Final Four Predictions 2018: Odds and Picks for Top NCAA Tournament Teams

Want to make some easy money? Well, placing bets on the NCAA tournament is risky but can pay off in a big way as long as you're not betting on filling out a perfect bracket.

It's normal to see No. 1 and No. 2 seeds fall after the first and second rounds as the competition really starts to heat up, but perhaps this year is unlike any other when there is not a consensus, No. 1 favorite to win it all.

Wagering money on a No. 1 seed is always the safest option, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's the right move to make. After all, you go big in March, or you go home.

Here's a look at the latest odds for the Top 10 teams in this year's NCAA tournament.

2018 March Madness Championship Odds

1. Villanova Wildcats: +450 (bet $100 to win $450)

2. Virginia Cavaliers: +500

3. Duke Blue Devils: +650

4. Michigan State Spartans: +750

5. Michigan Wolverines: +1,000

T-6. Arizona Wildcats: +1,200

T-6. Kansas Jayhawks: +1,200

8. Purdue Boilermakers: +1,500

9. North Carolina Tar Heels: +1,800

T-10. Cincinnati Bearcats: +2,200

T-10. Xavier Musketeers: +2,200

Odds are courtesy of OddsShark. 

South Regional

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The favorites in the South Region of the bracket are the Cavaliers of Virginia, the No. 1 overall seed in this year's tournament.

Virginia is coming off an impressive 31-2 campaign that included an ACC tournament title after defeating North Carolina in the final and are second only to Villanova to win it all this March at +500. 

The Cavaliers could face some difficult competition in the form of No. 4 Arizona, No. 2 Cincinnati and No. 5 Kentucky just to name a few, but Virginia has taken on and defeated some of the top teams in the country all season long.

Don't be afraid to to wager a generous bet on Virginia making the Final Four and winning it all this year. 

Pick: Virginia +500

West Regional

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If you believe in Roy Williams and his Tar Heels, you could make a fortune on North Carolina winning its second-straight national championship.

UNC isn't the same team as it was last season, but that might not matter in the West Region as the Tar Heels have a fairly straight-forward path to the Elite 8 if they can get past the likes of No. 3 Michigan in the Sweet 16. 

It's very possible that no. 1 seed Xavier gets bounced in the second round to Missouri if Michael Porter Jr. can light up the court like he's capable of when healthy, so why not take North Carolina to run the board with +1800 odds?

Pick: North Carolina +1800

East Regional

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The oddsmakers' favorite to win it all this March are the Wildcats of Villanova, and for good reason.

One of the most well-rounded teams in college basketball, it's hard to imagine Villanova not making at least an Elite 8 or Final Four appearance over the next couple weeks given their level of talent and coaching.

In a region that also features a potential bracket-buster in No. 5 seed West Virginia, it's a risk to put a generous wager on the Wildcats. Having said that, they are one of the safest bets to make if you're going to make a bet at all.

Besides West Virginia, the biggest threats to Villanova are No. 2 Purdue and No. 3 Texas Tech, who could face off each other in Sweet 16 if both teams advance. Look for Villanova to run the table for another Final Four appearance. 

Pick: Villanova +450

Midwest Regional

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Let's be real for a second: There's a reason why the No. 1 seed in the Midwest, Kansas, are tied in sixth as favorites to win the NCAA Tournament. 

The Jayhawks (+1200) could fetch a good return as an overlooked No. 1 seed, but they are too inconsistent to trust at this point of the season in a single-game elimination tournament. On the other hand, the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans (+750) could be a safe bet to make a run this March behind a solid defensive front.

The only real adversity the Spartans would face before a potential Elite 8 showdown against the Jayhawks would be against two wildly inconsistent (yet dangerous) sides in No. 2 Duke and No. 6 TCU.

If Michigan State can get past the Horned Frogs and Blue Devils, then they will be favored to defeat Kansas in the Elite 8, as the most competitive side the Jayhawks would have faced until that point would have been either No. 5 Clemson or No. 4 Auburn.

And that's if Kansas can even get past an underrated No. 8 Seton Hall squad in second round. Put your money on the Spartans to move on in the Midwest. 

Pick: Michigan State +750