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Indiana's Kevin Yogi Ferrell (11) drives against Michigan State's Bryn Forbes during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Indiana's Kevin Yogi Ferrell (11) drives against Michigan State's Bryn Forbes during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)Al Goldis/Associated Press

NCAA Tournament 2016: National Championship Odds and Dark-Horse Contenders

Jared JohnsonMar 14, 2016

Selection Sunday has concluded, but not without complaining from pundits and fans everywhere. Several seeding choices were heavily scrutinized, but one fact still remains: a team still has to play well to string together wins in the NCAA tournament.

Even if you felt that your favorite squad didn't get a fair shake, you can still look forward to some intense, competitive basketball. In this college basketball season of parity, some shocking results may be on the horizon.

Let's take a look at what the oddsmakers at Odds Shark are saying about each team's chances at a national championship after Selection Sunday. Following that, we'll focus on three dark-horse squads that could surprise with deep tournament runs.

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Kansas30-4No. 1, South+650
North Carolina28-6No. 1, East+700
Michigan State29-5No. 2, Midwest+750
Virginia26-7No. 1, Midwest+1100
Kentucky26-8No. 4, East+1300
Oklahoma25-7No. 2, West+1400
Villanova29-5No. 2, South+1500
Xavier27-5No. 2, East+1600
West Virginia26-8No. 3, East+1800
Oregon28-6No. 1, West+1800
Dark-Horse Contenders
Indiana25-7No. 5, East+3000
Arizona25-8No. 6, South+5000
Seton Hall25-8No. 6, Midwest+12500

Dark-Horse Contenders

Indiana (25-7, No. 5 in East)

Don't underestimate the power of a conference champion that gets underrated by the selection committee. The Hoosiers won a regular-season title in the stacked Big Ten but got dropped to a No. 5 seed after falling to Michigan 72-69 on a game-winning three-pointer by Kameron Chatman in the conference tournament.

Head coach Tom Crean's bunch seems to be taking the arguably unfair seeding in stride, though. According to the Indy Star's Zach Osterman, forward Max Bielfeldt said the following:

"

We’re gonna get put where we get put. You’re going to have to play all the same teams to go where you want to go anyway, so whether you’re a three-, four-, five-, 10-, 16–seed, doesn’t matter to us. We’re just gonna try to beat whoever’s in front of us.

"

Indiana has the long-range attack (41.5 percent from downtown) built to surprise higher-seeded teams, and that could be key to a possible deep run.

The Hoosiers won't have an easy road, especially with Kentucky as their likely opponent in the second round. The Wildcats' dynamic backcourt of Tyler Ulis of Jamal Murray is dangerous, but a big game from superstar floor general Yogi Ferrell can do a lot to offset that.

Arizona (25-8, No. 6 in West)

The Wildcats, like the Hoosiers, may have gotten a raw deal from the selection committee. Their eight losses (two of which came without injured star guard Allonzo Trier) were by a combined 33 points, and they just lost to the No. 1 seed in their region, Oregon, in overtime during the Pac-12 tournament.

Along with the motivation of playing from a seed that may have been unwarranted, the Wildcats have a rebounding attack that should make teams of all statures quake in their boots. Led by Ryan Anderson and Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona's average contest this season has seen it out-rebound its opponent 40.3 to 31.1.

Ryan Anderson is a double-double machine in the Arizona frontcourt.

Trier is also healthy now and will be eager to showcase his NBA potential in the tournament. Per DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony, the freshman is rumored to be entering this June's draft after a season of improvement under head coach Sean Miller.

Tough opponents await throughout several rounds of the South region, but Arizona's scoring punch and strength on the boards just might lift it a couple rounds further than expected.

Seton Hall (25-8, No. 6 in Midwest)

This is mainly a dark horse because of how underrated the Pirates remain by oddsmakers. Even after beating Xavier and Villanova (both No. 2 seeds in their respective regions) on their way to a Big East tournament championship, the Pirates' odds to win the NCAA championship are +12500, the same as double-digit seeds Vanderbilt, Michigan and Syracuse.

So if you're a betting person, you've found a gem here in Seton Hall.

The breakout from Seton Hall guard Isaiah Whitehead has finally arrived.

The Pirates, making their first tourney appearance in 10 years, are led by electric sophomore guard Isaiah Whitehead, who's finally gotten to the point where he consistently gives you more good than bad. In his past seven games, Whitehead has posted 25.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists per contest while admittedly chipping in 4.7 turnovers in those games. 

Seton Hall always gives great effort on the defensive end, and its scrappiness could be the undoing for some higher-ranked teams it'll face in the Midwest region.

Sign up and play Bleacher Report's Bracket Challenge now for a chance to win the Ultimate Sports Trip to four events of your choice.  And click here for B/R's Printable Bracket.

Mitchell Headed to 1st Conference Finals 🔥

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