (+400) - While Manchester City and Tottenham are set for an all-EPL quarterfinal battle, Liverpool is going up against Portuguese side Porto. It is a favorable draw for the Reds, but can they get the job done and then go all the way? They last won it all in 2005. No other squad has better than +1800 odds.

Cleveland Browns (MyBookie.ag)

Over 9.5 regular-season wins (+150) - This is like Draft Day playing out in real life, except that the Browns have done it mostly through free agency instead of the draft. Second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield now has all kinds of weapons around him, including new star receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

To make the playoffs (+140) - Cleveland last won double-digit games in 2007 (10-6), and it has not made the playoffs since 2002. Expectations are high in 2019, not only because the Browns boast big names on both sides of the ball but also because they improved from 0-16 two years ago to 7-8-1 this past season.

To win a playoff game (+400) - The Browns have not won a postseason game since 1994, when none other than Bill Belichick was their head coach. Just making it is the first step, so actually advancing would be getting a little bit ahead. AFC opposition should be formidable with the likes of New England and Kansas City around.

To win the Super Bowl (+1400) - Speaking of getting ahead of ourselves, the prospect of winning the actual Super Bowl is preposterous. Right? Well, maybe not. This is an era in the NFL in which teams can go from zero to hero-and vice versa-in a hurry. Cleveland made huge strides in 2018 and now could really take off.

Valero Texas Open

Rickie Fowler (+1000) - This event used to be held the week after the Masters, when Fowler always vacationed in Baker's Bay. Now it's the week before Augusta, so the eighth-ranked American can play it. He will be well-rested, too, having skipped the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Fowler triumphed in Phoenix two months ago.

Matt Kuchar (+1600) - Kuchar will be making a quick turnaround after playing seven matches at the match play championship, where he finished runner-up to Kevin Kisner. The 40-year-old American has been one of the best players around in 2019, leading the FedEx Cup standings and ranking second on the PGA Tour money list.

Tony Finau (+1600) - Finau made headlines last spring when he suffered an ankle injury during the Masters' par-3 contest but then played well in the real event to finish T10. He hasn't made any noise so far in 2019, playing solid but unspectacular golf. The 15th-ranked American placed T3 at the Valero Texas Open in 2017.

Jordan Spieth (+2000) - Also one of the Baker's Bay boys who previously skipped this tournament, Spieth is back for the first time since 2015-when he was runner-up to Jimmy Walker. Down at 32nd in the rankings, the 25-year-old American is a shadow of his former self that was on display in 2015, 2016, 2017.

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