Odds of Auburn Beating Texas Tech in NCAA Tournament Championship Set at 12-1

• Auburn-Texas Tech is listed as the least likely NCAA Tournament pairing among Final Four teams
• With either school winning, sportsbooks list the chances of that matchup at +1200
• It’s the first time either school has reached the Final Four

Auburn and Texas Tech comprise 50% of the college basketball teams still standing as the NCAA Tournament readies to commence the Final Four. Still, both schools could audition for the Rodney Dangerfield role in this picture, because it seems that neither is getting much respect.

This will be the first time since 1985 that we’ll have a Final Four without at least one of these traditional hoops blue bloods — Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina or UCLA.

— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) March 31, 2019

Sportsbooks released a prop wager on potential March Madness Championship Game scenarios, and Texas Tech vs Auburn offers the longest odds on the board at +1200.

NCAA Tournament Final Game Outcome Odds

*Odds taken 04/01/19

You can get those +1200 numbers regardless of whether you bet the Tigers or the Red Raiders to win the championship game.

It Feels Like the First Time

Both Auburn and Texas Tech find themselves in the Final Four for the first time in school history.

FIRST. EVER. #FINALFOUR!

(5) Auburn claws past (2) Kentucky in OT for a trip to Minneapolis! #WarEagle #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/eYm0JLkK5V

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 31, 2019

Prior to this year, the Tigers had only made it to the Elite Eight once, and that was in 1986. The Red Raiders made it to the Elite Eight last season for the first time in school history.

Picture perfect. ?#4To1 | #FinalFour

?#WreckEm⚫️ pic.twitter.com/ZzkVRIJwOC

— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) March 31, 2019

A school from Texas hasn’t won the NCAA Tournament since Texas Western in 1966. A school from Alabama has never won the NCAA Tournament.

The Others Aren’t Exactly Blue Bloods

Virginia is in the Final Four for the first time since 1984, and the Cavaliers have never won a Final Four game.

Michigan State is the seasoned veteran here. The Spartans played in the Final Four as recently as 2015, and have been there six times since 1999.

MSU is Final Four bound. pic.twitter.com/ogHZ55z92d

— Mike Mulholland (@mulho2mj) March 31, 2019

But Sparty shows just one NCAA title during that span and an overall 3-6 Final Four record.

Could it Happen?

History suggests that it’s unlikely. Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, there have been 14 schools that have made their first trip to a Final Four. Those teams are a combined 4-10 in Final Four play.

Beat Kansas ✔️
Beat North Carolina ✔️
Beat Kentucky ✔️@AuburnMBB just beat the 3 winningest programs in college basketball history to advance to its first ever Final Four. AMAZING. pic.twitter.com/xs5TCjN8Hs

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 31, 2019

This is the third Final Four to feature a pair of newcomers, joining 2017 (Gonzaga and South Carolina) and 1996 (Massachusetts and Mississippi State). None of those four teams won and only Gonzaga got to the title game.

In fact, just one first timer won the title, the Connecticut Huskies in 1999.

Hello again.#4To1 | #FinalFour

?#WreckEm⚫️ pic.twitter.com/HX6dDF35DN

— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) March 31, 2019

Everything logically points to a Virginia win over Michigan State in the final. But if there’s ever been an NCAA Tournament where it made sense to throw logic out the window, it’s this one.

If there’s ever been an NCAA Tournament where it made sense to throw logic out the window, it’s this one.

Both the Red Raiders and Tigers play smothering defense and are led by exciting backcourts.

We say throw caution to the wind, and bet on Texas Tech beating Auburn for the March Madness title.