Over/Under Sum of Seeds in 2019 Final Four Set at 10.5
- The over/under on the combined total of the seeds in the Final Four is just 10.5
- In 2018, the combined seeding of the Final Four teams was 16
- A team seeded 7th or lower has made the Final Four six straight years
When it comes to the over/under of the combined total of seeds in the Final Four of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, the odds appear to be downplaying the notion that there will be madness in March.
The total of 10.5 indicates few or any major upsets to occur in this season’s tournament.
Combined Seed Total of 2019 NCAA Tournament Final Four
| O/U combined total of seeds in 2019 Final Four | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 10.5 | -130 |
| Under 10.5 | EVEN |
Last year, Loyola/Chicago, an 11-seed playing in their first NCAA Tournament in 33 years, reached the Final Four. That marked the sixth straight season a team seeded No. 7 or worse made the Final Four.
Over And Over Again
The combined seed totals have gone over 10.5 in each of the past three NCAA Tournaments. Five of the last six tournaments and seven of the past nine have also been over 10.5. The total in 2015 was exactly 10.0. The total in 2012 was 9.0.
The one seeds in this year’s tournament offer a mixed bag of outcomes.
Duke has won the NCAA Tournament the last two times the Blue Devils were a no. 1 seed. North Carolina won the 2017 NCAA Tournament as a no. 1 seed, as well.
However, Gonzaga and Virginia, this year’s other No. 1 seeds, don’t inspire the same level of long-term confidence.
The Bulldogs made it to the final in 2017 as a no. 1 seed before losing to the Tar Heels. But Gonzaga was also seeded No. 1 in 2013 and lost in the Round of 32.
Last year, the Cavaliers became the first top-seeded team to lose to a No. 16 seed in NCAA Tournament history when the UMBC Retrievers dogged them 74-54 in the opening round of the South Regional.
If you were voting on the top team most likely to go home early from the dance, Virginia would win on a lot of ballots.
Who Could Be It Now?
Some team that no one is counting on will come out of nowhere and make a March Madness run. This occurs virtually every NCAA Tournament.
Last year, it was Loyola-Chicago. In 2017, No. 7 South Carolina turned the trick. It was No. 10 Syracuse in 2016. The 2014 NCAA Championship Game was a showdown between No. 7 Connecticut and No. 8 Kentucky.
The 2011 Final Four featured a semifinal between No. 8 Butler and No. 11 VCU.
As mentioned, there’s been a team seeded seventh or higher in six consecutive Final Fours. If that happens again, the only way the total stays under is if the other three teams are all #1 seeds.
Play the over. You’ll be glad you did.
Best Bet: Over 10.5 (-130)
SBD’s Regional Previews
- Odds to Win the West Region of 2019 March Madness Tournament
- Duke Listed as Odds-On Favorite to Win East Region of March Madness Bracket
- South Region Preview: Virginia Listed at +140 to Reach Final Four
- Midwest Region Odds: UNC Given Worst Odds of #1 Seeds to Make Final Four
SBD’s Other March Madness coverage:
- The Guide to Filling Out Your March Madness Bracket for Non-College Basketball Fans
- The 5 Best Teams to Bet in 2019 March Madness Against the Spread
- Head-to-Head Odds to Win More Games in the 2019 Men’s NCAA Tournament
- Odds on Which Conference Will Win the 2019 NCAA Tournament
- Odds to Make the Sweet 16 in 2019 March Madness Tournament
- Kentucky Given Best NCAA Tournament Odds Among Non-No. 1 Seeds
- Gonzaga Given Second-Best Odds to Win 2019 March Madness After Selection Sunday
- Duke Enters 2019 March Madness Tournament as Heavy Favorite
- Odds Say Two #1 Seeds Make 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
