Michigan Closes Gap on Baylor, Gonzaga Future Title Odds

Gonzaga and Baylor have been considered the perennial favorites throughout the college basketball season. But after wins over No. 7 Ohio State, No. 5 Iowa and at Indiana, the Michigan Wolverines have entered the upper echelon of national favorites.

And sports betting oddsmakers have taken notice, too.

Michigan has closed the gap on Gonzaga and Baylor when it comes to national title futures odds. The Wolverines now sit at +375 on DraftKings to win the championship, while Baylor and Gonzaga are tied as favorites at +275.

Nearly a month ago, Gonzaga and Baylor were well ahead of the rest of the field in the national title futures market. Both teams were +310, while Villanova was a distant third at +700 and Michigan was +1000. But with Baylor losing on Saturday to Kansas and Michigan recording more quality wins than Gonzaga, the oddsmakers have tightened up the top three.

Villanova is now fourth at +1100, while Iowa rounds out the top five at +1300.

Michigan jumped up to No. 2 in the latest Associated Press poll, vaulting over Baylor who is now No. 3. The Wolverines earned four first-place votes with Gonzaga still retaining the top spot.

UM Could Wrap Up Big Ten title, Secure No. 1 Seed

After opening the season at +1100 to win the Big Ten regular-season championship, the Wolverines could secure the conference title this week. Michigan (18-1, 13-1 Big Ten) hosts No. 4 Illinois (18-6, 14-4) on Tuesday before welcoming rival Michigan State on Thursday and closing the season at MSU on Sunday. A win over Illinois would clinch the Big Ten title, and a sweep over the Spartans would likely keep MSU from earning an at-large NCAA bid.

Barring an epic collapse, Michigan is projected to earn a No. 1 seed from the oddsmakers. Michigan, Baylor and Gonzaga are each -10000 to earn a top spot in the NCAA bracket.

The Wolverines are also the leading favorites to win the Big Ten conference tournament at +145, with Iowa (+350), Ohio State (+375) and Illinois (+700) following Michigan.

With Michigan having a memorable season and mobile sports betting and online casino gaming debuting in the state this year, expect many Michiganders looking to back the hometown team this March.